[CLUE-Talk] Books on software usability

[Chris K. Chew]

I understand your points, but I am still confused as to why you guys are so
defensive about websites that differ from your own idea of what they should
be.

Many of my messages over the months have shown that I disapprove of
companies like MS, VeriSign, Enron or Qwest; and that I would like to see a
more responsible consumer (customer).  But I do think that the
commercialization of the Internet is a good thing.  If you don't like a
complex commercial website, don't visit it.  The fact remains that there is
more good to the Internet than text-based Linux websites.  Further, most
people do react warmly to aesthetically pleasing designs, otherwise
companies wouldn't pay to have them made.

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: clue-talk-admin at clue.denver.co.us
[mailto:clue-talk-admin at clue.denver.co.us]On Behalf Of Matt Gushee
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 8:53 PM
To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
Subject: Re: [CLUE-Talk] Books on software usability


On Sun, Apr 21, 2002 at 08:06:03PM -0600, Chris K. Chew wrote:

> You are right, sites like Nielsen's definitely have their place,
especially
> for people like us looking for information not as consumers of products.
> But at the same time, there is also a place in the web for multimedia and
> artistic expression.  These can be used to attract certain people to a
> website and improve their experience while there.  Of course, these
visitors
> will mainly be targeted consumers.
>
> Granted, I would prefer a business system where advertisement is about
facts
> and no flash, but my business has to compete in a quite different world.
It
> sounds like Sean has to also, and Nielsen's websites probably won't be
very
> effective for us.

Hmm ... as someone said, there should be a happy medium. It's not a case
of either the spartan Nielsen approach or the full-on, Flash[tm]-on-every-
page--it's a continuum. But the point remains that most people like web
sites that load fast, are easy to navigate, and provide the service *they
want* with a minimum of fuss. You imply that your target market may become
attracted to your company because of your cool design*. I hope for your
sake you're right.

* And it is cool -- if you're talking about www.fenetix.com. Though if
  it were me, I wouldn't greet visitors with a virtually blank splash
  page. And you might want to do a little more cross-browser testing.
--
Matt Gushee
Englewood, Colorado, USA
mgushee at havenrock.com
http://www.havenrock.com/
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