Author: Mark Chambers
Usability is concerned with ‘optimizing the interactions people have with interactive products’ and is achieved by defining usability and user experience goals. These goals aim to promote products which are effective, easy to learn and enjoyable to use. (Preece et al. 2002:14) Usability requirements capture usability goals and related measurements of these goals. (ibid. 2002:207) One approach is ‘usability engineering’ which is a ‘process whereby the usability of a product is specified quantitatively, and in advance’. (Tyldesley 1990:284) This means documenting planned levels of usability. For example with regard to the usability goal of ‘efficiency’ outlined below, one benchmark is the time taken to locate a specific entry in an alphabetical index of a product. This is a measurable usability goal. Other usability goals are more difficult to measure and user experience goals, which are discussed below, are subjective and so cannot be measured in this way. (Preece et al. 2002:182) In this case qualitative or ‘subjective, attitudinal measures of usability’ are used. (Tyldesley 1990:288) For example, interviews or surveys through questionnaires can be implemented. Once usability requirements have been defined, the product is developed iteratively until it is demonstrated that it achieves the projected levels of usability. (Preece et al. 2002:285) It is important that the product is easy to use, as the target users may have limited computer abilities. This can be achieved by defining usability requirements through consideration of the usability goals below. These requirements can also be considered in conjunction with design and usability principles such as visibility, consistency, constraints and affordance. (ibid. 2002:21-25) Furthermore, reference to design principle standards such as the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 14915 ‘Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces’ provides a framework to assist the designer in standardisation.
Effectiveness can be described as the level of performance of completion of tasks, (Shackel 1990:32) and in more general terms, refers to ‘how good a system is at doing what it is supposed to do’. (Preece et al. 2002:14)
Learnability relates to the time taken to learn a system. (Shackel 1990:32) According to Preece et al. a ‘key concern is determining how much time users are prepared to spend learning a system’. (Preece et al. 2002:17) Here, the ‘Ten-Minute Rule’ can be applied, that is to say that a novice user can learn the system within ten minutes. (ibid. 2002:16)
Flexibility is a measure of how well the system can adapt to ‘variation in tasks and/or environments beyond those first specified’ and an example in a product might be an option to mute the sound, which may be useful if used in public environments. (Shackel 1990:32)
Efficiency concerns the way users are supported whilst carrying out tasks. For example, an interface can be considered as efficient if common tasks can be completed through a limited number of steps. An example is to utilise one button to access a bookmark index. (Preece et al. 2002:14)
Safety is concerned with protecting a user from undesirable conditions. In this case it refers to avoidance of errors. (Preece et al. 2002:15) For example a ‘quit’ function could be the standard Windows ‘close’ box in the top right hand corner, and as such is distant from other commonly used functions preventing accidental closure of the program. Another example is in providing a confirmation dialogue box before allowing deletion of bookmarks.
Utility is a goal relating to the ‘extent to which the system provides the right kind of functionality’, so that a user can achieve their goals. (Preece et al. 2002:16) One example might be an alphabetical search function which allows searching by word entry or by scrolling through a list.
Memorability refers to ‘how easy a system is to remember how to use, once learned’. (Preece et al. 2002:17) This can be achieved by using meaningful icons and systematic placement of them. Furthermore, options can be structured in a logical way such that knowledge from the ‘real’ world can aid the user. An example is that information about Chile can be accessed through a ‘South America’ link.
Usability goals are coupled with user experience goals. These are concerned with ‘what the interaction with the system feels like to the users’ and focus on systems that are fun, satisfying, enjoyable, entertaining, helpful, motivating, aesthetically pleasing, emotionally fulfilling, rewarding and supportive of creativity. (Preece et al. 2002:18) This coupling leads to trade-offs, that is to say that the outcomes of the goals do not necessarily coincide. For example, engagement with the product may be encouraged by peripheral functions not being easy to use, raising a challenge to the user. This contradicts the usability goal of ‘learnability’. (ibid. 2002:19)
www.mediacreativeltd.com web design Cambridge
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Ecommerce – Its Role and Significance
Ecommerce – Its Role and Significance
Author: Monalisa Boral Maitra
The Internet is now a flourishing industry. With the knowledge advancing at a fast pace, more and more people are open to computers and internet. Progressively they are learning to operate the Internet for their day to day needs. Here Ecommerce websites take a front seat, reaching out to the millions of people looking for your kind of product or services online.
