The Guide - Making Usable Websites

Making Usable Websites

	Introduction
	Print Vs. Web A comparison
	Reading on the Web
	Writing for the Web
	Color Usage
	Heuristics and Metrics
	Things to avoid
	Conclusions

Related Links

1.	Jakob Nielsen's Website Usable Information Technology
2.	WebDesignClinicA good resource site
3.	Customer in sites.Customer friendly sites.
4.	Design better Web Sites
5.	Collection of ResourcesFor Web Designers
6.	Global TrendsProvides stats for different items related to WEB
7.	Counter for your WEB Site
8.	Web Authoring Resources To assist you.

Making Usable Websites:

Reading on the Web

79% of the Users scan (They don't read !!). Reading from the computer screens is tiring for the eyes and 25% slower than reading from the paper. Web users are impatient they want to move on. Each page has to compete with hundreds of millions of other pages for the user's attention (Every page could be equally useful). Life is hectic.

The primary factors that determine discomfort for computer users are

Nature of the task

Length of time spent at the computer

(reduced) rate of blinking (< 12-15 times/minute)

Lack of co-ordination between the design of the work station and the design of the glasses or contact lenses used for the task

These factors lead to visual fatigue, dry eyes and blurring. It is strongly recommended to take breaks every 30-60 minutes.

Writing for the Web