Web Usability rules traffic news duiih

 The usability of a website increases the comfort of visitors





 Usability (in the field of web development) is the discipline that studies how to design web sites so that users can interact with them in the most easy, comfortable and intuitive way.


The best way to create a usable web site is conducting a user-centered design, designing for and by the user, as opposed to what may be a design focused on the technology or one focused on creativity or originality.


The usability of a web site is closely related to the "findability", how much easier is to the user navigate through a web site, most likely will find what you are looking for.


Findability (recoverability...) is the possibility that certain information be found, located or recovered. Or what is the same, the "accessibility" of a site or a web node (not to be confused with the accessibility of the content). "Findability" involves search engines and search indexes, the ing on our site to be recovered by search engines, the promotion we have made (by email, contests, banners...), etc... But the "findability" also covers the means available to our web site to find information within it, i.e., local search engines, correct the information architecture.


Evaluate the usability

Evaluate the usability of our web site may be something truly useful, since discovering what errors in design is our website is the first step in order to correct them. Regarding at what stage of the project it is most recommended to evaluate the web site, the following rule should be: how much later worse, since it will be more expensive to redesign all a finished site that redirect the line of development for better roads.



Principles to be followed in the design of usable web sites.

Prior to the user's needs.
Autonomy. Control over the web site.
Reversibility
Fitts law. The time to reach the aim with the mouse is based on the distance and size of the target. Shortest distance to larger more easily.
Readability. The texts color should contrast with the background color and the font size must be large enough.
Reduction in latency time. Optimize the user timeout.
The logs of the servers are our most powerful weapon.
Objectives: Maximum results with minimum effort.
Which breaks does not pay. The system must solve the errors made by the user, will not inform you that it is useless and that everything has been broken because it has hit where it should not.
Prevent loading of information
Feedback for users.



Currently apply standards or rules of gold have been settled with the passage of time:

On the Internet the visitor sends.
Quality = speed and reliability.
Security that our page will be displayed.
Confidence comes with difficulty and goes easily.
Simplify, reduce, optimize
The conclusions at the beginning
What is fair and necessary
Good content





Usability testing

A test or usability test is having about 5 users in a room, which will be "assisted" by the web site to test navigation. Responsible for the test will take note of what problems are users to perform tasks that have indicated them, and to know which errors of design has the web site.


The list of recommendations to keep in mind to improve the usability of a Web site is very extensive, and in each case, some are more important than others, but this list is a series of recommendations that should be taken into account when designing a Web site regardless of its subject matter, or functionality:




1 Download time. The download time of a page may not exceed 15 seconds to a normal connection speed, as there are numerous studies that show that the user does not expect more of that time for the information to load.



2 Designing pages with the lens that are scanned by the eyes of the user, not only read . There is nothing more boring than a web without images. A web only with text is boring and overwhelming at the same time. The images help create enthusiasm and help make the content more bearable. One of the things that must be taken into account when it comes to insert images on the web is the same size. If they take up much space, it takes long to charge and it will make more difficult the process of viewing the web. Always optimize your images to adapt them to the web.




3 Placement of the logo on the website. Always in the top left corner, which is the first thing users see.


4 It is good to avoid making pages entirely in Flash, because even apparently look good but loses usability. It is true that using Flash you can create beautiful web pages, which more than a website may appear to be a video game, but the price to pay is a loss of speed when loading and a loss of important usability.



5 Search option. Provide a search option and make sure that your operation is correct, otherwise better delete it: better nothing than something that works poorly. In addition it should be situated in a conspicuous place, for example at the top.


6 You advantage the rules already established and known by users to identify items as links.


7 Always use relative text size. Thus you can tailor the size of the text to your needs easily.  The typeface must be clear and have a strong contrast between this and the background for easy reading.

8 Leave blank spaces so that they can rest the view.


9 Delete all the elements that impede navigability (banners, pop ups) . Users tend to ignore anything that moves or is located in the peripheral areas of the page. They have learned that advertising is presented in this way.
We must avoid presenting important content in an animated manner or in peripheral areas, it is better to draw attention from clear headers and a good use of the content




10 Differentiate visited the unvisited links. They should be different colors the links the unvisited, visited so the user is not difficult to differentiate them.

The following aspects could be considered to design links:

Make the link label corresponds to the content to which it is addressed.
Avoid the use of the phrase "click" on the link. The user already knows that the links are to click.
Use enough descriptive titles.
In phrases related to action, in the title of the link include the verb of the sentence.



11 The landing page must be referenced on all pages of the website and must be visually different.


12 Use breadcrums showing us the path we have taken from the home page to reach where we are.


13 Include a map of the site. Always include the map from the Web site to provide the user the work of finding information.

14 Include applications or processes on all pages of "Search", "Help", "Print", "Share", "Send by email"


15 Do not display new information in new Windows. When a user clicks on a link or button, normally expected to open a new page on the last open. To undo this action, they click on the back button.

The proliferation of navigation Windows presents an excess of usability problems. Mainly, contaminated the workspace the user with more Windows than needs, causing sometimes memory errors or system failures. Users have to clean the excess of Windows, assuming that they achieve found in the system taskbar.


16 Avoid pop-up Windows. This resource is the worst offense against usability in our days than in the past. Users are increasingly more tired of them, and many have come to install specialized pop-up blocking software. We know people don't like installing new software for what is being done is testimony of the lay people who are able to rid themselves of the intrusions of pop-ups.



17 Follow the lines of image corporate in the creation of the page, so that your design is always the brand identifier.


18 Avoid the use of the scroll. The horizontal must avoid this always and vertical to the extent possible. It is preferable to divide the text into several pages that make one with lots of information.


19 Create simple questionnaires that do not ask for unnecessary information.

20 Include contact details with the company, corporate information and social direction.
 

21 The web site should be compatible with all major Web browsers (Chrome, Explorer, Firefox).
 

22 The user should not never lose control of the interface and must know at all times what is happening on the page and even if errors occur the surfer should be informed what should.


23 It should not be needed downloading applications to visualize the content of the page.