Ecommerce or Electronic Commerce is actually trading of, either goods or services on the internet.
Prior to drawing a final conclusion in any business, you must always remember to take into account the advantages your company would obtain upon executing the new approach of ecommerce. Therefore, the most important thing that you must consider here is whether your business actually needs ecommerce?
Ecommerce-is it for you?
The arrival of ecommerce websites has brought vast change in the process of purchasing and selling goods. In this regard, it is important to consider websites like ebay, amazon etc. They have widely
used the ecommerce process to make sales revenue.
So, whether you already own a business or initiating a new one, whether the volume of your business is large or small, you can always gain advantage by focusing your products or services online, thereby gaining a huge amount of viewer exposure. In a nutshell, just any selling/buying business can benefit by the ecommerce method.
So how can you earn bigger sales revenue from an ecommerce website?
There are several advantages of having an ecommerce website. Exposure – The products displayed on your website present large publicity to the millions of visitors on the web. For example, if you have a computer showroom in a city, the visitors would include people from in and around the city. Hardly there will be visitors from places outside your city. Thus limiting your product visibility. On the contrary, if your products are showcased on a website, it joins you to the plentifull people who access the internet and searching for similar product as that of yours.
Time and Convenience – Time is one of the critical factor in our lives now-a-days. A customer may find it difficult to visit your store physically everytime. On the other hand, if you have your store displayed on the Internet, anyone can pay a visit to your online store at their convenient time.
Your store closes at some point of time. But your e-store works 24X7 for you to fetch in customers. Moreover, with all your product images and descriptions provided on your estore, the customer gets a methodical idea about your product and you do not have to use time explaining the same thing to each and every visitor to your store.
Moreover, it greatly saves time consumed per tranaction. Any sales
executive will definitely take some time to illustrate your product to each customer. Your ecommerce website carries out similar job to hundreds and thousands of your probable customers at the same
time. As all the information about your product are supplied earlier to your customer’s visit, much less time is required to convey the benefits of your product to them, thereby making it easier to close the deal. Thus, more number of transactions can occur within a day.
Displaying your Product through Demonstrations and illustrations, gives a clear and thorough idea about your product without the effort of hiring and training personnel to do so.
Cost Effective - Sustaining a store in a primary locality is not highly expensive. Alternatively using the ecommerce is a whole lot easier way of displayingexhibiting and giving information about
your products.
Moreover promotion of your store and its products must be carried out from time-to-time. Using web as a media of advertising your website, is much cheaper compared to that of other audio-visual medias, like radio or TV.
In an ecommerce website all that you require is a professional website design, that looks equally potential as your competitor, Search Engine Optimization to rank your website with your other competitors, and the annual hosting fees.
Largely speaking, there are no major obstruction of Ecommerce websites.
Gradually, many people are beginning to comprehend the fact that, ecommerce is an extremely feasible means of purchase as compared to the age old traditional process of buying. Thus, with this ever
budding technology, ecommerce will continue to flourish globally and in due course become a important business strategy that needs to be implemented in order to prosper in the fast-growing market and keep abreast with your competitors.
www.mediacreativeltd.com web design and web development Cambridge
Author: Monalisa Boral Maitra
The Internet is now a flourishing industry. With the knowledge advancing at a fast pace, more and more people are open to computers and internet. Progressively they are learning to operate the Internet for their day to day needs. Here Ecommerce websites take a front seat, reaching out to the millions of people looking for your kind of product or services online.
Ecommerce or Electronic Commerce is actually trading of, either goods or services on the internet.
Prior to drawing a final conclusion in any business, you must always remember to take into account the advantages your company would obtain upon executing the new approach of ecommerce. Therefore, the most important thing that you must consider here is whether your business actually needs ecommerce?
Ecommerce-is it for you?
