web design and usability. web design has become increasingly complex first generation sites are...
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Web Design and Usability
Web design has become increasingly complex
First generation sites are simply default backgrounds with "wall to wall" text,horizontal rules and links. Mainly designed by technologists
Second generation sites include visual treatments such as
web maps and an opening page with menu options.
Web Design and Usability
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Web Design and Usability
•A third generation site had an entry that entices the user to pursue paths that are designed for their own needs and interests.
•The "core" page entices visitors to explore the rest of the site, with an exit with rewards for completing the entire site.A site may have multiple core pages for different visitors or entry points.
• Third generation sites often employ metaphor and visual theme entice and guide, creating a whole experience for visitors from entry to exit
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Web Design and Usability
•Fourth Generation sites and beyond…
Include scalable sites, high quality graphics,browser and plug-in detection, streaming audio-visual content, increased functionality, data tracking, e-commerce sites
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CLIENT SIDE SERVER SIDE
• HTML
• Client-side
scripting
(JavaScript,
plug-ins)
• Multimedia
• Browsers
network
• Web server
• CGI scripting
• Databases
• Advanced
programming
(PERL, C++)
TCP/IP
TECHNOLGY
When considering principles of design for the WWW, we find that
technology and design oftenshare a co-dependent relationship
design
Design Vs Technology?
Some design issues to consider
Concept (use of analogy or metaphor) Structure Functionality Navigation Page layout Colour schemes Interactivity User Feedback Use of media Quality Vs. Download time
Considerations in web design
Project Management
Design
Technology
Task tracking and team management
Budget & schedule
Client interface
4 values of Web Design
Design Value--integration of text, graphics and interface for unity of experience
Content Value--rich, up-to-date, quality information Production Value--quality control of technology for
excellence/speed in digitized format Utility Value--interactivity through the site (what can you
do, get or accomplish at the site) Siegel, David
Site structure and navigation
Purpose Functions Structure Navigation
Site Structure and navigation
Varieties of site structure
Linear Hierarchical Mixed Mesh/Web
Site Structure and navigation
Linear
Site Structure and navigation
Hierarchical (strict)
Site Structure and navigation
Mixed
Site Structure and navigation
Mesh
Hosting
Domain name registration Hosting
can be in-house and outsourced According to Forrester Research 66% of Fortune 1000
companies outsource their web sites to professional hosting services
the cost of hosting the site will depend on how much disk space is required and how much traffic the site gets
Hosting
Find the right hosting solution for the client’s needs: guaranteed bandwidth guaranteed response time security scalability traffic tracking
Usability
Usability is …ISO Definition:…the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which a specified setof users can achieve specified goals in particular environments…
concerned with how easy an interface is to understand and use
concerned with being able to map user intentions to system actions in order to achieve some goal
feedback on the action is crucial
Usability
Effectiveness: user is able to carry out actions and achieve intended goal
Efficiency: goal is achieved within some specified time frame
Satisfaction: how acceptable the system is to the user
Usability
User ActionApplicationReaction
Feedback on action
Interface
Usability Heuristics (measures)
Navigation Help instructions and support Support in carrying out actions Error handling Consistency Functionality
Usability Considerations (web)
Response times Content presentation Link colours Navigation Large amounts of text Scannability Scrolling Searching
Nielsen
User Centred Design (UCD)
Involvement of users throughout the design process
Users are central to the design process Easier to understand software Improves user satisfaction Improves productivity
User Centred Design (UCD)
Three processes:
Consultative Representative Consensus
User Centred Design (UCD)
Consultative design design team makes decisions users - source of information
Representative design user representatives involved in decision making e.g. Joint Application Development (JAD)
User Centred Design (UCD)
Consensus design:
Users are continually involved throughout the design process
Can speed up decisions if user has appropriate authority
E.g. Participative design
References
Norman, D., (1988) The Psychology of Everyday Things, Basic Books
Faulkner, X., (2000) Usability Engineering, Macmillan
Elsom-Cook, M., (2001) Principles of Interactive Multimedia, McGraw Hill
Nielsen, J., (2000) Designing Web Usability, New Riders
Powell, A. (1998). Web Site Engineering. Prentice Hall.
Siegel, D. (1997). Secrets of Successful Web Sites. Indianapolis: Hayden Books.
For further information…
HCI and INTERFACE DESIGN• Mullet and Sano (1995) Designing Visual Interfaces. Prentice Hall PTR. ISBN: 0133033899 • http://www.ergogero.com/
ACCESSIBILITY• http://www.usabilityfirst.com • http://www.rit.edu/~easi • http://www.rnib.org • http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/QuickTips • http://www.dyslexia.com/qaweb.htm COLOUR• http://www.umist.ac.uk/UMIST_OVS/UES/COLOUR0.HTM • http://tsi.enst.fr/~brettel/colourblindness.html