An Inconvenient Truth Essay

Superior Essays
One of the suggestions Al Gore makes at the end of An Inconvenient Truth, his documentary about global warming, is to buy a hybrid car. This seems like a simple solution to reducing our dependence on oil and decreasing our carbon dioxide footprints. However, as with any other technology, it’s important to know all of the costs and benefits before running out to the car dealer. These cars are expensive, and the technology is new, so consumers must inform themselves before taking such a big financial step. The first site to come up in a Google search for information about hybrids, not surprisingly, is “HybridCars.com.” It doesn’t seem possible that the first try at a big search engine would reveal the desired results, but upon close
examination,
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Berman points out, “We maintain a strict policy of editorial independence. We welcome the possibility of site sponsorships, with the provision that sponsors will in no way influence the truthful and candid presentation of the facts about hybrid cars.” It is refreshing for users to see this policy so clearly spelled out and easy to find. The site editors also point out that although they are strongly in favor of hybrid cars, they do not shy away from presenting information that is critical of any product or technology. The pro-hybrid bias of the site is mitigated by the balanced articles that can be found there.
It is clear upon reading some of the articles on the site that the editors are true to their word. One down side of hybrid technology is battery disposal. The site features a prominent link to an article about this problem, rather than ignoring it or glossing over the truth. The article spells out the problem, compares it to the disposal of conventional car batteries, and points out what manufacturers are doing to recycle these batteries. It admits that there are problems, but that solutions are within reach. In addition, a look at the “FAQs” link reveals answers to the most frequently asked questions about hybrids. Predictably, most of the answers are aimed
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Clicking on “Gas Mileage,” for example, reveals a mileage chart of each brand of hybrid car in a readable and convenient format, as well as tips for increasing fuel efficiency and anecdotes from hybrid drivers. Each link is equally thorough and easily navigated. Best of all, the navigation bar is always visible, so there’s no reason to use the browser’s “back” button to find the previous page unless the user leaves the site to visit one of the advertisers.
The site design is also consistent and user-friendly. There are very few graphics to distract the reader from the information, and soothing colors are used sparingly. The weakness in the site’s design is the clutter on the right hand side of the screen. There is a large column of ads, as well as a newsletter subscription box and a price quote search box. The inclusion of these items leaves less room for content: only about a three inch column between the navigation bar and the other graphics. However, since many readers prefer a narrow column width when reading lengthy articles, this is not necessarily a disadvantage. To be fair, the ads and other graphics are

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