The arrival of ecommerce websites has brought vast change in the process of purchasing and selling goods. In this regard, it is important to consider websites like ebay, amazon etc. They have widely
used the ecommerce process to make sales revenue.
So, whether you already own a business or initiating a new one, whether the volume of your business is large or small, you can always gain advantage by focusing your products or services online, thereby gaining a huge amount of viewer exposure. In a nutshell, just any selling/buying business can benefit by the ecommerce method.
So how can you earn bigger sales revenue from an ecommerce website?
There are several advantages of having an ecommerce website. Exposure – The products displayed on your website present large publicity to the millions of visitors on the web. For example, if you have a computer showroom in a city, the visitors would include people from in and around the city. Hardly there will be visitors from places outside your city. Thus limiting your product visibility. On the contrary, if your products are showcased on a website, it joins you to the plentifull people who access the internet and searching for similar product as that of yours.
Time and Convenience – Time is one of the critical factor in our lives now-a-days. A customer may find it difficult to visit your store physically everytime. On the other hand, if you have your store displayed on the Internet, anyone can pay a visit to your online store at their convenient time.
Your store closes at some point of time. But your e-store works 24X7 for you to fetch in customers. Moreover, with all your product images and descriptions provided on your estore, the customer gets a methodical idea about your product and you do not have to use time explaining the same thing to each and every visitor to your store.
Moreover, it greatly saves time consumed per tranaction. Any sales
executive will definitely take some time to illustrate your product to each customer. Your ecommerce website carries out similar job to hundreds and thousands of your probable customers at the same
time. As all the information about your product are supplied earlier to your customer’s visit, much less time is required to convey the benefits of your product to them, thereby making it easier to close the deal. Thus, more number of transactions can occur within a day.
Displaying your Product through Demonstrations and illustrations, gives a clear and thorough idea about your product without the effort of hiring and training personnel to do so.
Cost Effective - Sustaining a store in a primary locality is not highly expensive. Alternatively using the ecommerce is a whole lot easier way of displayingexhibiting and giving information about
your products.
Moreover promotion of your store and its products must be carried out from time-to-time. Using web as a media of advertising your website, is much cheaper compared to that of other audio-visual medias, like radio or TV.
In an ecommerce website all that you require is a professional website design, that looks equally potential as your competitor, Search Engine Optimization to rank your website with your other competitors, and the annual hosting fees.
Largely speaking, there are no major obstruction of Ecommerce websites.
Gradually, many people are beginning to comprehend the fact that, ecommerce is an extremely feasible means of purchase as compared to the age old traditional process of buying. Thus, with this ever
budding technology, ecommerce will continue to flourish globally and in due course become a important business strategy that needs to be implemented in order to prosper in the fast-growing market and keep abreast with your competitors.
www.mediacreativeltd.com web design and web development Cambridge
Thursday, 8 July 2010
5 minute interview with a web design agency
Editorial: "Describe your company in 5 words"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Progressive, dynamic, experimental, skilled, professional ”
Editorial: "Describe your office environment"
Media Creative Ltd: ” The Media Creative’s office is relaxed and progressive. We feel flexible working hours are a must for our team, with core hours. Freedom of expression and discussion aids design and development, which is why we have a regular discussion forum where ideas evolve. ”
Editorial: "Where do you see your company in 10 years?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Leading in web & graphic design and developing for new technology platforms within the web world. Pushing the boundaries of look and feel and how the internet is viewed and used by the corporate world. Engaging with corporates in the importance of a strong web and application presence”
Editorial: "Average number of cups of coffee drank per day?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Coffee, 12-60 a day depending on the pressure of deadlines.”
Editorial: "What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Both, PC for web development and Macs for graphic design and IPad application development. We love IT and the new touch screen PC’s we’ve acquired, help us design for a new wave of internet browsing. We always try to be at the forefront of what’s going on within our industry. Sometimes companies get so bogged down with running a company that they lose sight of development. We Don’t”
Editorial: "Tell us what your top 3 websites on the Internet are."
Media Creative Ltd: "Too many to name but our fave websites we’ve developed have to be www.stringgallery.co.uk www.fosterrefrigerator.com and www.buttonjewellery.com We have a new client who’s site will blow everyone away, but that’s under wraps for the time being."
