Re: My Site (www.kaymaster.com)

----- Original Message -----
From: audra jacobs <modest013(at)hotmail.com>
To: Karin Ransdell <kransdell(at)squishedmosquito.com>; Kaymaster
<kaymaster(at)cncrenegade.com>; <hwg-critique(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: My Site (www.kaymaster.com)


> 1.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a viewer guess or figure
> things out for themselves.

Apparently, a lot of design authorities would disagree with that statement.

Keep it simple, Webmasters - By Scot Petersen
http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2604751,00.html

The Increasing Conservatism of Web Users - by Jakob Nielsen
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/980322.html
"When we tested advanced home page concepts we got our fingers slapped hard
by the users: I don't have time to learn special conventions for your site
as one user said. Other users said, Just give it to us plain and simple,
using interaction techniques we already know from other sites."

>From another excellent Neilsen article:
"One of the greatest problems on the Web is that users don't know where they
are going when they follow hypertext links."

Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience - By Jennifer Fleming
"On the Web, it can be especially troublesome to play with chaos in design.
For many users, the Web already represents chaos. Adding a veneer of
confusion is sometimes the last straw."

> 2.  I don't know many people who turn off the television when assaulted by
> yet another Who song cut into 10 second pieces for commercials.

Those 10 second commercials are probably an appropriate use of audio media
and users at least expect it.

Improving Web Site Usability and Appeal - Guidelines compiled by MSN
Usability Research
"Take special care to coordinate audio and video. Disjunctive or competing
stimuli can cause your audience to leave your site." Also content on when
media is appropriate.

The audio would probably "feel" more appropriate if there had been something
visual to it.  Even though I'm on DSL, I kept waiting for images that either
didn't show up, or that were buried in the dark background.

> Problem 1 - You can only take chances if the base is solid.  Check your
> spelling.  ( eg: your screwed should be you're screwed )

I'll forego research and commentary on what happens to a site that forces a
browser on its users, especially if they do so rudely.

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