Analysis of the official homepage of Ron Paul, by Armin Ruch

 

About the text:

 

This text is about the official homepage of Ron Paul, specifically

 

-         communication situations

 

-         Site structure

 

-         Hypertextuality

 

-         Inclusion of social software

 

-         Interactivity

 

-         The idea of a “Ron-Paul-Galaxy”

 

Aim: provide an overview over how and why the official homepage of Ron Paul has been designed as it is.

 

 

Communication Situations

 

In regard to the communication situation focus will be placed on

 

-         broadcast vs. unicast

 

-         private vs. public sphere

 

 

Site structure

 

Site structure will focus on

 

-         the design of the page

 

o       possible reasons for the design used

 

-         navigation within the page

 

o       unicast

 

o       broadcast

 

Hypertextuality

 

It will be analyzed how and where visitors of the page are directed by integrated hypertext elements

 

 

Inclusion of social software

 

A list of all social software integrated into the Ron Paul page will be provided. Further emphasis will be put on

 

-         use of social software

 

o       youtube

 

o       friendster

 

o       justin.tv

 

o       meet up

 

 

Interactivity

 

This part will focus on

 

-         how visitors of the page can communicate with Ron Paul

 

-         how visitors of the page can communicate between each other

 

 

Ron-Paul-Galaxy

 

The term “Ron-Paul-Galaxy” serves as metaphor a interwoven network of sites and functions available through the official home page of Ron Paul. The Ron Paul Galaxy has the potential to keep a user within the network of the Galaxy by links provided. The user has to enter a new url in order to leave the Galaxy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broadcast vs. Unicast

 

 

 

 

Broadcast is understood as a communication model where one source sends information to various sinks. In broadcast communication the amount of sinks is of no importance as it does not affect the stream of information send by the source. Until the information reaches the sinks and therefore “splits” (it does not physically split) the information stream is identical for all sinks.

 

 

 

For example, a radio station that broadcast does not send out a signal for each and every radio receiver. No matter how many radios are turned to that station, the radio transmission is the same.

 

In computer networks and home pages the term broadcast can be applied to sites that provide a static information. That means, no matter when and from where I access the page, the information remains the same.

 

 

 

Unicast is understood as a communication model where one source is communicating with one or several independent sinks at the same time. Other than in broadcast, where one data stream is used by several sinks, in unicast communication the sinks do not share any of their data streams. Therefore, limited only by the technical capability of the server, several users can access different information at the same time.

 

 

In regard to the internet, one homepage can be accessed by different users that request different information. Youtube for example serves thousands of viewers at the same

time with different videos. Even if two users access the same video at the same time they do not share the same data stream.

 

The page of Ron Paul features elements of broadcast and unicast. Users who access the page do so on an individual data stream. While one user might request to read an article by Ron Paul another user can still watch a video or place an order in the Ron Paul store. That is evidence for a unicast communication. Yet, the page does not offer many different options of communication. Mostly the site is constructed from text and picture elements that remain static and do not offer any interaction. Therefore, as the screen picture of one viewer of the starting page does not differ from the picture another viewer might access.

 

One of the examples for unicast are the videos included into the page. They differ for every user and indicate unicast communication. Still, as the page remains to appear very static, the image of broadcast communication remains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private vs. Public Sphere

 

In the following text the terms “private” and “public sphere” will be used. The author of understands the term private sphere as everything a person

 

-         has to access in person or by providing his authentic personal information

 

-         is only accessible by the person or by persons he permits into his private sphere

 

In regard to computers and the internet the private sphere describes anything that a person has to access as described above. In internet banking a person cannot fake his identity without criminal energy. On the other hand one can easily create a fake identity on the net that might appear as an authentic one. The paper will refer to those fake identities as fakesters. Only those aspects of the internet that are safe from fakesters are referred to as the private sphere.

 

 

 

 On the other hand, the public sphere describes all those areas of the web that can be accessed by anyone, individually or simultaneously. Youtube, for example, can be accessed by anyone at any time. Still, the videos are unicast and therefore individual. On the other hand, chat forums send their information simultaneously to everyone logged onto the page. All pages that do not request a loggin with confirmed identity can therefore be regarded as public spheres. Yet, as some pages only request fictive loggin identities they will be considered as semi private or semi public spheres.