Media Creative Ltd: ” Progressive, dynamic, experimental, skilled, professional ”
Editorial: "Describe your office environment"
Media Creative Ltd: ” The Media Creative’s office is relaxed and progressive. We feel flexible working hours are a must for our team, with core hours. Freedom of expression and discussion aids design and development, which is why we have a regular discussion forum where ideas evolve. ”
Editorial: "Where do you see your company in 10 years?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Leading in web & graphic design and developing for new technology platforms within the web world. Pushing the boundaries of look and feel and how the internet is viewed and used by the corporate world. Engaging with corporates in the importance of a strong web and application presence”
Editorial: "Average number of cups of coffee drank per day?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Coffee, 12-60 a day depending on the pressure of deadlines.”
Editorial: "What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?"
Media Creative Ltd: ” Both, PC for web development and Macs for graphic design and IPad application development. We love IT and the new touch screen PC’s we’ve acquired, help us design for a new wave of internet browsing. We always try to be at the forefront of what’s going on within our industry. Sometimes companies get so bogged down with running a company that they lose sight of development. We Don’t”
Editorial: "Tell us what your top 3 websites on the Internet are."
Media Creative Ltd: "Too many to name but our fave websites we’ve developed have to be www.stringgallery.co.uk www.fosterrefrigerator.com and www.buttonjewellery.com We have a new client who’s site will blow everyone away, but that’s under wraps for the time being."
Thursday, 24 June 2010
What kind of markerting is most effective in our fast paced society?
For any organisation now, SEO (search engine optimisation) and a very strong web presence is nearly 60% of the battle to securing business.
When a potential client hears about you or finds your website on a search engine they need to immediately know what you do, what services you offer, if you are a reasonable price and your terms of sale, without trawling your website for a small link to your prices, mission statement etc.. A functional, easy to navigate, and visually appealing website is a companies best asset in business currently.
Web users have varied trends and you as a business (as ever) need to be aware who your market are. Understanding their use of the web and what it is they search 'Google' or any other search engine for, so you can be top of their search. In my experience users very rarely go for a service provider that has a 'home made' website, and is willing to hold out until they find the reasurance they need from a professional looking website, even if it is slightly more expensive. There is an security in paying that little bit more. Few people pay base rate when looking for a product/service for fear of not receiving a high quality product/service
Technology changing enabling web users to search faster on touch screet computers, from anywhere in the world, using mobile devises. The desision to not have a website is not an option most if not all companies anymore, they simply need a presence and it has to project a professional, dynamic, forward thinking company at it's heart.
The other 40% of advertising and marketing, is profile raising (Internet viral ads,flyers strategically placed in business hangouts), networking groups, associations and affiliations and possibly awards recognition. Nothing better than saying we beat oposition and are now number 1 in our field!
That is my take on current thinking in advertising and marketing, it may be simplified somewhat but it seems to be the case.
When a potential client hears about you or finds your website on a search engine they need to immediately know what you do, what services you offer, if you are a reasonable price and your terms of sale, without trawling your website for a small link to your prices, mission statement etc.. A functional, easy to navigate, and visually appealing website is a companies best asset in business currently.
Web users have varied trends and you as a business (as ever) need to be aware who your market are. Understanding their use of the web and what it is they search 'Google' or any other search engine for, so you can be top of their search. In my experience users very rarely go for a service provider that has a 'home made' website, and is willing to hold out until they find the reasurance they need from a professional looking website, even if it is slightly more expensive. There is an security in paying that little bit more. Few people pay base rate when looking for a product/service for fear of not receiving a high quality product/service
Technology changing enabling web users to search faster on touch screet computers, from anywhere in the world, using mobile devises. The desision to not have a website is not an option most if not all companies anymore, they simply need a presence and it has to project a professional, dynamic, forward thinking company at it's heart.
The other 40% of advertising and marketing, is profile raising (Internet viral ads,flyers strategically placed in business hangouts), networking groups, associations and affiliations and possibly awards recognition. Nothing better than saying we beat oposition and are now number 1 in our field!
