 Website review: eHow
Tallulah Habib
In a time where you can be whatever you want to be, the internet brings you a site that will teach you how to do just about anything.
We've all been there. It's the day before your party and you realise you have no idea how to mix a Martini. Or perhaps you're sitting with your gardening implements spread out in front of you but can't figure out how to get that plant out of its pot without breaking it.
Once upon a time, the amount of things we could do was severely limited by our own skill sets. Unless you happened to have a library and a few hours to research, or knew the right people, you were pretty much stuck.
Now, however, we have the internet. And one of the best things about Web 2.0 is that sites like eHow.com exist, where experts in various fields can post instructions for the layperson.
Do you want to know how to make three-minute chocolate mug cake? Or perhaps learn how to do smokey eye-shadow? From the very basics skills you may have just missed out on – ironing a shirt correctly, for example – through to the more obscure “how to make perfume from vodka”, eHow probably has step-by-step instructions on how to do it, and even, possibly, a video to guide you along your way.
The how-tos are divided into categories for easy browsing, but there is also a comprehensive search feature that allows you to differentiate between articles, videos and users.
It wouldn't be a real Web 2.0 site if it didn't allow interactivity. eHow encourages you to submit your own videos and articles, rate the ones on there, even create a slide show of pictures of you doing a task to inspire others. Additionally, there's the social media aspect: join the forums, form groups, get to know the other users, and sign up for newsletters on your favourite topics.
eHow has over 150 000 How To videos that should provide hours of entertainment and fun. It’s an educational way of spending time online.
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