Received 2 February 2015, online published 20 March 2015 DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, Vol. 35, No. 2, March 2015, pp. 124-131 DOI: 10.14429/djlit.35.2.8396  2015, DESIDOC Design and Development of an Online Exhibition on the Tangkhul Tribe Festivals Somipam R. Shimray* and Chennupati K. Ramaiah** Department of Library & Information Science, School of Media and Communication Pondicherry University, Puducherry - 605014 E-mail: *srshimray@yahoo.com; **ckramaiah.lis@pondiuni.edu.in ABSTRACT Growth in information technologies in the area of multimedia, content production and the internet have opened new opportunities to online exhibitions, which could now hit on the exciting medium of world wide web (WWW) to make these exhibitions more reachable to people anywhere on the globe. The WWW is a vibrant place and has emerged as, an educational tool in today’s instructive environment. An online exhibition on ‘Tangkhul Tribe Festivals’ was developed using web design tools following ‘Prototype Development Method’. While developing an online exhibition, one has to keep the basic objectives of the HCI (human-computer interaction) in mind. Top priority should be given to the user interface design and related issues. The main purpose of this paper is to design and develop an online exhibition on ‘Tangkhul Tribe Festivals’ and evaluate the same with its real time users so that gaps or drawbacks could be identiied. An evaluation study was carried out using a questionnaire tool with closed-ended and opened-ended questions. The evaluation of this exhibition reveals that majority of the users are very much comfortable with the HTML version of online exhibition. Keywords: Online exhibition, user interfaces, user interface design, evaluation method 1. INTRODUCTION Shift from the physical to the online format has provided the visitors an altogether different understanding and experience that is not offered by the physical medium. Online exhibitions present useful and cost effective solutions when time, distance and space are limited. Instead of being open to the public at certain times of the day, they are available round the clock via internet, i.e., 24x7. An extra benefit is people need not travel all the way to the exhibition site to see it. Online exhibition is distributed right up to their homes and classrooms or everywhere via internet. The maintaining cost can be cut by keeping those objects in digital form. New materials can be added easily, while existing materials can be updated with less effort. This lessens the time and avoids costly physical space required to mount an exhibition. An online exhibition can display through internet which is accessible to everyone and reach beyond physical exhibitions. Online or virtual exhibition is the best way of disseminating information in digital form.1 Remarkable advancement of the internet was introduced during 1990s. Change from the physical to the online presentation has offered the visitors an overall diverse acceptance and experience that is not available in the physical medium. Exhibition comprises of commercial and non-commercial exhibitions. Physical exhibition communicates directly with the visitors whereas online exhibition can be viewed from anywhere and anytime via internet connection. Through exhibition maximum exploration of occasions and events can be done. Exhibitions act as a bridge between the anticipated audience and an organisation. For any exhibition user interface play an important role for successfully delivering its output. 1.1 Information About Tangkhul Tribe Festivals The Tangkhul tribe is one of the oldest and principal tribes in Manipur and is located in Ukhrul district. The Tangkhul tribe is well known for their colourful dresses and costumes, and for their lively folk dance and music. Light and dark brown is a formidable color combination that easily identifies the Tangkhuls from other tribes. Even before the arrival of Christianity, the Tangkhul tribe believed in the existence of divine being and its power over humanity or nature. According to them, Reisangchonmi is the creator of universe, Kameo refers to spiritual being, Ameowa is the master of all spiritual beings and Varivara is the almighty God 2 .