What is Usability?What is Usability?

Features on the website that Features on the website that make it user-friendlymake it user-friendly

UsabilityUsability

According to Dictionary.com:According to Dictionary.com:

Usability is the effectiveness, Usability is the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with efficiency, and satisfaction with

which users can achieve tasks in a which users can achieve tasks in a particular environment of a particular environment of a

product. High usability means a product. High usability means a system is: easy to learn and system is: easy to learn and remember, efficient, visually remember, efficient, visually

pleasing and fun to use, and quick pleasing and fun to use, and quick to recover from errorsto recover from errors

Why is usability Why is usability important?important?

Users don’t read pages they scan themUsers don’t read pages they scan them– We are normally in a hurryWe are normally in a hurry– We don’t need everything on a pageWe don’t need everything on a page– We are good at itWe are good at it

Users don’t make optimal choicesUsers don’t make optimal choices– We chose the first reasonable option We chose the first reasonable option

Users don’t figure out how things workUsers don’t figure out how things work– We take little time to read instructionsWe take little time to read instructions– We make up our own plausible stories We make up our own plausible stories

about why it worksabout why it works– The instructions are not important usThe instructions are not important us

Don’t Make Me Think!Don’t Make Me Think!

What to keep in mind when What to keep in mind when designing a sitedesigning a site

Keep the site self-explanatoryKeep the site self-explanatory Why is it important to keep the Why is it important to keep the

site simple?site simple?– Makes everything look betterMakes everything look better– Good lighting in a storeGood lighting in a store

E-Commerce & E-Commerce & UsabilityUsability

Keep it simpleKeep it simple– Don’t use unnecessary graphicsDon’t use unnecessary graphics– Don’t use unnecessary technologies (flash, java, etc.) Don’t use unnecessary technologies (flash, java, etc.)

as you will be limiting your site to visitors who have as you will be limiting your site to visitors who have only the newest browsers that support these only the newest browsers that support these technologiestechnologies

– Most users are more concerned about the products Most users are more concerned about the products available on your site and the quality of your contentavailable on your site and the quality of your content

Always let your customers know where they areAlways let your customers know where they are– If your site is not easy to navigate, they may shop If your site is not easy to navigate, they may shop

elsewhere rather than attempt to figure it out furtherelsewhere rather than attempt to figure it out further– Always have a link available to the site mapAlways have a link available to the site map– Don’t disable browser functions (like the Back button)Don’t disable browser functions (like the Back button)

E-Commerce & Usability E-Commerce & Usability (cont.)(cont.)

Pack your site with informationPack your site with information– Put the most important information Put the most important information

at the top of each pageat the top of each page– Don’t overdo it. Make writing clear Don’t overdo it. Make writing clear

and avoid jargon termsand avoid jargon terms– Use a font and size that are easy to Use a font and size that are easy to

readread– Make sure there are no bad linksMake sure there are no bad links

Top 10 heuristics (accepted Top 10 heuristics (accepted standards) that are key to standards) that are key to

usabilityusability1.1. Visibility of system statusVisibility of system status

2.2. Match between the system and the real worldMatch between the system and the real world

3.3. User control and freedomUser control and freedom

4.4. Consistency and standardsConsistency and standards

5.5. Error preventionError prevention

6.6. Recognition rather than recallRecognition rather than recall

7.7. Flexibility and efficiency of useFlexibility and efficiency of use

8.8. Aesthetic and minimalist designAesthetic and minimalist design

9.9. Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from Help users recognize, diagnose and recover from errorserrors

10.10. Help and documentationHelp and documentation

Top 10 Mistakes in Web Top 10 Mistakes in Web DesignDesign19961996

1.1. Using FramesUsing Frames

2.2. Gratuitous Use of Bleeding Edge TechnologyGratuitous Use of Bleeding Edge Technology

3.3. Scrolling Text, marquees, and constantly running Scrolling Text, marquees, and constantly running animationsanimations

4.4. Complex URL’sComplex URL’s

5.5. Orphan pagesOrphan pages

6.6. Long scrolling pagesLong scrolling pages

7.7. Lack of navigation supportLack of navigation support

8.8. Non-Standard link colorsNon-Standard link colors

9.9. Outdated informationOutdated information

10.10. Overly long download timesOverly long download times

Top 10 Mistakes in Web Top 10 Mistakes in Web DesignDesign19991999

1.1. Breaking or slowing down the back buttonBreaking or slowing down the back button

2.2. Opening new browser windowsOpening new browser windows

3.3. Non-Standard use of GUI (Graphical User Interface) Non-Standard use of GUI (Graphical User Interface) WidgetsWidgets

