Possibly of interest to media students or to those studying statistics and the presentation of numerical information, Celebdaq is probably most useful to online educators as an example of a fun, media rich concept website. The high level of innovative and sophisticated interactivity, the use of video and the constantly changing content is what makes this site so engrossing. Celebdaq won the 2004 BAFTA award for best entertainment website.
Unashamedly focussed on pop culture and “celebrity,” Celebdaq is a mock “stock exchange” where participants trade in celebrity “shares.” Members are given ₤10,000 on joining and told to “go spend.” Dividends are paid on shares according to the amount of media coverage the star receives each week. Share prices rise and fall accordingly.
It’s an elaborate and dynamic website where information is continually being replaced and updated. There are charts, graphs and tables of every description and the user has a great deal of control over what they view and how they view it.
Several BBC television shows complement the site and these can be viewed from the website if you have broadband. You can check the current worth of your shares at any time by clicking on “My Portfolio” or you can have emails sent to you daily. It is possible to “trade” using SMS messaging on your mobile phone. At any time you can view your “place” in the game (I am currently 71,075th). Teams or individuals can compete against each other in easily set up “mini-leagues,” adding another level of competitiveness to the game. The amount of choice in terms of how the user interacts with the site helps to make it so engaging.
Celebdaq has the appeal of Monopoly (“Imagine if all this money was real!”) combined with a guilty flick through Who magazine. The site has an enormous following in the pop culture obsessed UK - the internet is full of unofficial discussion boards where the obsessed examine the week’s highs and lows and give each other “hot tips.” I can see how it could become quite addictive. I am now checking my Ewan McGregor shares daily and am still debating whether or not to sell the Queen...
Those looking for innovative ways to construct online educational resources, courses or simulation environments should find a lot of inspiration in Celebdaq.
