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Post by emyers on Feb 21, 2013 20:48:25 GMT -5
www.washcolibrary.org/index.aspWhile it isn't the flashiest choice and others might disagree with me, I'm inducting my local library's website into the Hall of Fame! The Washington County Free Library's website is aimed at library card-holders in my area, and also showcases a lot of local events relating to both our library and the city generally. Features range from being able to search the library's catalog to pulling up information on group meetings/events. Speed: Most visitors to the website are probably going to want to use the catalog to search for books or other information resources. The great thing about the site's layout is that you can see all of the available links and options on the initial home page without needing to scroll down at all. The bar on the left offers options for different age groups (kids, teens, and adults), and clicking on these links leads the user to a page with more information about events pertaining to that particular group. The options to check the elibrary and to look for books in the catalog are located at the top of the screen and the top of the sidebar to the left, respectively, and since the site is so compact, it will not take long for the user to find the links they are looking for. Learnability: What it lacks in "beauty," this site makes up for with an intuitive interface. Most of the links or drop-down menus on the site will take you right to what you are looking for - no need to jump through any complicated hoops or fill out any forms. The color scheme is easy on the eyes, and most information is displayed in simple boxes, with different sections being divided by colored headings. The creators of the website are obviously aware of the fact that most visitors will want to use the online database or look at the library's collection, so they have wisely included a large "My Account" button at the top of the page as well as an option to search the catalog or the site as a whole. Memorability: Again, the website's interface is relatively simple and intuitive, so it will not be difficult for users to get the hang of the format should they need to use the site again.. There are multiple places to enter library card information, for example, but there is also a large white "My Account" button located in the upper right-hand corner of the home page page for instant access to the user's account. There is also an option to search the entire site if you can't remember which section you want to visit. Efficiency: Unless the user is not very computer-savvy, I can't imagine someone making too many errors with this website. There are a lot of links, for sure, but clicking on the wrong link won't set you back very far, as most links do not take you to a new page and the site is so compact that it is easy to navigate your way back to what you were looking for if you accidentally mis-click. User Preference: In some ways, the Washington County Library's website sacrifices aesthetics for the sake of usability. Some people may prefer a more "polished"-looking site with more graphics and better spacing of items on certain pages. However, I think that most people using library websites are not going to be putting a premium on how "pretty" the page looks. They are most likely looking for general information about the library or they are looking to browse the online catalog, and this site will meet their demands. The Washington County Library's page does what it needs to do without any bells or whistles, and I think this is ultimately a point in its favor.
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Post by ferline on Feb 21, 2013 21:10:26 GMT -5
My nomination for the Hall of Fame is... www.mailchimp.com! Like some previous examples, to get the full effect of this site, you really have to sign up. I use it frequently at work to manage large email lists and send out really clean, well-designed email newsletters. The interface is well-designed, friendly, and very easy to use. You can design newsletters using a click-and-drag template builder, or for the more-skilled web designer, import your own HTML/CSS styling. The navigation is useful and allows you to find what you are looking for quickly. The site also has a great knowledge base/FAQ system with video and text tutorials to let you do everything from embed video to track clicks to your website. A+! Speed and Efficiency - Have never been an issue while using the site. Even when I upload huge email lists from Excel (up to 5,000 subscribers at a time), the site allows me to navigate to a new page, and emails me when the upload is complete. This has never taken more than a minute or two. Learnability - Great! It's very intuitive, and a beginner can pick up how to use it very quickly. However, I do think you need to have some internet and social media knowledge behind you to be most effective. Some of my coworkers are completely baffled by it, but they are not internet users, generally. There are also more advanced features you can take advantage of if you've learned the basics, but they are not necessary to get the most out of the site. Memorability- Great! There's plenty of help to remind you how to do something, but I haven't really needed it, and I use the site about twice per month. User Preference- It's definitely my favorite bulk mailing site. You can even try it for free, or continue using it for free with a list of up to 2,000 emails, which might be perfect for a small business! Constant Contact is pay-only. Some comments on other Hall of Fame nominees (because the less said about the Shame-ers the better): Dropbox: another