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Here
is what Communication Arts said when they made the Decision
Assistant the Site of the Week on Nov. 9, 1998:
from http://www.designinteract.com/sow/110998/
HP
Kayak Interactive Decision Assistant
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This site was designed for
high-end computer professionals and IT managers interested in learning
about and buying Hewlett-Packard’s high-end Kayak PC Workstation.
It is intended to help users choose workstations suited to their
needs and close the loop between browsers and buyers by providing
easy to find, understandable information. Since the greatest obstacle
for technically-savvy users is having to navigate through complicated
specification sheets, design firm Darwin Digital created a “Decision
Assistant” to present information in easy to understand layers—users
get more specific information as they gain a greater understanding
of the products. Despite the complexity of the subject (Hewlett-Packard’s
Kayak PC Workstations are complicated computers), the site is not
intimidating; navigation is intuitive and slowly educates users
helping them to feel comfortable that they have picked the model
that best fits their needs. |
The site consists of a 3-D
decision cube, a main/sub category area and a product models bar
(offers at-a-glance model numbers and prices) which allow users
to select workstations by application or type of work—targeted
categories can be selected and the decision cube recommends high-,
mid- and low-end workstations. Once a specific recommendation has
been chosen, the cube reveals more detailed information about the
configuration including targeted quotes from the industry and a
specific model number. If the model configuration can be fulfilled
by HP’s electronic commerce center, a Buy Online button appears,
which automatically links to the HP e-commerce center. |
By using Macromedia Flash with
Generator designers created a visually-rich interface with detailed
product information in an easy to update format. All data in the
Decision Assistant is parameterized to a custom MS Access database
which can be altered by HP managers with MS Office. The database
feeds into Flash via Generator creating and dynamically and efficiently
manages large amounts of decision and e-commerce data. |
Response to the site has been
overwhelming. Because HP sells through dealers they have never before
tied products and retail prices together. HP is also pleased with
the Decision Assistant’s traffic and ease of maintenance; Macromedia
has used the site as an early case study on how to use a database
driven, animation-rich site; and Darwin Digital has supplied HP
with a stand-alone version of the Decision Assistant to be used
as a sales tool. |
Steve DiPaola,
creative director;
Ali Ebtekar, art director/lead designer;
Marianne Van De Leygraaf/Diane Gibbs, artists;
Kristian Schwartz, account manager. |
Web site: http://www.hp.com/go/kayakassistant
Web site: http://www.darwindigital.com
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