Virginia site is unique in its integration of design issues, human-computer interaction, and dynamic information access. Other systems use some of the same components, but this is the only one to combine those components in one system. The system accesses information that is straightforward and logical and is formatted consistently. It also incorporates principles of human-computer interface design, which means that the user does not have to scroll through several pages to view parts of an image or read a sentence. Within a year, the touch of a button will change all of the information from English to German, Spanish, French, or Italian.
Users logging onto the site have a choice of topics and search types indexed in various formats.
Geographical region maps and a listing of special and new information provide alternative methods of accessing finer points of the system . As a user interacts with the system, he or she makes selections that lead to information on the specific topics of interest to that individual. Marketing the Virginia tourism product is a primary goal of the system and a unique feature was to avoid providing the user with negative data. With the exception of specific attraction screens, graphics throughout the system are dynamically loaded at random, making the site different with every visit . One feature, called the notepad, allows users to create their own travel itineraries.