The purpose of the internet is communication, preferably interactive communication. The best forms of communication are those that are
direct, clear and easy to access and respond too.
At its very core usability is making something work well and simply for all concerned. Usability does not need to throw up barriers to
creativity or to reduce choice and sophistication. Indeed it can be argued that by making the process simple, correctly applied usability can create a
framework that allows more creative options and greater richness of content.
Well engineered internet usability lays the foundation for a rewarding, successful experience for the user and smooth administration
for the operator.
Effective internet usability relies on creating a division between what needs to be thought about and what doesn't need to be thought about.
Then making the latter so intuitive and obvious that users can concentrate on the bits that really require thought and decision
making. The next requirement is to make the bits that do need thought as helpful and coherently presented as possible. An investment in the
architecture and design of this process will provide great benefit for users who will appreciate and gain value from from the experience and operators who
will have engaged, connected customers.
So the first rule of internet usability is 'don't make me think - when I don't need to' and the second rule is 'if I do need to think, be
gentle with me'.
The key is to be obvious and self evident. If it is a clickable button, make it absolutely obvious that it is a clickable button, and conversely
if it isn't a clickable button don't make it look anything like one. Ensure names and titles are clear and unambiguous. Make the typography work for
clarity and legibility and use colour to enhance not mask. Convention can help too by placing buttons and tools where users will expect to
find them.
Visitors are scanning and not reading. They are having a look and seeing if anything interests them, so the bigger the arrows and the brighter
the pathway, the more chance they will look further.
Good navigation requires obvious and self evident signposts, guides and tools and the use of standard conventions as well as:
Clear visual hierarchies
Defined areas of difference
Minimal visual noise
Also fundamental to the task of good navigation is having a clear sense of location and direction on every page. A good test to determine how well
a website is signposted is to discover how well the following questions are answered if you were to drop in on a site at a random page:
What is the name of this site? - Website identification.
What page am I on? - Page name.
What are the major sections in this site? - Section names.
What is on this level? - Local navigation.
Where am I? - Location indicators and mapping.
Where do I search? - Search mechanism.
In exactly the same vein, content, in particular written content, needs to be relevant and succinct. Omit needless words. If
at first it seems too short it is probably twice as long as it should be. Remember that users are driving by at speed.
direct, clear and easy to access and respond too.
At its very core usability is making something work well and simply for all concerned. Usability does not need to throw up barriers to
creativity or to reduce choice and sophistication. Indeed it can be argued that by making the process simple, correctly applied usability can create a
framework that allows more creative options and greater richness of content.
Well engineered internet usability lays the foundation for a rewarding, successful experience for the user and smooth administration
for the operator.
Effective internet usability relies on creating a division between what needs to be thought about and what doesn't need to be thought about.
Then making the latter so intuitive and obvious that users can concentrate on the bits that really require thought and decision
making. The next requirement is to make the bits that do need thought as helpful and coherently presented as possible. An investment in the
architecture and design of this process will provide great benefit for users who will appreciate and gain value from from the experience and operators who
will have engaged, connected customers.
So the first rule of internet usability is 'don't make me think - when I don't need to' and the second rule is 'if I do need to think, be
gentle with me'.
The key is to be obvious and self evident. If it is a clickable button, make it absolutely obvious that it is a clickable button, and conversely
if it isn't a clickable button don't make it look anything like one. Ensure names and titles are clear and unambiguous. Make the typography work for
clarity and legibility and use colour to enhance not mask. Convention can help too by placing buttons and tools where users will expect to
find them.
Visitors are scanning and not reading. They are having a look and seeing if anything interests them, so the bigger the arrows and the brighter
the pathway, the more chance they will look further.
Good navigation requires obvious and self evident signposts, guides and tools and the use of standard conventions as well as:
Clear visual hierarchies
Defined areas of difference
Minimal visual noise
Also fundamental to the task of good navigation is having a clear sense of location and direction on every page. A good test to determine how well
a website is signposted is to discover how well the following questions are answered if you were to drop in on a site at a random page:
What is the name of this site? - Website identification.
What page am I on? - Page name.
What are the major sections in this site? - Section names.
What is on this level? - Local navigation.
Where am I? - Location indicators and mapping.
Where do I search? - Search mechanism.
In exactly the same vein, content, in particular written content, needs to be relevant and succinct. Omit needless words. If
at first it seems too short it is probably twice as long as it should be. Remember that users are driving by at speed.