Web usability
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Transcript of Web usability
8Rays
-by Mahesh Karipe
Book Review
Usability ?
An approach to make web sites easy to use
What is Usability?It is an approach to make things easy to use
Web Usability?It is an approach to make web sites easy to use
Web Usability - HOW?
Be consistent
Speak the user's language
Nothing important should ever be more than two clicks away
Don't Make Me Think!!
How do we make sure that a website is usable?
Be consistentSpeak the user's languageImportant things should not be more than 2 clicks away
To put them in ONE sentence
DON'T MAKE ME THINK
Things that make us THINK
For Example take a button
Its obvious that 1st one is clickable2nd one is not so obviousIt is very difficult to say that the 3rd one is clickable
Also, Don't use jargon in the websites
Use most common/simple language
Things that make us THINK
Also, Don't use jargon in the websites
Use most common/simple language
Things that make us THINK
Contd...
Consider a search box:
After all why should I have to think about how I want to search?
Contd...
Things that make us THINK
When you are creating a site, your job is to get rid of the question marks.
Create pages that are self evident or self explanatory
Contd...
Things that make us THINK
How we really use the Web?
Fact of Life #1:
We Don't read pages. We scan them.
Fact of Life #1:
We Don't read pages. We scan them.
FACT OF LIFE # 2 :
We dont make optimal choices. We satisfice.
We dont choose the best option
We choose the first reasonable option
FACT OF LIFE # 3 :
We dont figure out how things work.
We muddle through.
Have you ever seen people typing a URL in search box?
Why don't web users look for best option?
We are usually in a hurryWe have a lot of options (things) over the web
Billboard Design
Create a clear visual hierarchy
Take advantage of conventions
Breakup pages into clearly defined areas
Make it obvious what's clickable
Minimize noise
The more important something is, the more prominent it is.Things that are related logically are also related visually.Things are nested visually to show whats part of what.
Omit needless words
The art of not writing for the web
Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what's left
Unnecessary use of long text messages makes it time consuming and irritating.
Be short and precise
Store Navigation
Web Navigation
You are trying to find something
You decide whether to ask first or browse firstSearch-Dominant users
Link-Dominant users
Eventually, if you can't find what you are looking for, you'll leave
Web Navigation
Web Navigation Conventions
Basic Elements
Site ID
Sections
Subsections
Utilities
Page name
Local Navigation
Small text version (footer)
Conventions Evolve over a period of time
Most of them listed here are taken from the print media
Web Navigation Conventions
Persistent Navigation
Set of navigation elements that appear on every page of the site
Exceptions Home page
Forms
Web Navigation Conventions
Site ID
Position:
Purpose:
Site ID is a building name for a website
The most important use is, it lets you know that you are in the same website
Web Navigation Conventions
Sections, Subsections and Utilities
Sections - primary navigation
Subsections - secondary navigation
Utilities important elements that are not part of content Hierarchy
Web Navigation Conventions
A way to Search
AvoidFancy Wording (Ex: Quick Find, Quick Search or Keyword Search etc)
Instructions (Ex: Type a keyword blah blah... )
Options (unless necessary)
Simple: a box, a button, and the word Search
Web Navigation Conventions
Page Names
Every page needs a name
Needs to be in right place
Needs to be prominent
Needs to match what I clicked
Site ID is like a city name
And page name is like a street name
Web Navigation Conventions
You are here
Breadcrumbs:
Just as You are here indicator is present in a shopping mall or a Park
On the web, this is highlighted by navigational bars, lists, menus etc
Put a pointerChange the text colorUse bold textReverse buttonChange button color
Web Navigation Conventions
Tabs
A very good navigational choice
Self-evident
Suggest physical space
Must be:Drawn correctly
Color coded
Always selected
Web Navigation Conventions
Finally
What site is this? (Site ID)
What page am I on? (Page name)
What are the major sections of this site? (Sections)
What are my options at this level? (Local navigation)
Where am I in the scheme of things? (You are here indicators)
How can I search?
If your page is well designed, you should be able to answer these questions
Designing Home Page
Site identity and mission
Site hierarchy
Search
Registration and sign in
Teases
Timely content
Deals
Shortcuts
One should admit that home page is beyond our control
Home page has to accommodate these things
Designing Home Page
Conveying the BIG Picture
Firstly, The home page has to answer these things
Designing Home Page
Get the message - Tagline
Nothing beats a good tagline!
Good taglines:Are clear and informative
Convey differentiation and a clear benefit
Personable, lively and clever
Bad taglines:Are vague
Sound generic
Onthru Local Advertising Made Easy
Designing Home Page
Get the message Welcome Blurb
Make it scan-able
Be precise
Don't use a mission statement
Designing Home Page
User Navigation
The fifth question - Where do I startIf I want to search
If I want to browse
Home page navigation can be uniqueDifferent orientation
Section descriptions
More space for identity (Site ID)
Designing Home Page
Trouble with pull-downs
Pull-downs save space. ButContent is hidden
Hard to scan
Most effective for known names like countries, states or products
Less Effective for unknown list (where we don't know the name)
Designers tend to create more out of the home pageOne approach Is using pull downs
The Farmer and the Cowman should be friends
Who cares if 80% of people don't like pull downs!!!
Pull downs have an advantage and100% of people will like it, if it is used in the right sense, in the right place
The question should be
Does this pull down in this context creates a good experience for most of the people who use this site?
Usability Testing
Focus Group Testing
Usability Testing
If you want a great site, youve got to test.
Testing one user is 100 percent better than testing none
Testing is an iterative process
Select a user from target audienceAllow him to use the website while you are watching it
Usability Testing
Questions ??
Questions are guaranteed in life; Answers aren't.