Introducing user-centred web design
Bruce Russell Auckland -- "Usable sites have a number of key characteristics, including:
• Their navigation is intuitive — it can be understood at a glance.
• Their content is written specifically for online delivery, not simply re-used from hard copy marketing collateral.
• Your customers don’t have to learn how to use the site – they can immediately see how to do everything they need to.
• Usable site content is often internationalised, so it can be easily read by those for whom English is not a first language.
• Accessibility guidelines are followed so that all customers can use the site, even those with poor eyesight or limited dexterity.
• Online help is visible on the screen where it is needed, if users do become confused.
• All the site features work properly, regardless of what browser software is being used.
Usability consultants, also known as information designers, can design usability into new sites or evaluate existing sites and make them more usable. A key strategy is to test sites with real users. Test subjects are asked to interact with sites and their reactions are observed. If the methodology is right, this can be done cheaply and quickly, with as few as three participants."
Read the entire article:
Part 1 in a series of four articles introducing user-centred web design
Published by: Computerworld.Co.NZ
Date: July 6, 2009
URL: http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/devt/EE349EDC63E0BA30CC2575EB00073F9E
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