3rd class
Recap:
Tuesday’s class was still a little bit of feeling out in exactly what is wanted of us, and what we think of it.
Class started with a TED video hosted by the kids across the hall.
The video brought up some very cool and vaguely creepy ideas about where usability might be headed for something like a map application. I’m not so sure that I would like to be in a store somewhere and have someone call me saying that they were watching me pick out toilet paper at target. I’m not sure how much use the app has if you need someone with a camera and GPS in order for the live video functions and things to work. It’s a good idea, but I remain skeptical- and not just because I heart google maps
Critique:
We also had a critique of our personas and Ipad app wireframe first drafts. Some of the personas were very creative and informational. The image below is a screen shot of mine.
There was a wide range of ideas and approaches in the wireframes. I kinda got the feeling that a lot of us were not exactly sure what the assignment should look like, but through that helpful critique, I for one feel like I have a much better handle on it. Here’s a sneak peek of one of my revised wireframes.
I know that Maggie’s gonna say I told you so, but researching the apps and watching the videos of people playing with them kinda makes me want an Ipad. I had better stay out of the Apple store.
Journals:
We all had a chance to share what he had done so far for our usability journals, amazingly enough for a web class, no one has yet to bring in a journal entry on a website. I’m sure however that will change. In fact I would bet money on it. You should bet money on it as well. I’m not kidding, call Vegas, find out what the line is- I’ll wait….
Okay, enough waiting. If you were smart enough to follow my advice, you just won a boatload (I only want 10% for the tip-off). My journal entry for this coming week is probably the most horribly amazing website that I’ve ever seen. The screenshot does not do it justice, follow the link and get ready to go insane in the membrane- insane in the brain.
Screen shot of Hosanna1.com website
http://hosanna1.com/
I have no clue what this site is for, or how to navigate it. I would be scared to meet the person that could actually figure it out. A friend sent it to me and the designer in me figuratively threw up on the floor while the rest of me was on that same floor laughing my ass off. You can randomly click around the site to get to other almost as horrifying sites. There is so much wrong with this that I’m not even sure where to begin- lack of navigation, no pathways that the eye can easily follow, a giant Afghan hound with angel wings, or the “we love smoking and don’t heart immigrants” banner. The disconcerting snowflakes that wander down through the screen definitely do not help matters.
Lecture Fun!!
Eye-tracking:
While Liina was talking about the concepts that we are reading about in the texts and introducing one of the mini-assignments for tomorrow she played a couple of eye-tracking Youtube videos that I thought were extremely cool.
Screen captures of youtube videos: Eye Tracking Demo, Eye Tracking video of a User using the IKEA Website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo_a2cfBUGc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKdOMgu0C5Q&feature=related
F-Pattern:
She also showed us an F-Pattern heat test image that shows thermally what the user spent the most time looking at. It’s funny how the eye never even made it over to the adds on the right side of the screen. It’s like reverse Pavlovian training- we hear the bell and look away.
Screen shot from useit.com
Hierarchy:
We learned that hierarchy is all around us- much more than some of us want. The definition of hierarchy is: a system or organization in which people, groups, or things are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
There are many examples of hierarchies. Some, (like the one headed by the guy below) have absolutely no bearing on web design.
Image from BBC.UK.com
Other “web-based” examples of hierarchy are:
Things that pop out at you-
Altered image of clip art fist
Things that are logically placed-
Image from bigstockphoto.com
And things that are nested-
Image from ornithology.com
Conventions:
(Not the kind that middle-aged boat salesmen go to)
Conventions are things that are the ways in which something is usually done. In other words buttons are expected to look like buttons.
Image from wpromote.com
Remember to make it obvious!!
Assignment
(Happy Happy! Joy Joy!!)
Journal- keep find the things you love or loath. We desperately want to know why!
Revise your wireframes and personas
Read: Unger/Chandler- Chapters 10 & 11, Krug- Chapters 2 & 3, and Saffer- Chapter 1
Study for the quiz
Test out 5 IPad apps and find 5 examples of hierarchy and 10 examples of convention
Have fun with all of it
Life Shattering Impactful Conclusion
Other than learning that life is moving way to fast for an old man like me, that you can now get live creeped on by someone trying to find the nearest Aldi’s, and that there are way to many peaking orders for the good of me- there was not a whole lot that inspired me in this particular class. I have learned that design work seems to be a lot less about my brilliant ideas than about what people actually want. Research is word of the day. See- it says so below.
Principles of Usability 