uswebusabilityproblems.ppt1 Web Usability Overview This workshop attempts to give a quick overview of web usability: by demonstrating some common usability problems and their causes by highlighting the most fundamental issue in web design - the notion of user- centered design

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt2 Web Usability: Topics What is web usability? Why is usability important? Common usability problems Ways to enhance usability Usability workshop Online resources

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt3 What is web usability? Usability is about ensuring that your website is easy to learn, effective to use and enjoyable for your target audience. Jakob Nielsen suggests that there are five aspects of usability: Ease of learning Efficiency of use Memorability Error frequency and severity Subjective satisfaction

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt4 Why is usability important? Research shows that users cannot find the information they want on Web sites about 60% of the time. This leads to wasted time,reduced productivity, increased frustration, and loss of repeat visits and money... Avoid this with user-centred design

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt5 User-centered design user-centered design approach: is based on knowledge of your website's potential users and their:  technological capacities  physical capacities  cultural context  information needs

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt6 Common Usability Problems 1. the inability to quickly locate information on a web site 2. getting lost or stuck in a site 3. inability to properly view page content or parts of it 4. page difficult to print 5. slow page download times

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt7 Common usability problems (1) Problem: the inability to quickly locate information on a web site

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt8 Common usability problems (1) Problem locating information Philosophy in Cyberspace too many steps required to navigate poorly named navigational aids All About Lawns inconsistent search engine placement search results

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt9 Common usability problems (1) Problem: the inability to quickly locate information on a web site Likely cause(s): (a) badly-designed navigation (b) site architecture inappropriate (c) no readily-accessible search facility (d) poor page layout/use of screen real estate (e) broken link(s) (f) out of date information

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt10 Common usability problems (2) Problem: getting lost or stuck in a site

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt11 Common usability problems (2) Problem: getting lost or stuck in a site Ask Jeeves (traps user in frame)Ask Jeeves

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt12 Common usability problems (2) Problem: getting lost or stuck in a site Likely cause(s): (a) badly-designed navigation (b) no site location indicators on pages (c) orphan pages (no internal links) (d) broken back button on browser (e) opening unnecessary browser windows

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt13 Common usability problems (3) Problem: inability to properly view page content or parts of it

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt14 Common usability problems (3) Problem: inability to properly view page content or parts of it Netspot (no text alternatives to images) Netspot

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt15 Common usability problems (3) Problem: inability to properly view page content or parts of it Likely cause(s): (a) page not cross-platform/cross-browser compatible (b) page not authored to web accessibility (WAI) standards (c) page not designed to 'degrade gracefully' in older browsers (d) page design does not take account of different monitor resolutions (e) HTML markup does not conform to standards (f) reliance on non-present client-side technology browser plug-ins) (g) faulty or inappropriate use of client-side technology

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt16 Common usability problems (4) Problem: page difficult to print Likely cause(s): (a) fixed page width too wide (b) inappropriate use of background colours/images (c) graphics used as text

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt17 Common usability problems (4) Problem: page difficult to print Victorian Government (fixed width page that's too wide to print) Victorian Government

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt18 Common usability problems (5) Problem: slow page download times Likely cause(s): (a) gratuitous use of graphics and/or multimedia (b) failure to optimize graphics (c) too much content on one page

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt19 Common usability problems (5) Problem: slow page download times Guide to Philosophy (page too long - 350Kb) Guide to Philosophy

uswebusabilityproblems.ppt20 Evaluating Web Usability Group Exercise: Website evaluation of usability Form groups Use checklist to evaluate one website Read the guide to web usability Present your views of strengths & weaknesses to the group Post group statement of strengths and weaknesses of website you evaluated and proposed changes to deal with 2 weaknesses Peer assessment of another group’s postings