WebWatch: Testing Web Page Design Concepts for Usability

editor — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 23:00:00 +0000

Dey Alexander and Derek Brown demonstrate how the layout of a Web page has a direct influence upon users' capacity and willingness to engage with a Web site.

In order to identify the extent to which visual designs assist users to locate particular elements that might be contained on a Web page (such as search, site-wide navigation, and local navigation), we used a usability testing method described by Tullis [1] to test a set of five Web page design concepts. All text elements on each of the designs were "greeked", or turned into nonsense text. This meant that users had to rely on the communicative aspects of each design in order to perform their tasks.

Web Focus: The Web on Your TV

editor — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 23:00:00 +0000

Brian Kelly takes a look at a digital TV box which provides Web and email access in your living room.

The potential for use of television for accessing Web resources has been suggested for a number of years without having any significant impact. However the growth in use of digital TV technologies may provide another opportunity for accessing Web and other networked resources from the comfort of your living room.

This article introduces the Netgem i-Player digital TV player and describes the implications for Web developers if such devices grow in popularity.

Table of contents: issue40

WebWatch: Testing Web Page Design Concepts for Usability

Web Focus: The Web on Your TV