4.4. Lack of biographiesLack of biographies

5.5. Lack of archivesLack of archives

6.6. Moving pages to new URL’sMoving pages to new URL’s

7.7. Headlines that make no sense out of contextHeadlines that make no sense out of context

8.8. Jumping at the latest internet buzzwordJumping at the latest internet buzzword

9.9. Slow server response timesSlow server response times

10.10. Anything that looks like advertisingAnything that looks like advertising

Top 10 Mistakes in Web Top 10 Mistakes in Web DesignDesign20022002

1.1. No pricesNo prices

2.2. Inflexible search enginesInflexible search engines

3.3. Horizontal scrollingHorizontal scrolling

4.4. Fixed font sizeFixed font size

5.5. Blocks of textBlocks of text

6.6. JavaScript in linksJavaScript in links

7.7. Infrequently asked questions in FAQInfrequently asked questions in FAQ

8.8. Collecting e-mail addresses without a privacy policyCollecting e-mail addresses without a privacy policy

9.9. URL > 75 charactersURL > 75 characters

10.10. Mailto links in unexpected locationsMailto links in unexpected locations

Top 10 Mistakes in Web Top 10 Mistakes in Web DesignDesign20042004

1.1. Bad SearchBad Search

2.2. PDF Files for online readingPDF Files for online reading

3.3. Not changing the color of visited links.Not changing the color of visited links.

4.4. Non-scan able textNon-scan able text

5.5. Fixed font sizeFixed font size

6.6. Pages titles with low search engine visibilityPages titles with low search engine visibility

7.7. Anything that looks like an advertisement.Anything that looks like an advertisement.

8.8. Violating design conventionsViolating design conventions

9.9. Opening new browser windowsOpening new browser windows

10.10. Not answering users’ questionsNot answering users’ questions

VOTING AND USABILITYVOTING AND USABILITY

Voting itself is the ultimate Voting itself is the ultimate usability problem—people must usability problem—people must be able to vote accurately with an be able to vote accurately with an interface that is never the sameinterface that is never the same..

Butterfly BallotButterfly Ballot

A small change was made to the ballot in A small change was made to the ballot in Palm Beach County, Florida…increasing Palm Beach County, Florida…increasing the text size.the text size.

This move, meant to appease the elderly This move, meant to appease the elderly with trouble reading small text, forced the with trouble reading small text, forced the ballot from one to two columns.ballot from one to two columns.

This did not initially seem difficult to use This did not initially seem difficult to use but on voting day, a flood of people but on voting day, a flood of people complained of difficulty voting, and complained of difficulty voting, and mismatched candidates and incorrect mismatched candidates and incorrect results.results.

"The Secretary of State shall conduct a "The Secretary of State shall conduct a drawing of the letters of the alphabet, the drawing of the letters of the alphabet, the result of which shall be known as a result of which shall be known as a randomized alphabet. … There shall be randomized alphabet. … There shall be four drawings, three in each even-four drawings, three in each even-numbered year and one in each odd-numbered year and one in each odd-numbered year.“numbered year.“

RWQOJMVAHBSGZXNTCIEKUPDYFLRWQOJMVAHBSGZXNTCIEKUPDYFL

One version used 16 sizes and styles of One version used 16 sizes and styles of typetype

CaliforniCaliforniaa

FloridaFlorida

Design IssuesDesign Issues

Aprox. 18,000 votes were discarded Aprox. 18,000 votes were discarded Overvoting (write-ins)Overvoting (write-ins) Undervoting (flip over page)Undervoting (flip over page) No uniformityNo uniformity ArrowsArrows Instruction placementInstruction placement Step by step directionsStep by step directions

India’s EVMIndia’s EVM

India is the world’s largest India is the world’s largest democracydemocracy

In May, 380 million Indian’s cast In May, 380 million Indian’s cast electronic votes electronic votes

Largest experiment in electronic Largest experiment in electronic voting; considered a successvoting; considered a success

How the machine How the machine worksworks

A column of buttons runs down the side A column of buttons runs down the side and next to each button is a paper slip and next to each button is a paper slip with politician names. Voters show an with politician names. Voters show an I.D. card and then push a button in I.D. card and then push a button in correspondence to the desired candidate. correspondence to the desired candidate.

http://www.diebold.com/dieboldes/http://www.diebold.com/dieboldes/OnLine_Demo/screen1.htmlOnLine_Demo/screen1.html

Is Voting Technology Is Voting Technology Better?Better?

There’s no right answer yet. With e-There’s no right answer yet. With e-voting, etc. privacy, security and trust voting, etc. privacy, security and trust are all at risk, even more so than with are all at risk, even more so than with paper and traditional vote casting paper and traditional vote casting methods, and results can be just as methods, and results can be just as equally misinterpreted or equally misinterpreted or misrepresented.misrepresented.

It all comes down to usability as It all comes down to usability as computerization alone cannot improve computerization alone cannot improve elections.elections.

BibliographyBibliography

Boros, J., (March 13, 2005). Boros, J., (March 13, 2005). Evaluating an E-Commerce Site's Evaluating an E-Commerce Site's UsabilityUsability. Retrieved April 19, 2005, from . Retrieved April 19, 2005, from http://www.morebusiness.com.http://www.morebusiness.com.

Jones, D. (2001). Jones, D. (2001). A Brief Illustrated History of Voting. A Brief Illustrated History of Voting. Retrieved Retrieved April 17, 2005, from April 17, 2005, from http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/voting/pictures.http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/voting/pictures.

Krug, S. (2000). Krug, S. (2000). Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web UsabilityApproach to Web Usability. Indianapolis: New Riders . Indianapolis: New Riders Publishing. Publishing.

Kunerth, Jeff (October 23, 2004). Florida ballots still have design Kunerth, Jeff (October 23, 2004). Florida ballots still have design flaws, experts say. flaws, experts say. Orlando SentinelOrlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 17, 2005, . Retrieved April 17, 2005, from LexisNexis.from LexisNexis.

Nielsen, J., (April 11, 2005). Nielsen, J., (April 11, 2005). Current Issues in Web UsabilityCurrent Issues in Web Usability. . Retrieved April 19, 2005, from http://www.alertbox.com.Retrieved April 19, 2005, from http://www.alertbox.com.

Scanlon, J., (October 6, 2003) Scanlon, J., (October 6, 2003) Wanted: A Legible Voting BallotWanted: A Legible Voting Ballot. . Retrieved December 13, 2004 from Retrieved December 13, 2004 from http://www.slate.comhttp://www.slate.com..

Weiner, E. (September 29, 2004). Weiner, E. (September 29, 2004). The Bombay BallotThe Bombay Ballot. Retrieved . Retrieved April 17, 2005 from http://www.slate.com.April 17, 2005 from http://www.slate.com.