Friday, January 07, 2005

Dont Make Me Think ! "A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability".

Hey Friends,

This is a post from long time back. A Book Don't Make Me Think made me to write
this book. I Got this book at right time, when I am doing changes in my blog
site. I will be writing a series of posts for information as I go reading this
book

The Book is by "Steve Krug" and is about the A "Common Sense
Approach to Web Usability".


There are few principles behind the web usability, I will write each one as
I found.

1) If Something requires a long investment of time or looks like that it will,
- It is less likely to get used.?

The Practical use of this principle I had send when I was working as a developer
for BlogStreet.com. We had a user Sign-Up page only with the three fields, those
Password. Of course we have given the option of Edit Profile where user can
add other things. And believe me that really worked.

Link: User Interface Engineering: www.uie.com

2) "Nothing important should ever be more that two clicks away " or
"speak the users language" or even "Be Consistent".

Mostly Use the Buttons rather than click able text links and have a 3 d effect
rather than the plain button. That makes it easy to find that this is click
able area.

3) Why are things always in the place , you look for them

Because you stop looking when you find them. We don't read pages we scan them.

4) It doesn't matter how many times I have to click, as long as each click is
mind less, unambiguous choice

I really do now agree with this better option could be remove the unneeded contents
from the page.

5) Web navigation













Real World Web World
A ) User either finds the Product on its own Or asks to clerk A) user finds the information by clicking or writes query in search box



Search
Link: www.useit.com

Search should be like

No extra words like keyword search or quick search and etc.

6) Every page needs name

7) every page needs a navigation (except Home and Forms)

8) Navigation should be like

You are here : Home > Hobbies > Book
collecting > Welcome

9) Tabs at top of page are best for navigation and those are hard to miss by
user

10) When using tab there should be one tab selected when user enters the site
because at this time impact of tabs counts most

11) Contents on any page of site those should catch your eyes.

a) what site is this ?(Site ID)

b) What page am I on? (Page name)

c) What are major sections of site ? (Section)

d) What are My options at This level ? (Local Navigation)

e) Where I am In the scheme of things ? (You are there Idicators)

f) How can I search ? (Search)

12) Tagline : A tag line is pithy phrase that characterizes the whole enterprise,
summing up what it is and what makes great. The tagline should appear right
below, above or next to site ID.

GOOD : Clear and Informative

e.g Worlds largest archive of cheat codes and game tips

Long enough i.e.6 to 8 words conveying full thought, differentiation and cleat
benefit.

BAD : vague i.e. the online music network

Sounds generic

13) Avoid the use of dropdowns they are now easy to scan and read, map or images
can be good option for that. e.g Map of country for selecting states.