We summarize the main results of HCI research in a number of tips that should be taken into account.
An old story.
Although the rise of recent usability is mainly due to the dissemination of the work of the “Guru” Nielsen, which includes as one of the fundamental principles minimalist design, the fact is that this discipline has long existed, although other garments. We refer to Science
of Man-Computer Interaction (Human Computer Interaction “).
Already at the beginning of the dissemination of the first microcomputer there was an interest in studying how people behave with automatic devices for information. Since conducting controlled research is expensive and requires time, was confined to academia and the aerospace research. But today is available a body of results that can benefit the design of our websites and interactive applications.
This body of principles continues to increase as further research and continue to generate new results. We can not expect the design guidelines and the guidelines we solve all problems.
But let us now see how we can use the results of HCI in a seemingly mundane task such as Web design. We summarize the main results of research in a number of tips that should be taken into account.
Pages packed. ..
How many times have you wasted time searching for important information between all text and graphics of a page?. Without taking into account the mental effort involved and the possibility to make a mistake and overlook our goal.
The paracer designers suffer from a “horror vacui” which requires them to fill every possible gap, perhaps because they think their presence is a sign of lack of preparation. But they have to take into account that a user will not only visit your website, but if he drops by, we must facilitate the task and to decide quickly if we have something that interests you and be clear what it is. In addition, the page load “heavy”, especially if you have pictures, is a drag on the positive perception that could have visitors.
In several studies, some NASA has calculated that the optimal percentage of active screen should not exceed 20 to 60%. Of course, these results were obtained with no possibility of static screens scroll.
If tactical information displays show only the information strictly necessary to carry out the task and the simplest way possible, why do not we the same?.
In summary, you should use the smallest possible number of items per screen. If there are items you will not need all the world is better not to present them and give them only on demand.
These recommendations become paramount as we move to an environment where resources are more limited display, such as WAP or PDA.
Simple is hard to create.
Well, I am convinced that each screen should not be too loaded, but how do I get it, especially if I have much information to teach?. The answer is, eliminating redundancies and combining information. It is present near the most similar, which also guarantees its rapid localization, since the page will have a pleasant and effective visual structure.
To do this we must solve the following issues:
Number of groups and groupings:
This is a conceptual architectural problem. It’s about finding the best categorization that enables effective representation. To do so each group must be significant, and the number of groups and elements of each group must be appropriate, neither too small nor too much.
Format:
How will differentiate the groups of information among themselves?. “Separated by white space?, How edges?, How colors?, How a combination of the above?. There are both factors that can interact that might be better to make several proposals and select the best results provided for the task, but in general the physical clustering usually provides the best results.
