Title: Biography
Developer: A&E Television Networks
Publisher: InterActive8
Date Reviewed: September 2, 1996
ObjectType: Compilation of information in a specialty
Identifier (URL): http://www.biography.com/
Language: English
Keywords:
Authority: This Web site is an offshoot of the A&E televison show of the same name. Although a commercial site, it uses respected sources as the basis of its content.
Content: Biography started life as a television show on the cable channel A&E. Its Web site acts as both a complement to, and an expansion of the TV show.
There is the usual programming information ( a table gives you the current month's complete schedule of shows). But the meat of the site can be found by selecting the Find option. A database of 15,000+ biographical entries is contained here, utilizing information from the Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia. A search engine allows you to look for entries using keywords (extensive cross-referencing allows you to use exact or partial names), or you can browse through alphabetical listings.
Organization: The site has a straightforward design, offering five choices on the main page: read, speak, find, play, and watch.
Currency: Updated on an almost daily basis.
Search Engine: A sophisticated search engine allows you to search the complete database of biographical entries using keywords or phrases.
Graphic Design: Very high-tech graphics and layout.
Innovative Use of the Medium: VDO clips and animated GIFs add a multimedia element to what is basically a text site. While cute, none of this takes any big creative steps forward.
The graphics are large and some of the GIFs are animated. While this adds to the attractiveness of the site, it adversely affects its loading, especially over a 28.8 or slower modem.
Text-based message boards, VDO clips, graphics, sound clips.