Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g26Jbiu23459; Wed, 6 Mar 2002 14:37:44 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 14:37:44 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <E1BF501B4C3AD511954D00508BB8E35F01984F5A@ophs1.ophs.gov> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Baur, Cynthia" <CBaur@osophs.dhhs.gov> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3603] FW: (NIFL-HEALTH:3573) Re: Readability on the Internet X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Status: O Content-Length: 4984 Lines: 118 I asked Sanjay Koyani who works with Usability.gov, which is a technology center and usability lab sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, for his group's experience with readability on the Internet in the context of usability research. Here is his reply. His contact information is at the bottom of his response. Cynthia Baur, Ph.D. Health Communication and e-Health Advisor Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave, S.W. Rm 738G Washington, D.C. 20201 202-205-2311 (t) 202-205-0463 (f) cbaur@osophs.dhhs.gov -----Original Message----- From: Koyani, Sanjay (NCI) [mailto:koyanis@occ.nci.nih.gov] Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 1:55 PM To: Baur, Cynthia Subject: RE: (NIFL-HEALTH:3573) Re: Readability on the Internet Sorry for the delay; took me a little bit of time to research the issue. Here's my answer: >From my perspective and experience with user testing (usability testing), providing redundancy on the Web can make a site more usable and useful if done correctly. Here are examples: LONG PAGES Redundant navigation can be very useful by improving efficiency on long scrolling pages - for example placing the "Home button/link" at the top and bottom of the page - because it allows users to make a selection down the page without scrolling back to the top. Additionally, the user may scan and scroll the page so quick that he/she may not bother scrolling back up the page; therefore, repeating core links at the bottom might improve user selection. Caveat: Don't change the name or look of the repeated link, as this may confuse users into expecting a new link and destination. REDUNDANT FORMATS To ensure accessibility, designers may repeat certain functions/features on a site - such as providing a document in both HTML format and PDF to ensure that both users with and without adequate software/plugins (such as Adobe Acrobat (plugin required to view PDF)) can view all site documents. This is a form of redundancy that improves accessibility and usability. CROSS LINKING Repeated text links may be placed under several categories on a Web page or in several sections of a site to accommodate the various places different users may look for a topic. We've noticed in testing that users will look under different sections of a site based on their frame of reference. To ensure all users find the information, links will be repeated to match users varied expectations. Because Web users vary and what works on one Web site might not match the needs of another, we strongly encourage usability testing of early Web prototypes with actual users. By asking users to search and navigate your site for key information, you will get a sense of how well your redundant navigation is working, where more or less is needed, and what other usability issues your audiences are facing. To learn more about usability engineering and testing, please visit the National Cancer Insitute's Usability.gov Web site at http://usability.gov. To view a few articles that cover the issue of redundancy and how it can improve usability, please go to: http://www.weblaurels.com/textonly/textnews/navigation.htm, http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/usabilitynews/41/Link_position.htm, and http://www.megweb.uct.ac.za/www/307F/usabilit.htm. Hope this helps. Sanjay Koyani Communication Technologies Branch Office of Communications National Cancer Institute koyanis@mail.nih.gov -----Original Message----- From: Dwyoho@aol.com [mailto:Dwyoho@aol.com] Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 11:29 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3573] Re: Readability on the Internet I notice that the websites that seem the easiest to use build in what I would call "redundancy"--several buttons to click on located in more than one place that take you to the same place. "Home", for example, is often at the top, side and bottom . Any comments from anyone about the usefulness of this "redundancy"? I have a notion that each person's eye travels across a web page in different ways--some people are predisposed to be methodical and start at the top, then move down like you're reading a book; others skim with a preconcived expectation of how the page should be organized (almost a mental "template"), some are bothered by popups and moving stimulation, others appreciate it. I hypothesize that if the page is layed out radically different from the viewer's mental "template" (which develops from previous experience), the site will appear confusing, boring o! r otherwise not attractive enough to hold the wiewer more than a few seconds. I'm wondering if these ideas have any basis or are just notions from a cranky Internet user like me? Debbie Deborah W. Yoho Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council Co-Moderator, NIFL-Health Discussion Group 921 Woodrow Street Columbia, SC 29205 803-765-2555 Fax: 803-799-8417 dwyoho@aol.com Agency email: litcola@mail.com
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