#27727
Don't Force New Windows on Users
A web site should never force new windows on users. If it is necessary as exception to the rule, target="_blank" is the method to use. JavaScript's window.open does not send information about the referrer in IE.
Tverskov, Jesper. Smack the Mouse (2003). Design>Web Design>Usability
#23985
Don't Get Burned by Bad Mapping
The term mapping describes the relationship between a control, the thing it affects, and the intended result. Poor mapping is evident when a control does not relate visually or symbolically with the object it affects, requiring the user to stop and think, 'what's going to happen when I turn this knob?'
Greenwood, Wayne. Cooper Interaction Design (2002). Design>Web Design>Information Design>Usability
#21086
Donation Gravity: An Analysis of Donations Made to the Red Cross through Amazon's Honor System
In light of recent terrorist attacks on the United States, Amazon.com set up a page to collect donations for the Red Cross. Over the course of about two and half days, I recorded the donation activity on that page. An analysis of the data revealed that the average amount of money donated by each person steadily increased (i.e., donation gravity). This manifestation of donation gravity is discussed, along with several usability ideas that can help you design a better online donation web page.
Rhodes, John S. WebWord (2001). Design>Web Design>E Commerce>Usability
#19291
Obviously it isn’t true that download times don’t matter. Presumably the research methods used to arrive at such conclusions are flawed in some way – or alternatively Jared is so keen to convey the importance of other factors than simple speed of download (a noble aim in itself) that he is willing to inaccurately dismiss download speeds as completely irrelevant. Either way, this kind of statement is hardly a good advertisement for the usability industry.
Farrell, Tom. Frontend Infocentre (2001). Design>Web Design>Usability>Bandwidth
#11865
Drop-Down Menus: Use Sparingly
Drop-down menus are often more trouble than they are worth and can be confusing because Web designers use them for several different purposes. Also, scrolling menus reduce usability when they prevent users from seeing all their options in a single glance.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2000). Design>Web Design>Usability
#19006
I denne artikel ses der på dynamisk hukommelse i relation til usability. Usability har I realiteten altid handlet om metoder (eller heuristikker jf. Nielsen) som skal sikre, at brugeren kan forstå det indhold, som bliver tilbudt på et givent site. Dette er naturligvis vigtigt og relevant, men det er alt sammen underlagt brugerens kontekst, og denne kontekst er igen underlagt brugssituationen.
Quark, The (2002). (Danish) Design>Usability>Methods>Web Design
#24552
Prevent major user annoyance by checking all your web forms: feedback, comment posting, product orders, newsletter sign-up, newsletter opt-in, unsubscribe option, site registration, etc. When a form won't submit, or otherwise fails, after user inputs lots of data, it causes extreme ill will toward your web site, and may be legal violation (UCE laws).
Streight, Steven. Blogger.com (2004). Articles>Web Design>Forms>Usability
#24734
People are increasingly relying on web channels to check on their billing relationship with companies. The problem: Not all billing applications present information that’s easy to navigate and action.
Szuc, Daniel and Gerry Gaffney. Usability Professionals Association (2004). Articles>Usability>Web Design
#30221
E-Commerce Imagery: Persuading with Pictures
The use of effective images to sell online is crucial. Read through these essential guidelines and find out how to use images to increase conversion rates.
Kodali, Mrudula. Webcredible (2007). Design>Web Design>Usability>E Commerce
#19607
This website is for people who want to improve the usability of their e-commerce site.
Userfocus (2003). Design>Usability>E Commerce>Web Design
#10554
I am personally calling this the year of the e-Tailer. I have seen more hype in e-commerce this year than in any other holiday season in the past including the year the almighty Amazon.com launched its e-commerce site. I consider myself an avid web user and I know what it takes to develop a full-fledged e-commerce site because I have been there in the trenches developing some of those sites in time for the holiday season. I have seen battles won and lost in as few as a week's time. Nothing turns me off more than a poorly constructed e-commerce site and this year, the numbers seem to be taking a turn for the worse.
Finck, Nick. Digital Web Magazine (1999). Articles>Usability>Web Design
#18663
Although his books mostly predate the Internet phenomenon, Tufte's ideas certainly have applications in web site design. As was pointed out on a handout, they can also be used for teaching, news graphics, technical illustrations, displaying financial data, decision-making, animation, and a host of other areas. It appeared that many in the audience were primarily interested in web design, and Tufte spent some time discussing this.
Kuro5hin (2001). Design>Web Design>Usability>Technical Illustration
#25405
The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effect of different web page text/background color combinations on users' retention and subjective perception. One hundred and thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: black text on a white background (BW), white on black (WB), light blue on dark blue (B), or teal on black (TB). They then studied two Web pages, with a color combination consistent with their group assignment. One page contained information on the Neuron and the other consisted of information on a fictitious TV/DVD player. After studying each page they completed a quiz and survey. Analysis of the data indicated: a) Retention scores did not differ as a function of text/background color combinations; b) BW and B pages received the highest ratings for readability, and TB the lowest; c) B pages received the highest ratings for the aesthetic qualities; d) BW pages were perceived as most 'professional'; e) Subjective readability ratings significantly predicted retention; and f) Users view 'professionalism' as more strongly related to readability than aesthetics. Taken together, these results indicate that the relationship between font/background color combinations and outcomes is complex and often inconsistent with web guidelines posed by 'web gurus'.