 

The homepage of Ron Paul is designed to be a public sphere. It is supposed to reach as many net viewers as possible as it serves as an election advertisement. The nature of that cause requests it to be a public sphere. Still the homepage of Ron Paul contains elements of private sphere, too. Again, the nature of the element dictates the sphere. The homepage of Ron Paul features elements that request authentic information about the user, namely

 

-         ---the official donation web site

 

-         ---the merchandise store

 

-         ---the grass root campaign site

The three elements of the page can only be used if and only if authentic information is provided. In case of the donation site and the merchandise store, users do not only have to provide their identity, they also have to provide credit card information, an information regarded to be very private by most.  In case of the merchandise store and the grass roots campaign, users have to provide their address, again information rarely found on the internet.

 

The homepage of Ron Paul contains semi public elements, too. Users are encouraged to write about their affection of Ron Paul. They can explain why they decided to support him. Several users are highlighted and presented on the page for everyone to read. Therefore, on the first look this appears to fulfill all requirements for a classical private sphere, as the informants appear to be real; and they provide their names, professions and thoughts; information that everyone can access. Yet, it cannot be verified whether or not the informants used their real identity or used a fakester. Therefore, the “praise for Ron Paul” elements have to be considered as semi public information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site structure

 

The page of Ron Paul provides the user with all links and hypertext necessary to navigate through the page with the use of the mouse only. It is not necessary to enter any information via the keyboard in order to navigate to every part of the public sphere. Only on entering the private sphere elements of the page one needs to use the keyboard to enter information. That makes navigation easy for the user. From the start page one can reach not only all areas of the site via a large navigation bar on the top of the page, one can also enter the sites of various social software. Some information within the page can be reached not only via the navigation bar but also via hypertext and links within the individual sites. It seems that a correlation between the importance of the information and the numbers of different accesses exists. The more important some information is for the designer of the site, the more options he creates to get to that particular information. By an analysis of the links and hyperlinks of the site one can at least have an impression of what the site’s creator perceives as important or not.

 

In regard to unicast and broadcast, similar observations to those about the use of the keyboard can be made. Mainly in private sphere situations the user communicates in unicast. Even though, by definition, all communication with the Ron Paul site is unicast, most information is static and therefore appears like broadcast. It is impossible to interact with the site, further the site’s content is not changed often or on demand by the user. Therefore, the site of Ron Paul appears like broadcast information. The fact is remarkable, as most users of the web 2.0 would expect more interactivity. Yet, more interactivity and unicast would demand higher download rates and processor capability. As the page intents to please all visitors and the target group are person that are legitimate voters, the page is fast to download and to access. Even though it cannot be verified, evidence seems to suggest that the page values fast access and easy navigation over technical gimmicks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

H Hypertextuality

 

 

 

 

 

 

As suggested previously, from the number of links and hyperlinks to an information one can draw conclusions about the information’s value to the site’s creator. Therefore, an analysis of hypertextuality on Ron Paul’s site has been conducted. Questions to be answered were

 

-         where does hypertext appear on the page of Ron Paul

 

-         where does the hypertext lead the user

 

 

Where does the hypertext appear on the page of Ron Paul

 

 

 As the graphic shows, most hypertextuality appears in the area “Get involved”. All other areas of the page do not feature hyperlinks. Again, this information can be connected to the broadcast and unicast situation. The less hypertext a section of a site contains, the less the section appears as unicast. The first three sections of the navigation bar lead the user to information about Ron Paul and what he stands for. No hyperlinks are added for the user to verify the information from external sources. That information will be discussed further in the section about the Ron Paul Galaxy.

 

Answering the question about where hyperlinks appear on the page of Ron Paul, they mostly appear in the section that asks user to get involved. That seems to be the most valued.

 

Where do the hyperlinks lead to?

