1. Preface

The Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s English website was launched on February 1, 1996.  In order to make the website interactive, convenient, rich in content, real-time, user friendly, educational and unique, by world standards, the website--both the Chinese and the English versions--have undergone several revisions to meet these goals.  To further highlight the President and Vice President's ideals and visions about the country and to enrich the content of the website, the Office of the President began an overhaul of the English website starting April 2005.  The new and improved English version is scheduled to debut on December 23, 2005.  The date will mark the first time, since its inception nine years ago, the website will, from homepage to links, have an improved and distinctive facelift.

2. Features

In addition to providing high-quality, updated, diverse, sound, and comprehensive news and information, the new edition of the English website has added services, such as a Taiwan directory, a national vision section, important national statistics, and an improved search engine. Other features include:

(1) The homepage combines images of the presidential building, the emblem of the Office of the President and the national flag of the R.O.C. (Taiwan).  While creating the homepage, the use of soft and natural colors express the warmth of the Office of the President and help to make visitors browsing the website feel comfortable.

(2) There will be two editions of the homepage, the "morning" and the "evening" editions.  According to the current time in Taiwan, the homepages will be switched daily at six O'clock in the morning and in the evening.  The current time in Taiwan will also be shown at the top of the homepage.

(3) Patterns illustrating the country's five major festivals, New Year's, the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day, are designed to add diversity to the homepage and to give visitors a taste of the traditions and customs of the R.O.C. (Taiwan).

(4) The Office of the President is one of Taiwan's most-visited historical attractions.  The building is in the form of a double square with a pointed tower at the center of its facade.  The building is also the object of research to many local architects and historians.  Well-known architects Li Chung-yueh and Shiue Chyn, an architect and associate professor at Chung Yuan Christian University, were invited to give a detailed account of the construction and history of the presidential building for the new version of the English website.  In addition, the well-built and elegant Taipei Guest House, constructed in 1899 and the place where President Chen and past presidents receive foreign guests, is introduced to the website to add artistic flavor.

(5) Users will have a glimpse of the Office of the President through interactive photo images posted on the website.  A new section on the site will also incorporate these downloadable images so that users can use them as desktop wallpaper.

(6) The links to President Chen, Vice President Lu and the Introduction to the Office of the President will contain photo galleries.  Pictures of the first family, the vice president, and the changes to the presidential building over the past hundred years can all be viewed here.

(7) The foreign visits made by the president, the vice president, and the first lady are further enhanced by including news and photos of their visits.  Each tour is compiled into an album with a design that caters to the theme of the visit.

(8) The existing online art gallery serves as the bulletin board for the fairs and exhibitions going on in the presidential building.  The art gallery is open to the general public; however, photos of the art collections are posted on the website in order to attract web users to visit the actual galleries.  Users can also download or print out the images for free.

3. Conclusion

The new version of the Office of the President's English website aims to help foreign nationals, who are concerned about Taiwan, to deepen their understanding and experience of the country's democratic and prosperous society.  With an open and interactive design, the Office of the President welcomes everyone who visits the website to provide suggestions on how the Office of the President can better accommodate the needs of all people.