That is my take on current thinking in advertising and marketing, it may be simplified somewhat but it seems to be the case.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Does this work?
So, today I thought I would see if emailing blogs directly to the page would work? Let me tell you now, if I sit here writing away for no reason, I shall be mightily miffed!
All our IE8 issues have been overcome – I wish I could say the same for some of the other social sites out there! Now, I am happy with MS’s new features and actually the debugging tool on IE8 is great – much more comprehensive than the Firefox freebie and really useful to us geeks!
On the SEO front, Sarah has worked her magic once more for a huge client fo ours – I don’t mean he is big, but the company he works for is! Within 3 weeks of site launch, they are now sitting at number 1 on Google and always on the first page for their products - you should get us to run our eyes over your SEO and page structure; there is ALWAYS room for improvement and keeping on top of your own SEO is now as much a job as keeping up with technology and design trends.
On the personal work front, I had a meeting last week with an amazing graphgic designer – the speed at which he can turn around original quality work is quite staggering. No wonder he has the likes of Volvo and Rowntrees amongst his portfolio! I think we’ll be using his talents on a regular basis as we are asked for straight graphics work much more now – I suspect it is to do with SEO results again; That or the fact that we are just a great company to work with!
I better push the send button now before I blow our trumpet to distruction!
Caio
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Internet Explorer 8 HELL!!!!!!!!!
Since IE8 was released and i've started using it, I've had nothing but issues, for example today I tried to sign up for Twitter. Not something I would normally do, but as a marketing tool we wanted to try it out. So when I tried to sign up, IE8 was telling me that the secure area of twitter had issues and then shut the page down. Finally I was able to knock off the 's' of https:// and was able to get on the site.
This problem does not occurin firefox, safari or google chrome just IE8 ... various other sites were problematic in the secure area's.
Mark has been fighting with IE8's over zelous security ... cookies creating havok, quote"its really jarring me off" unquote.
Lets hope tomorrow is a better day. We'll need to get over these IE8 issues, unless they bring out an update for the issues they have cause major websites!
Night Night all
Sarah
This problem does not occurin firefox, safari or google chrome just IE8 ... various other sites were problematic in the secure area's.
Mark has been fighting with IE8's over zelous security ... cookies creating havok, quote"its really jarring me off" unquote.
Lets hope tomorrow is a better day. We'll need to get over these IE8 issues, unless they bring out an update for the issues they have cause major websites!
Night Night all
Sarah
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Web 3.0 is Here!
What was web 2.0?
You know, I have read many items regarding the mythological web 2.0 and listened to so much bull from other designers and developers. In a nut shell - and in my own opinion - web 2.0 was about a look, an ethos, and for one brief moment, the standardisation of the web.
All web 2 websites have that colourful, yet matt appearance, and usually nice big glossy buttons. There is a ’norm’ for layout too and really the site’s function, if it has a great deal, should be completely intuitive and accessible by anyone.
There are many great examples of web 2.0 websites out there now, but the time has come for change. You see, nothing stays the same forever in our technological design world and it won’t be long before you are hearing about web 3.0
So, what can we expect from web 3.0?
In my mind, web 3.0 will see a move towards bigger and brighter websites, bigger buttons, and clever application. I foresee a huge shift towards touch screen technology in the home and work, and this will play a huge part in the future of web design.
Gone is the minute text, simple text links, and stupidly pretty design. It’s all about "give me the info I want now without having to search for it"
At Media Creative, we are already experiencing the shift and have invested in touch screen PCs for all our staff. Upcoming projects see the launch of touch screen pods driven by MCL applications for... well, I can’t tell you just what yet, but its smart, clever and simple to use!
Mark my words people, the future for web design and web development is big, bright and is shaping up for a new trend
You know, I have read many items regarding the mythological web 2.0 and listened to so much bull from other designers and developers. In a nut shell - and in my own opinion - web 2.0 was about a look, an ethos, and for one brief moment, the standardisation of the web.
All web 2 websites have that colourful, yet matt appearance, and usually nice big glossy buttons. There is a ’norm’ for layout too and really the site’s function, if it has a great deal, should be completely intuitive and accessible by anyone.