 

As suggested earlier, it is important to examine where hyperlinks lead the user to. In case of the page of Ron Paul the answer is fairly simple. Almost all hyperlinks lead the user to further information about Ron Paul. Further, most of the information that is linked to is dedicated to motivating users to contribute to Ron Paul’s cause financially or personally. Links that do not link to the page dedicated to financial contributions or grass roots campaigns are linked to pages that support the idea of donating to Ron Paul, for example a link to the fec, dedicated to inspecting donating campaigns.

 

If one agrees to a correlation between the amount of links to a page and the value of the page within a site, the most important element within the page of Ron Paul is the page for financial contributions followed by the one for grass root campaigns.

 

 

 

Inclusion of social software

 

Th the site of Ron Paul includes links to a variety of social software on the net.

 

            
-justin.tv

 

-         -You tube

 

-        - Stumble upon

 

-        - Meetup

 

-        - Facebook

 

-        - My Space

 

-        - Flickr

 

-        - Digg

 

-        - Twitter

 

-        - LinkedIn

 

-        - iPhone Network

 

Each of the links leads the user to an area of the page that is exclusively dedicated to Ron Paul. This information will be further discussed in the section about the Ron Paul Galaxy. Ron Paul is the candidate with the highest user affinity on all popular social softwares.

 

With the examples of

 

-         you tube

 

-         flickr

 

-         friendster

 

-         justin TV

 

-         meetup

 

this paper will analyze whether or not the private sphere of an user will be affected by joining one of Ron Paul’s information sites within the social software. Further it will be analyzed whether or not the pages broadcast or unicast the information.

 

Youtube

 

In order to access the Ron Paul section of Youtube the user has to klick the link on the Ron Paul page. So far, the user is in a public sphere and does not have to identify himself. That way he can access all the films within the section. Only if he wishes to comment on a film or post one himself he has to log in. In order to log in he needs an account. To create an account he has to enter personal information. Still, as no authentic personal information is needed and the user hides behind a fictive name. None of the personal semi private information appears in the public area of the site.  You tube is only a semi private sphere. For most viewers it stays a public sphere. Any information on the page is available as unicast.  As members of Youtube can communicate with each other, the page fulfills the requirements of social software.

 

 

Flickr

 

The site Flickr does not differ in its communication pattern or its affection of the private sphere. Viewing is free for everyone, one does not have to log in. In order to comment or to post, one has to create an account with fictive information. No personal information appears in the public sphere. The information on the page, pictures linked to Ron Paul, are available as unicast. As members of Flickr can communicate with each other, the page fulfills the requirements of social software. H

 

 

Friendster

 

Ron Paul has an account on the Friendster site. Members of friendster can post personal information that later can be accessed by other users. The information appears to be authentic and true and therefore as parts from the private sphere of the user. Yet, as the information is not checked on authenticity, the page can only be regarded as semi privat. Users that become friends of Ron Paul can be seen as such by any other user. Ron Paul could access all the friends of his friends, four dimensions down. Therefore, friendster  as a social software does not only link fakesters to Ron Paul but also the fakesters friends. This will be discussed further in the section about the Ron Paul Galaxy. The information provided by friendster is unicasted.

 

 

Justin TV

 

Justin TV provides its users with a site to chat. Further, it gives the users access to several web cam live streams of other users. This way users can access the web cam stream of several Ron Paul related web cams. Here, differing from the previous pages, the information is broadcasted. Each web cam has a stream that is only available in real time. The same information is provided to all clients on the web. Same is true for the chat. Even though any participant, all of them fakesters, can participate in the discussions, the same information is send to all users. Therefore, Justin TV is an example for a social software that broadcasts instead of unicasts.

 

 

Meetup

 

Meetup provides its users with the ability to find users with the same interests. In case of Ron Paul, meet up provides a list of users that engage themselves in Ron Paul activities. The aim of the page is to accomplish the users to meet in person. Therefore, Meetup gives the users the opportunity to invade the other user’s private sphere; not online, but in person. As long as the user only meets others online, he can pretend to be his fakester identity. When it comes to face to face meetings he has to admit at least parts of his personal and private life, such as gender, age or color. Therefore, Meet Up is an example of private sphere interaction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interactivity

 

The site of Ron Paul offers the user the opportunity to communicate with Ron Paul. Yet, real interactivity is impossible as the page only provides edited information and the visitor can only consume that particular information. Interactivity is not provided for.

