Web Design and Human Computer Interaction

 Internet is an essential part of our modern life. It's taking over a role in our personal and commercial life. Now we buy and sell online, bank online, socialize online and lot more. And when we talk about internet we talk about websites. Website is the media of communicating between human and internet. So it is essential for all the web developers to make sure the websites interact with its users and that is the key to success.




There are millions and billions of websites are online but only a few percent of them are successful. When a developer develop a website they have to follow certain rules which we call HCI rules.. Ben Shneiderman is well know among all the web designers for his "Eight Golden Rules of Interface Design". But still in most of the websites the rules are exploited or not properly followed. It depends on web designer how their websites going to look like but the key thing and motive is to interact with the common users. So every websites have to feed the needs of the users and for that the following eight golden rules has to be followed carefully.


Strive for consistencies: The website need to have a clear and simple main menu. All the menu options have to relevant and consistent. The functions like links, drop list, command buttons etc has to be used wisely and carefully. Clear and relevant design interface should be used through out.


Enable frequent users to use shortcut: All the websites should be easy to use for the frequent users. The user should be able to access required information in one click. So navigation should be detailed and users should go to preferred pages straight away. Most the websites use Back links to return to previous pages or main menu.


Offer informative feedback: In every websites, there has to be facilities for the users to get in touch with the web designer and deliver the opinions or feedback abut the website.


Design dialogue to yield closure: Websites have to be informative but yet organised. Some time websites are too informative and too long. Information should be organised accordingly into groups or topics and easy to search by the users.


Offer simple error handling: To make it more user-friendly there are no proper use of error handling (e.g. error message) in most the websites. So it is very difficult for the users to enter or retrieve certain information from the site. If users make an error, instruction should be given to detect the error and offer simple, constructive, effective and specific instruction for recovery.


Permit easy reversal of action: In terms of majority websites there are no easy way to return from different pages to the required webpage. The only way to return to the previous or proffered page is by returning to menu by selecting BACK link and choosing a new option. Websites should facilitate users to go back to preferred pages straight away through a simple navigation system.


Support internal locus of control: Majority of the websites are examples of poor charge of the system. Experienced users want to be in charge. Surprising system actions, tedious sequences of data entries, inability or difficulty in obtaining necessary information, and inability to produce the action desired all build anxiety and dissatisfaction where much information cannot be downloaded either accessed by the user.


Reduce short-term memory load: On the net we find many webpage are too long and too informative. The information is not kept simple. A famous study suggests that humans can store only 7 (plus or minus 2) pieces of information in their short term memory. Developers can reduce short term memory load by designing screens where options are clearly visible, or using pull-down menus and icons.


As a web developer I always try to apply this golden rules while designing websites. I hope this little effort will help new web designers to improve their websites.


M S Hasan

Aurora Designs


Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mohammad_Hasan/784190




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5118880

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