Final thoughts on web usability:
1. Users vary in motivation – levels of engagement are divers
2. Cannot say ‘we want to show this cools stuff’ (Can’t impose joy or force joy by using aggressive video )
3. Help – usually doesn’t
4. Users fight back – inherently distrustful, don’t believe list is sorted by what’s best, don’t choose things that look like ads
5. Linear information path (not literally linear) – give a recommended next step (this is pleasant and removes the burden from the user)
6. Sign Post – tell users where they are (for example use bread crumbs)
7. Help people focus on what they want
8. Progressive disclosure – show a little then show more
9. Meet expectations – don’t break the flow (plug ins or downloads)
10. The web is a user-driven environment
11. Don’t be too template driven, some things need to be presented in different ways
12. Support the user's task, details matter, problems accumulate, break flow and lessen the sites credibility
13. Don’t let corporate structure shine through (your mental model vs. the customer) – usability testing removes the blindfold
14. Registration should not be a barrier – people may rebel (Lead generation – you will get less leads if you ask too early)
Showing posts with label usability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label usability. Show all posts
Thursday, May 22, 2008
NN/g Conference Notes #5: Give the user what they expect
Focus on the user – not the organization (don’t use jargon)
For example ‘current age’ is a common term for a retirement company – but it’s not common language for a user https://www3.tiaa-cref.org/reteval/RetServlet
World vision – the ‘gift catalog’ confuses users (they want to donate $, gifts seem like items to purchase) http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/master.nsf/home?Open&lid=wv_logo&lpos=topnav
Don’t use templates that create missing text
People don’t like to register – make the privacy policy clear and give them information first (don’t ask for registration before giving the user something)
People ignore the ads and internal promotion
User needs vary
PDF sucks (in all countries) and guidelines are the same in other countries
Don’t call things ‘tools’ – it sounds complicated, users shy away from ‘tools’
Consider the complexity of the underlying business rules, which may increase the complexity of the design and have an impact on usability
People REBEL – make faces, write a bad review, leave the website, and don’t look
Forced registration – turns people off
People will look at promotions that fit the style of the site and avoid the ads
Banner blindness is learned
Myth: People over 65 are slow and methodical. Some people over 65 are impatient if asked to wait they keep clicking
When using blurred or big images – think about the real estate on the page, what do you want the image to convey (If you are having trouble writing the alt-tag, re-think the purpose of the photo/image)
For example ‘current age’ is a common term for a retirement company – but it’s not common language for a user https://www3.tiaa-cref.org/reteval/RetServlet
World vision – the ‘gift catalog’ confuses users (they want to donate $, gifts seem like items to purchase) http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/master.nsf/home?Open&lid=wv_logo&lpos=topnav
Don’t use templates that create missing text
People don’t like to register – make the privacy policy clear and give them information first (don’t ask for registration before giving the user something)
People ignore the ads and internal promotion
User needs vary
PDF sucks (in all countries) and guidelines are the same in other countries
Don’t call things ‘tools’ – it sounds complicated, users shy away from ‘tools’
Consider the complexity of the underlying business rules, which may increase the complexity of the design and have an impact on usability
People REBEL – make faces, write a bad review, leave the website, and don’t look
Forced registration – turns people off
People will look at promotions that fit the style of the site and avoid the ads
Banner blindness is learned
Myth: People over 65 are slow and methodical. Some people over 65 are impatient if asked to wait they keep clicking
When using blurred or big images – think about the real estate on the page, what do you want the image to convey (If you are having trouble writing the alt-tag, re-think the purpose of the photo/image)
NN/g Conference Notes #4: Don’t break the Flow
Don’t break the FLOW
Installing software interrupts the flow, opening new window’s interrupts flow – people use the back feature and feel lost
Don’t have the user open a new window unless you want them to close it after completing a task
Too many choices, lowers satisfaction
Cascading menus is not a good idea (expand and collapse instead)
Save the user brain cells – predict the users next steps (give the user what they need when they need it)
Limiting clicks is less important than making each click productive
Give Signposts, Context & Feedback
The more links on a page = more likely that people will click the wrong link
People use bread crumbs (if you use them don’t let it drop –it’s a ‘signpost’)
Get feedback while waiting for something to load (don’t’ show the % progress – just a moving bar OR like http://www.kayak.com/)
User shouldn’t have to guess ‘what’s clickable’ – make it consistent
Confirm events (give feedback)
Installing software interrupts the flow, opening new window’s interrupts flow – people use the back feature and feel lost
Don’t have the user open a new window unless you want them to close it after completing a task
Too many choices, lowers satisfaction
Cascading menus is not a good idea (expand and collapse instead)
Save the user brain cells – predict the users next steps (give the user what they need when they need it)
Limiting clicks is less important than making each click productive
Give Signposts, Context & Feedback
The more links on a page = more likely that people will click the wrong link
People use bread crumbs (if you use them don’t let it drop –it’s a ‘signpost’)
Get feedback while waiting for something to load (don’t’ show the % progress – just a moving bar OR like http://www.kayak.com/)
User shouldn’t have to guess ‘what’s clickable’ – make it consistent
Confirm events (give feedback)
NN/g Conference Notes #3: Don’t impose Joy
Don’t impose JOY
You can’t impose joy (scary Avatar’s talking, video runs without choices, no control over the video).
Make a clear option to skip video.
Provide opportunities for joy.
Content is king – sometimes websites are cool because of the content
Make the links clear – for example http://zincbistroaz.com/ (where are the links?)
People with ‘low vision’ will use screen magnifiers – this is like looking through a paper towel – if you use hover text or cascading menus they can’t read it
Changing backgrounds can be distracting
Good example: NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ (people enjoy the content, video, contrast)
WebMD – recommendations for the next article lead people to information they didn’t know they needed – gives more opportunity to educate http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20080424/antsy-rheumatoid-arthritis-antidote (see ‘hot topics’).
Similar to You Tube, which gives new videos and helps people stay around
You can’t impose joy (scary Avatar’s talking, video runs without choices, no control over the video).
Make a clear option to skip video.
Provide opportunities for joy.
Content is king – sometimes websites are cool because of the content
Make the links clear – for example http://zincbistroaz.com/ (where are the links?)
People with ‘low vision’ will use screen magnifiers – this is like looking through a paper towel – if you use hover text or cascading menus they can’t read it
Changing backgrounds can be distracting
Good example: NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ (people enjoy the content, video, contrast)
WebMD – recommendations for the next article lead people to information they didn’t know they needed – gives more opportunity to educate http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20080424/antsy-rheumatoid-arthritis-antidote (see ‘hot topics’).
Similar to You Tube, which gives new videos and helps people stay around
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