Ch. 6: Additional Exercise 1

One Site, Many Organizational Patterns

SmartHome.com describes itself as “an easy-to-use source for thousands of affordable lighting, security, and home entertainment products that the average do-it-yourselfer can safely install,” including smart gadgets and remote-control products. The SmartHome site contains descriptions of thousands of products, instructions for home-automation projects, and discussions of various aspects of home automation. Predictably, the authors have used a variety of organizational patterns to make this large body of information accessible and coherent. For example, an extended definition of whole house audio/video (in the section called “Audio, Video, & Home Theater”) is organized according to the classification pattern. Identify several other sections of the site that use more than one organizing principle to convey a body of information to a specific audience for a specific purpose. Be prepared to share your findings with the class.