aspect of Dropbox which increases its usability is its versatility. The iPad and iPhone apps have the same clean interfaces, with no new learning curve on the different devices. They plug in easily to other apps (like the PDF reader UPAD). There is also a great desktop version of Dropbox that sends you alerts when new files have been added to a shared folder, which is very efficient for working on group projects. Netflix: this has been a very well-designed user experience since the site came about. Their best aspect has always been their customer service and commitment to user feedback. Remember the "Quickster" debacle? After customer outcry, Netflix decided not to split their business. They have a great system on the site for reporting problems and getting your account issues (on the streaming service, but I'm also thinking about their DVDs by mail service) fixed quickly. This definitely increases user preference points! Other streaming services, like Amazon's for example, don't even come close in terms of usability. |
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Post by lauradavidson on Feb 21, 2013 22:42:10 GMT -5
My Hall of Fame: www.wikipedia.comAlthough wikipedia may not be the most scholarly of websites, the user can accomplish the task of looking up information in an extremely short amount of time. Furthermore, there is great efficiency with wikipedia. Even if a mistake is made, wikipedia will re-direct you or even give you other disambiguations. Users are able to learn it very quickly and, more over, it is easy to remember how to use it once you come back. As for user preference, ask any college student where they are likely to begin their research. Even if wikipedia isn't necessarily used in their reference lists, students use it for the notes to jump-start their research. My Hall of Shame: www.lebanoncollege.edu/So, I often spend my time looking up employment positions in New Hampshire because I enjoy daydreaming about my future life there. That being said, I stumbled across this gem of a website for a college there. It takes time to do what you are looking for - without a search box, you have to know exactly on the website where the information you are looking for is located. Consequently, it takes many mis-clicks to find anything. Its learn-ability is high since it is a very simple website, as is the memorability. As for user preference, the page looks dated to me. They could easily improve the first impression of the site by updating the look. |
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Post by lauradavidson on Feb 21, 2013 22:49:32 GMT -5
www.fanfiction.net/My Home away from home. I have used this site consistently since I was thirteen and though it IS a fan site it is one of the most well organized, well-developed and perfectly run sites and communities I have ever seen. This site caters to a HUGE audience, basically anyone who has a anime/manga series, book series, TV show or anything they like can use this site and find fan made stories about them and meet people. This website is catered to meeting the Preference of the User, I've seen several writing sites and groups for original and fanficion based work, including LiveJournal, A03, Deviantart and many others and everyone I talked to agree this site is their favorite and the best for writing, posting and commenting on stories and this site included several smaller branches to cater to specific needs of users such as www.fictionpress.com/ for original work. I agree with the learnability - although I haven't used the site in many years, I often used it in middle and high school. Learning how to upload stories was the most difficult part. However, searching for new stories to read was relatively simple and straight forward! What's nice about this site is that the format hasn't changed - generally speaking - in many years so users have no problem in using it. Just browsing it now for the first time in a long while, it came flooding back to me. I like how it always keeps it simple and never too flashy. |
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Post by lauradavidson on Feb 21, 2013 22:53:32 GMT -5
www.washcolibrary.org/index.aspWhile it isn't the flashiest choice and others might disagree with me, I'm inducting my local library's website into the Hall of Fame! The Washington County Free Library's website is aimed at library card-holders in my area, and also showcases a lot of local events relating to both our library and the city generally. Features range from being able to search the library's catalog to pulling up information on group meetings/events. What I particularly like about this site's usability is it's distinction between searching the catalog and then searching the website. They are both distinct boxes and clearly labeled in the middle of the screen. I dislike it when there is only one search box, and then you have to click a little dot to say if you want to search ALL of google and the second option is to search only the website. Since I am already on the website, I often assume that the search is geared only for its own website, and not a search plug for the google machine. |
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Post by eojuri on Feb 22, 2013 14:51:37 GMT -5
