Usability Considerations For Developing Web Applications

1. Usability ConsiderationsFor DevelopingWeb Applications Mihail V. Mihaylov (Mike Ramm) CEO, RammSoft www.rammsoft.com The Key To Your Success RammSoft February 20, 2008

2. Web Site Vs. Web Application • Web application • Business use • Interactive • Design • Utility • Usability • Security • Web site • Information • Monologue • Design • Aesthetics • Navigation • Security

3. Why Use Web Applications? • Widely accessible • Easy deployment • Easy management • Simple interaction

4. Reasons To Avoid Web Apps • Local network • Fast interaction • Standard interface • Typing activities • Security / Control

5. Types of Web Applications • Intranet applications • Local language applications • Internationally used • Commercial applications • Workload and security considerations

6. What Is Usability? • System design approach • Puts the user at the center of the process • Addresses the relationship between tools and their users • A tool must allow intended users to accomplish their tasks in the best way possible

7. Usability Factors • What does usability depend on? • How well the functionality fits user needs • How well the flow through the application fits user tasks • How well the response of the application fits user expectations

8. A Broad Definition • A quality of a system that makes it • Easy to learn • Easy to use • Easy to remember • Error tolerant • Subjectively pleasing

9. A Narrow (Formal) Definition • Ease of use • Measures how easy it is to use a product to perform prescribed tasks • Usefulness • Measures whether the actual uses can achieve their goals • Utility • The ability of the product to perform tasks

10. Utility Examples • Windows calculator

11. Utility Examples • MS Word for DOS

12. Methods of Achievement • User-centered design • Incorporates user concerns from the beginning of the design process • Dictates that the user needs should be foremost in any design decisions • Usability testing • Testing with ordinary users • Feedback • Slogans Don’t Work

13. Other Aspects • Likeability • People tend to like highly usable products but a well-liked product is not always usable • Usability testing primarily measures performance, not preference • You can use standardized questionnaires to measure preference across products

14. Other Aspects (2) • Discovery • Looking for, and finding, a product’s feature • Learning • The process by which the user figures out how to use a discovered feature • Efficiency • The point at which the user has “mastered” the feature

15. Why Is Usability Important? • For the customer • Better productivity • Low costs • Profit • For the users • Less pain • Professional improvement

16. Why Is Usability Important? (2) • For the development company • Reduces the number of support calls from users • Reduces training costs • Increased user acceptance • Differentiates your products from those of your competitors

17. How to Achieve it? • Early focus on users • Concentrate on understanding the users needs early in the design process • Integrated design • All aspects of the design should evolve in parallel, rather than in sequence • Early and continual testing • Iterative design

18. Why Doesn’t it Happen? • Not an explicit project goal • PMs do not see the tradeoffs • The unseen impact on the system architecture • Confusing customers with users • Technical focus on the project • Feature-based design vs. scenario-based design • Diffusion of design authority

19. UI Design Principles • The customer is not the user • You don’t know what your user wants • Observe user’s activities • Test early, test often, then test again • Talk one language • Use metaphors • Make difficult decisions

20. UI Design Principles (2) • Let the user work • Prevent, don't scold • Give sufficient feedback • Don't lose the user • Don't keep them waiting • Accessibility for disabled

21. Web UI Concepts • Explicitness • Be perfectly accurate • Use verbose phrasing • Grouping and segregation • Put related things together • Separate and distinguish them • Make everything browsable

22. Web Application Paradox • Server-based design • The client has a lot of options to impact the design • They don’t use them

23. Design Tips • Do not use small fonts • Do not use color or textured backgrounds • Use pop-ups carefully • Screen resolution • Accessibility for disabled • Put important things at the top and left • Test on different browsers

24. Accessibility Tips • Have menus always available • Use a navigation bar • Have search ability on top

25. Amazon Example

26. Accessibility Tips(2) • Windows can be resized • Use flexible layouts • Do not make them scroll horizontally • Beware of the “Back” button • Avoid using long pages • Create page menu (summary)

27. Wikipedia Example

28. General Form Usability Tips • Avoid using long forms. Use wizards instead • Avoid reloading the page on every click. Load some lists at the client

29. Registration Form Usability Tips • Don’t ask for more information than is required • Distinguish required fields from optional with an asterisk (*) • Make the email address the username • Clearly define password requirements • Ask user to confirm email and password

30. Alibris Example

31. Registration Form Usability Tips (2) • Avoid security questions, instead send a confirmation email with login details • Make sure your registration form is internationally usable • Don’t use unreadable captchas

32. Captcha Examples

33. Captcha Examples (2) • Hotmail • Yahoo!

34. Tips for Commercial Applications • Don’t ask the user to register at first • State benefits of registration using a bulleted list • Avoid hiding important information in graphics that look like ads • Allow customers to enter billing address and credit card information at a later date

35. Thank You! • Email: mikeramm@rammsoft.com • Official website: • http://www.rammsoft.com • Professional blogs: • http://pmstories.com • http://spriipomisli.blogspot.com