Re: Theory of Page Length

Kynn Bartlett <kynn(at)idyllmtn.com> writes:
>Actually, it's true -- people don't _read_ pages the way they
_read_
>printed material; they _scan_ it.  See, for example, a study
by
>Jakob Nielsen and John Morkes, which Jakob referenced in his
October
>1, 1997 Alertbox:  http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9701a.html


But... I *do* scan printed material. At least, if I'm
researching and I have a stack of books to hunt through, I
scan the indexes, then scan the text on each indicated page,
looking for the key words or phrases that indicate I have
found what I want. When I read fiction, however, I start at
page one and read to the end.

When I write, I take these reading habits into account and
structure my pages accordingly. For reference material (on
paper) I use headings, changing typeface, and other features
to help the user scan the page. When I write fiction (on
paper), however, I pick one typeface, start writing at page
one and write through to the end of the story.

Now, when I write reference material on line, or fiction
on-line... well, can you guess what I'm going to say next?

The web really does have more in common with books than with
most other media. If it contains words, then it is inevitable
that most of the rules for putting words on paper are going to
apply to it.


--
David Meadows [ Technical Writer | Information Developer ]
DNRC Minister for Littorasy * david(at)goldenheroes.softnet.co.uk
"Is not this the most reprehensible form of ignorance,
 that of thinking one knows what one does not know?"
      -- Socrates

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