P.4
Orb24, Digital Portal to Your Cyber-Home (Part I)

 Orb24 is a website that offers secured online storage for all your digital files. The concept is to offer people online real-estate for the construction of a cyber-home, which stores videos, photos, and other files etc.

“Orb24 acts as a secure, centralized digital portal that empowers online users to become digital architects. You can now create your own personalized Cyber Home, making your Orb24 account, the epicenter for all of your personal and/or business media conversion, storage and backup needs.”

The benefit of such a program is easy access to your digital life where ever internet is available. There is no need for any software download, which means you can also upload new files from any computer without any administrative clearance.

The company behind the website, Arkiva, was founded in 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by two South Florida businessmen, Bruce Roberson and Ken Goldberg. They both have extensive experience in the field of marketing and administration. The technical support is provided by APM Studios, which not only manages the contents of the website, but also offers service in analog conversion. They possess extensive experience in converting older video mediums such as VHS to digital files. Such service is offered through the site in addition to their storage service. I thought to bring Katrina up because it is unfortunate yet good example of how vulnerable our data are. when one think of storage what often comes to mind are things like poloroids, old photo albums, picture in antique frames etc. However our digital life is an more and more part of our memories as well. With all the files online it preserves the things that we want to hold on to.

Orb24 also offers several other features that distinguish it from other similar websites such as:

Share

Another valuable feature, and perhaps the most important, is the user’s ability to share his or her contents on Orb24 with others. With the “Orb it” option, one could broadcast a certain video, photography or film thought the website. Only people who are invited could see the content, it is secured from other members or browsers on the internet. This is an important distinction compared to Youtube, where the main selling point is the networking of video-surfing community. With Orb24, it’s more about the sharing of media contents with people you what to share them with.

Media Download

Orb24 places a strong emphasis on the accessibility of information. This is why it is an ideal place for media backup. For example, if one were to upload a full resolution photo from home computer, then he or she could access + download them easily from another computer. This strongly enhances the website’s versatility as a online storage space.

General Layout

The website has an easy to use organization that enhances its usability. After login tabs with names such as “Home, My Photos, My Videos, My Music” etc are conveniently located at the top of the web page where one could easily access all the different sections of the storage space. It makes easy for one who is technologically challenged, or has a large amount of different contents to organize. After clicking on one of the tabs, the contents of the section are organized by folder. In addition, a folder tree is provided on the left hand side to show the inter-relations between the folders with the section. It makes it very easy and locates a specific file.

Another thing worth mentioning is the tab Home, which offers all the contents of different parts of the storage at glance. They are like a wedge that displays and offers access to different contents. For example, under the My Photos widget, one could browse through a certain photo album, or click on it to access more detailed information, or “orb it” directly in Home page. This feature reminds me very much of “Pageflakes,” in the sense that it employs a strong sense of visual organization. Items are graphically laid out so there is no need to think about what exactly “untitled” is. let’s be honest here, i am sure we are all guilty on some level of an disorganized C Disk.

User Base

The targeted users are people who would like to store a large amount of data online for sharing with friends as well as accessing them from other places. It might possibly include YouTube user; however the main focus here is not social networking but sharing contents with people you know, intentionally. (ahum)

Orb24 is a valuable tool not only because it provides online storage space for people’s growing mobile, internet based lifestyle, but also in providing an easy way to access this   stored information. In my opinion it does no good if one could not access the information quick and painless. In addition, it is also important that the website requires limited knowledge of technology, which gives it appeal to a broader spectrum of audiences. The business strategy of combing online storage, media sharing and analog to digital conversion service in one place is brilliant. It offers a once stop place for people to step out of the VHS home video era and into the multimedia online sharing age.