 

 

 

The user can send e-mails to Ron Paul or request for short messages to be posted on the page. It is not possible for the user to directly post anything on the page. All short messages that do appear on the page were previously edited by the staff of Ron Paul. This gives the viewer the assumption that he can actively contribute the page and have a constructive dialogue with Ron Paul and other users of the page. Yet, the interactivity is more like a mail conversation with the domain controllers.

 

Answers to e-mails are generated by the computer. Therefore all communication between the user and the page is unicast, even though the same answer is distributed to all contributers. Still, the conservation remains on a semi private level as the information is not validated.

 

Further, users can contribute donations to Ron Paul. In this case the unicast conversation is brought to a private sphere level. The user not only has to submit his real name, he has to provide information about his credit card, his nationality and other aspects of his private life. Even though the information is not made public, the user communicates on a private sphere unicast level.

 

Within the page, there are only small aspects of what seems like interactivity. Short video clips of Ron Paul can be viewed by the user at any given time. Still, it is impossible for the visitor of the page to place comments or feedback on the page.

 

 

 

 

The  Ron Paul Galaxy

 

The term Ron Paul Galaxy is used to describe everything that is directly or indirectly connected and controlled by the Ron Paul site. Even though the visitor of Ron Paul’s page seems to be navigating outside the influence of Ron Paul’s site, he often still is within the reach of his page.

 

A visitor of the official campaign page is aware that he is within the domain of Ron Paul and that he stays anonymous. Yet, when he clicks the link to youtube in order to watch a video about Ron Paul, he is not linked to the main page of youtube but to a subdomain exclusively reserved to Ron Paul. There, the user can watch all those videos that are produced by Ron Paul or about Ron Paul. Further, all video in this section can be edited by Ron Paul. It can be assumed that criticism will be hard to find there. Yet, as the user is on a subdomain of youtube, he must not be aware that he is still under to influence of Ron Paul. Of course the user can leave the subdomain for the main domain at any time, still, a subdomain of Youtube belongs to the Ron Paul Galaxy. As soon as the user posts a comment or a contribution under his fakester identity, he becomes a part of the Ron Paul Galaxy himself.

 

The situation is similar for the users of Flickr. As soon as they log in and contribute to the subdomain of Ron Paul, they become members of the Ron Paul Galaxy, even though it is only their fakester identity. A part of Flickr is therefore a part of the Ron Paul Galaxy.

 

The situation is more complicated in case of friendster. Here, members link themselves to others via so called friendships. If a user links his fakester identity to Ron Paul via such a friendship he becomes linked not only to Ron Paul, but to all friends of Ron Paul, too. Therefore, by linking oneself to a clear part of the Ron Paul Galaxy – the friendster page of Ron Paul – one links himself to the Galaxy. Yet, one is not only linked to his friends and the friend’s friends. This linking goes on for four dimensions. Therefore, not only does one link his own fakester identity to the Ron Paul Galaxy, one links a rat’s tail of his own friends and friends to the Ron Paul Galaxy without their knowing.

 

So far, we have seen how fakesters can link themselves to the Ron Paul Galaxy and how they link other fakesters with them. In case of Meet Up not only the fakesters but the private spheres of the members are linked to the Ron Paul Galaxy and with other person’s private spheres. As discussed before, Meet Up provides its members with opportunities to meet each other. Therefore, a fakester that enters the Ron Paul Galaxy and the area of Meet Up that is controlled by Ron Paul will eventually have to give up his fakester identity. Then, he will not only show others his private sphere, he will enter the other’s private spheres as well. As grass root activities are part of the ron Paul Galaxy, so are their members. By joining a grass root campaign via Meet Up, one links his private sphere with the Galaxy as well as with the private sphere of other members.

 

The Ron Paul Galaxy describes all areas that are linked to the official web site of Ron Paul. More or less obvious, the following areas belong to the Galaxy:

 

-         subdomains of social software

 

-         fakester identities of Ron Paul supporters

 

-         private spheres of Ron Paul supporters