The Chronicle stops the presses- Play offers new twist on classic story
- Students create illustrations for Georgia Ports Authority
-
Graduate student channels classic horror in thesis film - Alumnus creates mobile gallery
- SCAD libraries hold artist’s book competition for students
- Griffis discusses development of Arthur legend
- Noted author speaks to students
- The Green Scene: 'We have a dream'
- Personnel File: New staff members join SCAD-Savannah
- SCAD hosts regional IDSA conference
- Titus Kaphar to speak at SCAD
- The Bee Line
- Women’s lacrosse sets records in Kennesaw State win
- Athlete Feats highlights for Feb. 22
- Baseball takes series from St. Thomas
- Women’s basketball wraps up second place in Florida Sun
- Athletics updates for Feb. 15
- Baseball off to best start in program’s history
- Big third period leads lacrosse team to victory
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Trivial Pursuits
 Smith builds Web wall
 Photo/illustration by Charlie Ribbens Savannah College of Art and Design student Travis Smith has garnered international publicity for his Web page, which he hopes will grow to a mile long. By Monique Bos Published: Friday, January 27, 2006 Travis Smith, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design, has launched a Web site that he hopes will set a world record, as well as pay his college tuition. His goal is for the homepage of the site, called the Mile Wall and located at www.themilewall.com, to grow to a mile in length. When it does, he plans to submit it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Smith is raising money for his college tuition by selling space on the site for $1 per inch (75 by 75 pixels). The Web page is laid out horizontally, and users scroll from left to right — rather than down — to see new contributions. Smith got the admittedly unorthodox idea through reading about another college student who used the Internet to fund his education. “I got my inspiration from a kid in England whose goal was to raise $1 million and pay for college,” he said. “I have the same goal he did — to pay for an education without loans.” The British student, Alex Tew, sold 100-pixel blocks for $1 each on his site, www.milliondollarhomepage.com. “I thought I could do something with that idea, take it further,” Smith said. In addition to receiving international media attention, Tew met his goal within several months, raising $1 million between August 2005 and January 2006. “I just hope I can be so lucky!” Smith said. He is off to a good start. Since its launch on Dec. 16, the Mile Wall has attracted more than 100 contributors who have collectively purchased 20 feet of space, and has logged enough visitors to crash the site’s viewer-tracking software. Smith estimates that at the current rate, 35,000 people will need to purchase space in order to reach the mile goal. However, he said users already are acquiring blocks in increasing increments. “As it grows out, people are buying bigger spaces because they want to get noticed more,” he said. “I’m thinking as it goes on, people will be less concerned about the advertising than just owning the spot.” To publicize the endeavor, Smith has appeared on Savannah television station WJCL and was interviewed for http://techweb.com. He also has received media attention from as far abroad as Israel, Germany, Italy and Asia. Contributors to the site include Israelis, Germans, Italians and a college in Denmark. “It’s gotten attention in all sorts of places,” he said. One of the site’s unique features is a “Jump” button, which Smith programmed himself. It sends viewers to a random spot on the page. “I’m trying to give everyone on the site exposure, not just the ones at the beginning,” he explained. He also has compressed files to shorten the time required for the site to load, and plans to continue making tweaks to ensure easy access for users. “It doesn’t even take as long as some regular sites,” he said. Another feature he plans to implement is a contest in which viewers can vote for their favorite contribution. He hopes this will encourage innovation among contributors. “If you’re more creative you’ll get noticed more,” he said. If he reaches the mile goal, he also plans to offer a $1,000 reward to the designer of the best Flash design, as chosen by viewers. Smith, an industrial design major, admitted that balancing a burgeoning Web site with full-time course work can be challenging. “I have all these things envisioned for it, but I don’t have any time to do them,” he said. When users submit the content to him, he resizes images and makes any other necessary changes. Usually new content is live within 24 hours after he receives it, though emergency situations sometimes intervene. “The first day where it really expanded, I was stuck in an airport,” he said. “It grew four feet in a couple of hours, but I couldn’t work on it at all.” Requirements for submitting content are listed on the site, but Smith said there are few restrictions. “What I don’t want is pornography or gambling sites, and nothing blasting ‘free’ in Flash or offering free things on the site because it doesn’t look tasteful,” he said. However, users can submit movies, photographs, artwork, advertisements and personal dedications. In addition to the Flash award, when he reaches the mile goal he plans to contact the Guinness Book of World Records. He doesn’t know if they’ll publish the accomplishment, but he’s optimistic. “I think if I had 35,000 contributors who built a mile-long Web site it would get noticed,” he said. He also thinks the unique horizontal structure and contents of the site will help set records. “It’s a mural in random ways,” he said. “It’s sort of an artwork in itself.” Prior to starting the Mile Wall, Smith didn’t have extensive Web design experience, though he follows Internet-related news and has operated another site, www.tsautoart.com, to display and market his paintings. In fact, a link to that site is the first listing on the Mile Wall. “I’ve been selling my art online for five years or so,” he said. “I’m already thinking of other crazy ideas I can do with the Internet. I’ve never done anything like this.” In the meantime, he is enjoying himself and adding a significant accomplishment to his résumé. “If I’d gotten a job, I think I would have actually made more money, but it’s fun,” he said. And the dividends already are apparent. “I’ve actually been offered a couple jobs because of this,” Smith said. |
|
|