More than 83 percent of Internet users are likely to leave a web site if they feel they have to make too many clicks to find what they're looking for.
Arthur Andersen
From error to error one discovers the entire truth. Sigmund Freud
In my last posting (Usability Basics: Keep the User Informed) I talked about how the interaction with other humans differ from interactions online because of something called a feedback loop- the ability we have of constantly assessing the verbal and non-verbal communication that is happening. (more…)
“The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” Joseph Priestly
When we interact with another human (hey, remember those?!) we’re in a constant feedback loop- we can see his or her facial expressions, hear variations in voice tonality, observe changes in body language, and even anticipate responses based on what we know about his or her personality. Interacting with websites (or software) is vastly different. Unless a clever engineer or smart usability consultant was involved the interaction can seem more like talking to a brick wall than a modern communication medium.
“The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.”
Mark Twain
It wasn’t until after I got my Kindle, Amazon’s electronic book, that it dawned on me- “Why didn’t Amazon do this years ago?” Considering they’re one of the biggest channels for moving books one would have thought selling a device that taps into their distribution channel as seamlessly as the Kindle does would be a no-brainer. Eventually Amazon had its “ah-ha” moment, probably after witnessing the popularity of the iPod and the iTunes music store. (more…)
Ron has more than fourteen years of experience in roles such as Senior Business Analyst, Information Architect, and Usability Consultant.
Ron has worked with software applications, websites and, most importantly, people. Read more >