Hall, Richard H. and Patrick Hanna. University of Missouri-Rolla (2003). Design>Web Design>Usability>Color
#19333
Forms are often an essential element of an application or website. In fact they are the most popular way of gathering information or encouraging user feedback. Given the sort of information that forms are used to collect (such as registering for a service, or placing an order), the importance of ease-of-use hardly needs to be emphasised. These are tasks central to the success of many online businesses.
Farrell, Tom. Frontend Infocentre (2000). Design>Web Design>Usability>Forms
#22376
Search result pages must make information easy to find and present results in a format that is easy to use.
Bohmann, Kristoffer. Bohmann Usability (2000). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search
#24516
Learn how to create site navigation so your users can find what they're looking for quickly and efficiently, ultimately increasing their satisfaction with your site.
Moss, Trenton. Webcredible (2004). Design>Web Design>Usability
#27527
The Effects of Line Length on Reading Online News
This study examined the effects of line length on reading speed, comprehension, and user satisfaction of online news articles. Twenty college-age students read news articles displayed in 35, 55, 75, or 95 characters per line (cpl) from a computer monitor. Results showed that passages formatted with 95 cpl resulted in faster reading speed. No effects of line length were found for comprehension or satisfaction, however, users indicated a strong preference for either the short or long line lengths.
Shaikh, A. Dawn. Usability News (2005). Articles>Web Design>Typography>Usability
#23120
Effects of Link Arrangement on Search Efficiency
The subjects that used the 155-link Web pages had a significantly faster search time using a three-column link arrangement, while the two-column link arrangement had the slowest search time. Results for the 30-link Web pages did not show a significant difference in search times for any specific link arrangement.
Dietrich, Jon, Karen Gordon and Marc Wexler. SHORE (1997). Design>Web Design>User Centered Design>Usability
#26487
Eight Guidelines for Usability Testing
Eight essential guidelines for usability testing, helping you to plan, run and analyse usability tests.
Fidgeon, Tim. Webcredible (2005). Design>Web Design>Usability>Testing
#21160
Eight Quick Tips for a More Usable E-Commerce Web Site
If you are a Web site developer and you want to create a safe, warm, and comfortable e-commerce environment for your users, then you will want to consider several issues. Start first by thinking about your own online shopping and purchasing concerns. What do you like? What don't you like? What do think are the indicators of online security and personal and financial privacy?
Rhodes, John S. WebWord (1999). Design>Web Design>Usability>E Commerce
#23236
Many web sites considered robust and healthy by their owners may be suffering from one of these eight life-threatening diseases.
Streight, Steven. Webcredible (2004). Design>Web Design>Usability
#25850
Eleven Common Web Page Design Frustrations And How To Cure Them
Information is the ultimate reason for your web site's existence. Your Web site should transparently communicate its content. Anything that interferes with the immediate and intuitive transfer of information between you and your web site visitor undermines your web site's success.
Parker, Roger C. NewEntrepreneur.com (2000). Design>Web Design>Usability
#18401
Emotion & Design: Attractive Things Work Better 
Advances in our understanding of emotion and affect have implications for the science of design. Affect changes the operating parameters of cognition: positive affect enhances creative, breadth-first thinking whereas negative affect focuses cognition, enhancing depth-first processing and minimizing distractions. Therefore, it is essential that products designed for use under stress follow good human-centered design, for stress makes people less able to cope with difficulties and less flexible in their approach to problem solving. Positive affect makes people more tolerant of minor difficulties and more flexible and creative in finding solutions. Products designed for more relaxed, pleasant occasions can enhance their usability through pleasant, aesthetic design. Aesthetics matter: attractive things work better.
Norman, Donald A. JND.org (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Emotions
#18574
'Viewability' on a Web site may not imply 'usability.' Real Websters know the difference. For example, a recent Web-mag cartoon shows a puzzled 'visitor' in front of a store front. A sign says 'Come on in.' However, the visitor fails to see any door. It's obscured by the Las Vegas pizzazz and animatronic geegaws soliciting attention willy-nilly. Have you seen such Web sites?
Schaffer, Eric M. Intranet Journal (2001). Design>Web Design>Usability
#23272
Enabling Extremely Rapid Navigation in Your Web or Document
This article presents information design techniques that apply to web sites, help systems, hardcopy, and online documentation. When the standard document navigation structures are provided, readers can rapidly survey the scope of a web or document and jump to the pages of greatest interest. This article explains the nature and benefits of detailed outlines and recommends that web authors provide a reasonably detailed and structured outline of their web site. Surfing the web can be speeded up greatly by loading fewer irrelevant pages and by giving users an (additional) alternative to page-by-page exploration, thus avoiding the lost-in-hyperspace syndrome. The distinctions between overviews, tables of contents, full-text searches, database keyword searches, and topical indexes are explained, to justify providing multiple approaches for the reader.
Hoffman, Michael. Hypertext Navigation (1997). Design>Web Design>Usability