There are many great examples of web 2.0 websites out there now, but the time has come for change. You see, nothing stays the same forever in our technological design world and it won’t be long before you are hearing about web 3.0
So, what can we expect from web 3.0?
In my mind, web 3.0 will see a move towards bigger and brighter websites, bigger buttons, and clever application. I foresee a huge shift towards touch screen technology in the home and work, and this will play a huge part in the future of web design.
Gone is the minute text, simple text links, and stupidly pretty design. It’s all about "give me the info I want now without having to search for it"
At Media Creative, we are already experiencing the shift and have invested in touch screen PCs for all our staff. Upcoming projects see the launch of touch screen pods driven by MCL applications for... well, I can’t tell you just what yet, but its smart, clever and simple to use!
Mark my words people, the future for web design and web development is big, bright and is shaping up for a new trend
The death of the entry page
You’d think by now that designers and developers would have cottoned on to the fact that ’entry’ pages serve no purpose whatsoever, but alas this isn’t the case. You know what I mean by an entry page - they are usually created in flash, take an age to load, and then offer you the choice to ’skip’ once you are bored of waiting, or have seen it too many times!
Twice this week, I have stumbled upon such pages and wondered just what goes through the mind of the designer or marketer when they dream up such wonderfully animated collections of colours, words, video and sound.
"That will stun our customer into believing we are the best", they think as they busy themselves with that all important wow factor. "Our website will win awards" the marketers tell their CEOs to justify the extra budget they’ve just spent. "If that doesn’t get them spending with us, nothing will"
Let’s pull apart those myths and talk about just how 90s and pointless entry pages are.
Here are my ’pros and cons’ of the entry page:
Pros
err.........
Cons
where do I start?
OK, first things first - When your customer comes to your website either directly or from a search engine, they are coming for a purpose...they want INFORMATION. They don’t want to see swirling thing-a-me-bobs with unsubstantiated statements such as "the UK’s largest stock of..." flying across the screen. Let them in for pity’s sake.
Secondly, you must know your intro is boring, too long and pointless if you put a ’skip’ button on it in the first place!
Three. If you spent as much on good search engine optimisation (which, by the way, we are great at!) you would reap many more rewards and could then fully justify the expense to your CEO. And, there is nothing more damaging to optimisation than an entry page - apart from no thought of optimisation at all that is!
Number 4, well, to be honest, I am boring myself just thinking about entry pages.
Do yourself a favour... never use one, never let anyone bully you into one, don’t listen to the expert who tells you it won’t affect your SEO - he clearly isn’t - and last but not least, if you insist you want Media Creative to build you one, read this article again!
Twice this week, I have stumbled upon such pages and wondered just what goes through the mind of the designer or marketer when they dream up such wonderfully animated collections of colours, words, video and sound.
"That will stun our customer into believing we are the best", they think as they busy themselves with that all important wow factor. "Our website will win awards" the marketers tell their CEOs to justify the extra budget they’ve just spent. "If that doesn’t get them spending with us, nothing will"
Let’s pull apart those myths and talk about just how 90s and pointless entry pages are.
Here are my ’pros and cons’ of the entry page:
Pros
err.........
Cons
where do I start?
OK, first things first - When your customer comes to your website either directly or from a search engine, they are coming for a purpose...they want INFORMATION. They don’t want to see swirling thing-a-me-bobs with unsubstantiated statements such as "the UK’s largest stock of..." flying across the screen. Let them in for pity’s sake.
Secondly, you must know your intro is boring, too long and pointless if you put a ’skip’ button on it in the first place!
Three. If you spent as much on good search engine optimisation (which, by the way, we are great at!) you would reap many more rewards and could then fully justify the expense to your CEO. And, there is nothing more damaging to optimisation than an entry page - apart from no thought of optimisation at all that is!
Number 4, well, to be honest, I am boring myself just thinking about entry pages.
Do yourself a favour... never use one, never let anyone bully you into one, don’t listen to the expert who tells you it won’t affect your SEO - he clearly isn’t - and last but not least, if you insist you want Media Creative to build you one, read this article again!
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