Web usability
Web usability is the ease of use of a web site.[1] Some broad goals of usability are the presentation of information and choices in a clear and concise way, a lack of ambiguity and the placement of important items in appropriate areas. Another big concern for usability is that the website is appropriate for all ages and genders.
Methodology
As more results of usability research become available, this leads to the development of methodologies for enhancing web usability.[2] There are a number of usability testing tools available in the market.
eCommerce
In the context of eCommerce websites, the meaning of web-usability is narrowed down to efficiency: triggering sales and/or performing other transactions valuable to the business.
Web usability received renewed attention as many early e-commerce websites started failing in 2000. Whereas fancy graphical design had been regarded as indispensable for a successful e-business application during the emergence of internet in the 1990s, web-usability protagonists said quite the reverse was true. They advocated the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid), which had proven to be effective in focusing end-user attention.
See also
- Eye tracking, a fast and accurate usability tool
- Multivariate testing, a statistical testing of user responses
- Web navigation
References
- ↑ Nielsen, Jakob. (August 2003). Usability 101: Introduction to Usability. Alertbox: Current Issues in Web Usability. Retrieved from http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
- ↑ GOSS Interactive. (October 2011). Conducting a website review and implementing results for increased customer engagement and conversions. Retrieved from http://www.gossinteractive.com/community/whitepapers/conducting-a-website-review-and-implementing-results-for-increased-customer-engagement-and-conversions
External links
See also the "External links" section for the Usability article.
- Usability.gov—usability basics with focus on web usability
- Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility—accessibility is a crucial subset of usability for people with disabilities. This W3C/WAI suite includes a section on involving users in testing for accessibility.
- Usability News from the Software Usability Research Laboratory at Wichita State University
- Usability Professionals' Association—Organization for people practicing and promoting usability
- The Usability Methods Toolbox
- Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox—A bi-weekly column about current issues in web usability
Online books
- The (Usable) Web Style Guide
- User In Your Face—A free, online book about user interface design, written in installments