www.amazon.com(Take a look at this Dutch Oven: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SOM5XS/ref=s9_simh_gw_p79_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1J5TD6HQJJ49KZ6CTQTR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846) I do a lot of shopping online and Amazon.com is one of my favorite sites to use. It's a very usable site and is geared toward the task of helping users find things to purchase. It accomplishes this task by not only making it very easy for users to search for things to buy with a centrally located search field but also discover things to buy through browsing through its Customers Who Bought This..., Frequently Bought Together, and Customers Who Viewed... sections. It's very fast and easy to move through Amazon, to move from one product category to another. To make finding things to buy even faster and easier than it already is, Amazon also provides suggested search terms as the user types in the search field. It's extremely efficient at what is does and its difficult to make a mistake. Even if you somehow bypass the search suggests and search for something that doesn't exist, Amazon will still show products that you might want to buy. Amazon is about as easy to learn as Google with its central search bar. Purchasing is pretty quick and easy. However, some uninitiated may be overwhelmed by the vast options available on a screen for a single item such as buying new or buying used, buying together or saving to a wish list. As far as memorability goes, I'd say that Amazon fairs pretty well. It makes changes constantly, but the changes are easy to adapt to when using basic Amazon as a reference. And when it doubt, READ. Amazon does a great job of explaining what things are with information bubbles when the user mouses over text or images. If you take a look at the link above for the Dutch Oven, you'll see that Amazon uses a lot of the features that we've learned in class such as unnumbered lists, linked images, variably sized fonts and variable text colors, bold text, hyperlinked text and horizontal lines--all to keep things organized and draw the user's attention to certain things. Amazon has become one of my preferred sites for online shopping.
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Post by eojuri on Feb 22, 2013 15:11:33 GMT -5
www.washcolibrary.org/index.aspUser Preference: In some ways, the Washington County Library's website sacrifices aesthetics for the sake of usability. Some people may prefer a more "polished"-looking site with more graphics and better spacing of items on certain pages. However, I think that most people using library websites are not going to be putting a premium on how "pretty" the page looks. They are most likely looking for general information about the library or they are looking to browse the online catalog, and this site will meet their demands. The Washington County Library's page does what it needs to do without any bells or whistles, and I think this is ultimately a point in its favor. I must admit that I was initially put off buy the aesthetics of the Wash. Co. Library website. That said, I agree with Emily that the site does a lot of things right. Searching the catalog is clear and easy with the centrally located search box. The "What's New in the Catalog" section is a great way to encourage virtual browsing which I think is fantastic! I also like the idea of dividing resources by age group. Aesthetically speaking, a lot could be improved by just changing some of the background colors. The drab gray, dark blue and blood red are very harsh on the eyes. |
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Post by jenntreadway on Feb 22, 2013 15:28:49 GMT -5
Although I would certainly not classify this website in my Hall of Fame, I do not think the website should be classified in the Hall of Shame either. While this website is dated and could certainly benefit from an update aesthetically, I personally appreciate its simplicity. Speed: In my opinion, the navigation menu heading are straight-forward and meaningful. Additionally, users can use navigational elements located at the top of each page to switch back/forth between related pages under the navigation menu heading. Although some pages are exceptionally long, anchors have been included to avoid excessive scrolling. Efficiency: Although the site could benefit from a search bar, as mentioned before, the navigation menu headings are clean and important features like making a donation, joining the mail list, or finding Lebanon College on Facebook are highly visible. Learnability and Memorability: As, Laura has already stated, the website is simple; thus, fairly easy to learn, remember, and master. User Preference: Site is clearly dated, but could easily be updated aesthetically for a more polished appearance. |
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Post by andreab on Feb 22, 2013 15:49:25 GMT -5
Well - if we are submitting library websites for consideration - I would like to submit my library's site into the hall of fame - we just redesigned it in-house. What do you think?  www.wicomicolibrary.orgIt is strong on the qualities for a good site - speed, learn-ability, and memorability - and it is simple and clean to look at. Honestly, I would appreciate input. Our in house IT guy did all the work and I have to say I think he did a good job. ;D |
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Post by aton on Feb 22, 2013 15:49:58 GMT -5
