Usability for Diverse Users Class 16 Dr. Komlodi

PWU Rules of Usability Do not overuse bleeding edge technology and plugins Do not use 3D, unless there is a strong practical need Avoid bloated designs that cause information overload Do not use splash pages Avoid scrolling text and animated images Use standard UI widgets, avoid custom ones Always disclose the authors and sources of information Do not use made-up words Keep you content updated Keep your design and language consistent within sites Only ask for personal information if necessary Integrate your web presence into one site

Prioritizing Usability Problems Severity of usability problems calculated from: –Frequency: how often the problem occurs –Impact: how severe the impact is on the user’s experience –Persistence: does the problem happen only once or over and over again Weigh each of these according to the context of your site

What Causes the Most Problems Search Information architecture Content Product info Category names Layout Workflow Navigation Links

Diverse Web Users Diverse user groups, who differ in: –Physical capability –Cognition and perception –Personality –Culture –Experience –Gender –Age (Shneiderman, 1998)

Different Ages - Seniors Seniors –In U.S., 12 million people older than 65 were online as of October 2005 –Current websites are twice as hard to use for seniors as they are for younger users Their problems? –eyesight, precision of movement, and memory Design for seniors –Larger font sizes - at least 12-point type as the default –Links, command buttons and other interaction objects - reasonably large to be easy to click –Limit the use of pull-down menus and other moving interface

Different Ages - Children How children differ from adults? –Physically, socially, and cognitively –Have limited linguistic abilities, communicative capabilities, motor, technical, and critical thinking skills Examples: –Younger children, especially non-readers or beginning readers, tend to rely on visual and auditory cues, rather than on textual directions

The Trouble with Pulldowns You have to seek them out They’re hard to scan They’re twitchy –Requires motor control – seniors and children are not always steady with the mouse

What are the problems? How can we make it easier for children?

Color: Age & Gender Gender –Male: cooler colors (blues, greys, black) e.g. –Female: warmer colors (reds and oranges). e.g. Younger vs. elder audience –Younger: brighter, more solid colors –Elder: more subdued colors

Cultural Aspects of Design Navigation modes (e.g. Arabs read from right to left) Country-specific icons, symbols, pictorials, and artifacts (e.g. mailbox icons, flags and emblems, architecture, regional plants, trees, foods, custom, and attire) Conventions and formats (e.g. date, currency, name, address, measurement scales, and weight units) Preferred content ( e.g. Arabic cultures discourage the use of pictures of men, women, and animals but like elaborate text in a calligraphic style)

Color & Culture ColorChinaJapanEgyptFranceUnited States RedAnger Danger AristocracyDanger Stop BlueHeavens Clouds VillainyVirtue Faith Truth Freedom Peace Masculine GreenMing Dynasty Heavens Future Youth Energy Fertility Strength CriminalitySafety Go YellowGrace Nobility Happiness Prosperity TemporaryCowardice Temporary WhiteDeathNeutralityPurity Happiness Good luck Birth Wealth Power Death Purity Death Joy

Why Cultural Customization? Higher web site usability, accessibility, and interactivity A more favorable attitude toward the site. A state of “flow” and browsing comfort. Increased purchase intentions on the site.

USA

Japan

Argentina

Lebanon

Hungary