Newsletter Editor John S. Rhodes
John@webword.com
March 12, 2002
Newsletter #66
Table of Contents
1. Usability Versus Quality
2. Web Sites That Heal
3. Perceived Information Architecture: User Feedback
4. Norton AntiVirus 2002: Feedback from Symantec
5. CNN Money and META http-equiv="refresh"
6. Launch of Boxes and Arrows
7. Learn How to Think Like a Usability Expert
8. What Can You Find at WebWord.com?
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A colleague talked to me about the quality of Japanese cars a couple of days ago. He argued that usability was really no different than usability since the end results are often the same. I was forced to explain some of the differences between usability and quality. Here is a brief summary of what I said.
1. If you care about quality, you often care about usability. This will happen even if you don't know anything about usability.
2. The end results of quality activities are often similar to the end results of usability activities. Quality makes life better...usability makes life better.
3. Usability is often more important than quality because quality is often applied at the end of a project. Put another way, if you catch a problem early through usability testing, it is more cost effective than catching a problem during final (quality) testing. When quality controls are applied at the start of a project, the results are similar to the results from usability methods (very broadly speaking).
4. The most important difference between quality and usability is that quality is mainly about products whereas usability is mainly about people. This is the key. Quality focuses on products and technology but usability is focsed on humans and human needs.
If you read the literature, you'll see that the Japanese are incredibly focused on product quality. This works very well for those companies since people really like high quality products. Quality is a lot like usability; quality often leads to usability.
--> http://webword.com/moving/healing.html
The first purpose of this article is to explain the true causes of linkrot. The second purpose is to outline a new way to solve the linkrot problem.
You can read the new article here: --> http://webword.com/moving/healing.html
--> http://webword.com/moving/piauf.html
The purpose of this article is to explain how the Perceived Information Architecture test was used by BBC New Media. The testing procedure is outlined, along with a list of pros and cons of the method. Several actual user diagrams are provided.
You can read the new article here: --> http://webword.com/moving/piauf.html
As many of you already know, I wrote an article about my installation of Norton AntiVirus 2002. It generated a lot of feedback. Quite a few people told me that they had problems both during and after the installation.
I'm happy to say that someone from Symantec sent me an email about the article. I'm posting it on WebWord, with their permission:
--> http://webword.com/readers/osorio.txt
If you would like to read the original article, follow this link:
--> http://webword.com/moving/nortonav.html
I recently visited the CNN Money web site and left the browser window open. I then opened several other fresh browser windows. While I was viewing another page, I was abruptly interrupted when the CNN Money site refreshed. When that happened I was whisked to their site, away from page I was reading. It was quite annoying.
Here is something that I don't understand. Why do some web sites automatically refresh their home pages? I suppose one possible answer is that web sites like to force users to look at new advertisements if you are staying on one page. Maybe another answer is that some web pages include time sensitive information, such as weather reports or stock quotes.
If you ask me, this is a poor use of the browser refresh meta tag.
I suggest that you visit Boxes and Arrows. What is it? Here is an introduction:
"Boxes and Arrows is the definitive source for the complex task of bringing architecture and design to the digital landscape. There are various titles and professions associated with this undertaking information architecture, information design, interaction design, interface design but when we looked at the work that we were actually doing, we found a community of practice with similarities in outlook and approach that far outweighed our differences."
Go there now!
--> http://www.boxesandarrows.com/?webword
Steve Krug wrote Don't Make Me Think, which is one of the best books available on web usability. I just found out that he is teaching a usability workshop. If you are interested in web usability and you have a little money to spare, I recommend that you immediately investigate Steve's workshop. Details are provided below...
URL: http://www.sensible.com/workshops.html?webword
What: A day-long usability workshop taught by Steve Krug
Where: Brattle Theatre, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
When: Tuesday, April 9, 2002 9 am to 4:30 pm
Who will benefit from it: Designers, programmers, writers, business developers, sole proprietors, VPs--anyone who works on, manages, or signs the checks for Web sites
Cost:
Before March 21 - Grownups $399 - Students $200
After March 21 - Grownups $450 - Students $225
Visit the workshop web site! --> http://www.sensible.com/workshops.html?webword
Want to read an interview with Steve Krug? --> http://webword.com/interviews/krug.html
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Usability Reports >> http://webword.com/reports
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End of WebWord.com Usability Newsletter #66
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