Post by Takumi Odo on Jan 25, 2015 20:28:50 GMT -8
Part 1 Five Things That Enhance the Web Usability
1. Getting rid of “Happy Talk”
We should include as few introductory text as possible, which rarely carries the useful information. It helps the users to “see more of each page at a glance without scrolling.” Introductory text often includes “how great they are” and “what makes them great,” which is to socialize with the audience, but the truth is, most of the web user are unlikely to have time for the “small talk.” Same thing can be said for instructional texts. Web users barely read them unless they cannot figure out how a site works after they try multiple time. Therefore, a web site should be as self-explanatory as possible or make them minimum.
2. Well-designed Navigation
It often discourage users to come back or even use a site if the users feel lost in the site. When people enter a website they are usually looking for something, and they either brows, go straight to a search bar or brows for a while and eventually end up using the search bar. Therefore, it is very important to have well organized hierarchies and a search box. The “you're here- indicator” should be as clear as possible. Making it larger and different colored allows the indicator stand out and hard miss. Home page botton is a must-have. It is just like “North star” as Steve Krug says, gives the user a sense of direction and a fresh start when they get lost.
3. Interest the audience and let them know what the site is for instantly
As Krug brings up an experiment about first impression often ending up as a final impression, it is very fair to say first few seconds after the user enter the website is very crucial. Well thought out tagline helps the user know the what the site is about instantly. Web designers often wants to use less words for multiple reasons. However, we should make sure to let the audience know the big picture of the site since; it is not necessary obvious to everyone, it would not be as annoying as a designer think it might be, the idea that audience who know what the site is about in the only audience is not true, and audience should be reminded why they are attracted to visit the site when they get the information of the site from TV, magazine or outside of the site.
4. Courtesy (maintaining the goodwill of users)
There are certain things that can “diminish the goodwill.” The site looking amateurish, asking unnecessary information, and having to do too many things before what they really want to do, for example. On the other hand, there are factors that can increase the goodwill. Saving the users' steps before what they need to do, apologize when in doubt. It is also important to update current information to the site. They get frustrated when they cannot find information they need in the site, and eventually they are likely to leave and not only do not come back to the site but would have a negative image about whole company of the site. Especially, when the users are in hurry, the extent of frustration can go up much faster and easier.
5. Accessibility
A web site should be designed as every person , with or without disability, is able to use the web site. Krug mentions that “almost every site I go to still fails on my second-three accessibility test.” He brings up, as an example, “the size of the type.” When a developer design a web site, he/she should take as many as aspect into the consideration of how a single content could be accessible to anyone.
Part 2 Vimoe
1 No Happy Talk. There is no unnecessary text of introduction or instruction. It is pretty much self-explanatory, but still, there is help section for those of people who cannot figure out how the site work.
2 Navigation is well-designed. It is clear that which section I'm at with the high lightened color indicator. There is also home page button on left top of the site so that it is hard to get lost.
3 Simple taglines that explain what's the major purpose of the site. There are taglines each section that remind a user how interesting and what a user can do to enjoy or use the site. On the section of “On Demand” videos, a tagline “Discover and buy incredible titles directly from creators — most of the money goes directly to them.” introduce how it is different from the other site or other sections within the site. Though some people might know this already, the tagline is simple and moderate but loud enough for a new audience to notice.
4 It is fairy simple and saves the steps before a needs, and do not ask too many information that we are not sure what they need them for. They apologize when their system is not working for some reasons and update what is going on or when it would likely to be back on. Those thoughtful service makes me want to continue to come back to the site in the future.
5 Unfortunately, there is no subtitle available for video contents. However, there is speaking system that the website read aloud the contents of the site. Zoom in and out and adjusting text size are available. Though the absence of subtile is huge missing, but overall, this site can be enjoyed by variety of people.
1. Getting rid of “Happy Talk”
We should include as few introductory text as possible, which rarely carries the useful information. It helps the users to “see more of each page at a glance without scrolling.” Introductory text often includes “how great they are” and “what makes them great,” which is to socialize with the audience, but the truth is, most of the web user are unlikely to have time for the “small talk.” Same thing can be said for instructional texts. Web users barely read them unless they cannot figure out how a site works after they try multiple time. Therefore, a web site should be as self-explanatory as possible or make them minimum.
2. Well-designed Navigation
It often discourage users to come back or even use a site if the users feel lost in the site. When people enter a website they are usually looking for something, and they either brows, go straight to a search bar or brows for a while and eventually end up using the search bar. Therefore, it is very important to have well organized hierarchies and a search box. The “you're here- indicator” should be as clear as possible. Making it larger and different colored allows the indicator stand out and hard miss. Home page botton is a must-have. It is just like “North star” as Steve Krug says, gives the user a sense of direction and a fresh start when they get lost.
3. Interest the audience and let them know what the site is for instantly
As Krug brings up an experiment about first impression often ending up as a final impression, it is very fair to say first few seconds after the user enter the website is very crucial. Well thought out tagline helps the user know the what the site is about instantly. Web designers often wants to use less words for multiple reasons. However, we should make sure to let the audience know the big picture of the site since; it is not necessary obvious to everyone, it would not be as annoying as a designer think it might be, the idea that audience who know what the site is about in the only audience is not true, and audience should be reminded why they are attracted to visit the site when they get the information of the site from TV, magazine or outside of the site.
4. Courtesy (maintaining the goodwill of users)
There are certain things that can “diminish the goodwill.” The site looking amateurish, asking unnecessary information, and having to do too many things before what they really want to do, for example. On the other hand, there are factors that can increase the goodwill. Saving the users' steps before what they need to do, apologize when in doubt. It is also important to update current information to the site. They get frustrated when they cannot find information they need in the site, and eventually they are likely to leave and not only do not come back to the site but would have a negative image about whole company of the site. Especially, when the users are in hurry, the extent of frustration can go up much faster and easier.
5. Accessibility
A web site should be designed as every person , with or without disability, is able to use the web site. Krug mentions that “almost every site I go to still fails on my second-three accessibility test.” He brings up, as an example, “the size of the type.” When a developer design a web site, he/she should take as many as aspect into the consideration of how a single content could be accessible to anyone.
Part 2 Vimoe
1 No Happy Talk. There is no unnecessary text of introduction or instruction. It is pretty much self-explanatory, but still, there is help section for those of people who cannot figure out how the site work.
2 Navigation is well-designed. It is clear that which section I'm at with the high lightened color indicator. There is also home page button on left top of the site so that it is hard to get lost.
3 Simple taglines that explain what's the major purpose of the site. There are taglines each section that remind a user how interesting and what a user can do to enjoy or use the site. On the section of “On Demand” videos, a tagline “Discover and buy incredible titles directly from creators — most of the money goes directly to them.” introduce how it is different from the other site or other sections within the site. Though some people might know this already, the tagline is simple and moderate but loud enough for a new audience to notice.
4 It is fairy simple and saves the steps before a needs, and do not ask too many information that we are not sure what they need them for. They apologize when their system is not working for some reasons and update what is going on or when it would likely to be back on. Those thoughtful service makes me want to continue to come back to the site in the future.
5 Unfortunately, there is no subtitle available for video contents. However, there is speaking system that the website read aloud the contents of the site. Zoom in and out and adjusting text size are available. Though the absence of subtile is huge missing, but overall, this site can be enjoyed by variety of people.