Although I would certainly not classify this website in my Hall of Fame, I do not think the website should be classified in the Hall of Shame either. While this website is dated and could certainly benefit from an update aesthetically, I personally appreciate its simplicity. Speed: In my opinion, the navigation menu heading are straight-forward and meaningful. Additionally, users can use navigational elements located at the top of each page to switch back/forth between related pages under the navigation menu heading. Although some pages are exceptionally long, anchors have been included to avoid excessive scrolling. Efficiency: Although the site could benefit from a search bar, as mentioned before, the navigation menu headings are clean and important features like making a donation, joining the mail list, or finding Lebanon College on Facebook are highly visible. Learnability and Memorability: As, Laura has already stated, the website is simple; thus, fairly easy to learn, remember, and master. User Preference: Site is clearly dated, but could easily be updated aesthetically for a more polished appearance. For speed and efficiency, I think it all depends on what you are trying to find. It may seem like the navigation menu is straightforward, but some of the pages are not as straightforward. For example, I tried searching for the estimated cost of attendance. After much clicking and scrolling, I found "tuition and fees" under academic information, at the bottom below the graduation information. It is hard to tell whether you cannot find something because it is not there or it is in a place you would not expect. Not all the extremely long pages have anchors either. The site is so oversimplified to the point where it is unorganized, which of course affects speed and efficiency. I agree that learnability and memorability are very high, though. |
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Post by jenntreadway on Feb 22, 2013 16:07:21 GMT -5
Definitely, hall of fame worthy! Speed and efficiency: In my opinion, the navigational headings are straightforward and include nearly everything a user might need for information on the library. Most of the important links and information are highly visable. Although, if you actively engage in social media, I might consider adding a link to your actual Facebook page (in addition to the like button) as well as moving the social media buttons higher. Additionally, the library catalog search button is highly visable which should hopefully prevent user confusion. Learnability and Memorability: The clean, simple design and straightford headers make this sight easy to learn, nagavigate, and master. User Preference: The simplicity of the design is refreshing and not overly simulating. However, I might consider adding a picture of each branch on their designated page. Personally, when traveling to a new place/building, I appreciate knowing exactly what the building looks like (just to be reassured I am in the right place)! |
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Post by jmessick on Feb 22, 2013 16:21:34 GMT -5
www.ci.salisbury.md.us/This site is a mix of shame and fame. This is the website for my hometown, Salisbury, MD. My main problem with the site is the huge banner with the various awards/recognitions at the top that takes up a ton of space. I like the introduction to the city being in the middle so that's one of the main focuses of the user. There is all sorts of useful information in the sidebars on either side. There is also a module showing the current weather of Salisbury. Also a section that lists some of the current press releases regarding the city is below the intro. Speed: With the giant banner at the top of the page it takes a while to scroll down to see any of the relevant information. There is a banner at the top of the screen with links to other pages but there is a lot of information on the front page that a user would want to see. Learnability: It is pretty easy to figure out where what you want to find is on this site. There are links to all the various pages on the site that have any information about the city the user could want. Memorability: This site has pretty much stayed the same and the only thing that would really change is the press releases or any other new information about the city. All the new info would end up in the same place as it is now. Efficiency: With the side bars and the drop down lists at the top it is pretty easy to find what you are looking for. User Preference: I like this site because it is full of all the important information that I want about my city, but the banner at the top of page really takes away from the usability of the home page.
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Post by jmessick on Feb 22, 2013 16:28:33 GMT -5
www.amazon.comI agree with this as a hall of fame. I love amazon's site and I love their mobile app as well. They are both very easy to navigate and I've never had any trouble finding anything. If I was to have trouble I know they have a great help section. |
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Post by jmessick on Feb 22, 2013 16:31:18 GMT -5
My Hall of Fame: www.wikipedia.comWikipedia is always my first go-to whenever I'm looking something up. Whenever I'm watching a movie and they say it's based on a true story, I check it on wikipedia. Granted the information may not always be correct because it is inputted by users, it is generally reliable and can be good to get started on research or for just a quick look up. The design of the site is also easy to navigate along with the app |
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Post by eojuri on Feb 22, 2013 16:51:55 GMT -5
Initially, I didn't see anything unusable about the Lebanon College website. I suppose that my attention was occupied by the flashing photgraph in the center. I do like the simple set-up of the website, with the welcome in the center and the navigation to the left. Laura, I see your point about the absence of a search bar but I still think that it is pretty simple and easy to find what you're looking for. The headings on the navigation panel are very self-explanatory and the fact that they expand into subheadings when you click on them is kind of neat.
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