Web Usability
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Transcript Web Usability
Dawn Pedersen
Web Interfaces
Web interfaces allow a user to interact with a
website.
The simplest web interfaces provide information
and allow the user to click between site pages.
Web Interfaces
More complex web interfaces act more like
software interfaces:
Accept and execute user commands.
Provide feedback to the user.
Allow users to rearrange interface elements.
Can update instantaneously.
Web Interfaces
Accept and execute user commands.
Web Interfaces
Provide feedback to the user.
Web Interfaces
Allow users to rearrange interface elements.
Web Interfaces
Can update
instantaneously.
Web Usability
Web designers need to consider the needs of users
when designing a web interface.
Usability refers to the degree to which a user can
quickly and confidently navigate a website.
Usability is typically the number one factor
influencing whether someone will stay on your site
or go elsewhere for what they want or need.
Web Usability
The following is a summarized list of tips for
making web sites usable. They come from the
legendary book about web design usability, "Don't
Make Me Think" by Steve Krug.
Don't make your visitors have to think. A web
page should be self-evident, obvious, selfexplanatory.
Recognize that visitors don't read pages. They
scan them, and they muddle through.
Create a clear visual hierarchy.
Web Usability
Create a clear visual hierarchy.
Web Usability
Break up pages into clearly defined areas.
Make it obvious what's clickable.
Web Usability
Keep visual noise to a minimum.
Omit needless words.
Web Usability
Create street signs and breadcrumbs in your
navigation. On any page, a visitor should be able
to answer these questions:
What site is this?
What page am I on?
What are the major
sections of the site?
What are my options at
this level?
Where am I in the
scheme of things?
How can I search?
Web Usability
Your home page must convey "the big picture" for
your visitors:
What is this?
What do they have
here?
What can I do here?
Why should I be hereand not somewhere
else?
Where do I start?
Web Usability
Nothing beats a good tagline.
Don't design for a mythical "average user." Test
your site with real, ordinary people.