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UX

Web UX: Study Guide

Problems, Health and Errors

Solution, a Goal with Many Names

… (referencing a Jakob Nielsen’s talk, [YEAR])

Terms we used to call the same idea in barely different contexts:

  1. Human Factors (& Ergonomics).
  2. Man-Machine Interface (MMI).
  3. Usability/Usability Engineering.
  4. User-Friendly Systems.
  5. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  6. User-Centered Design (UCD).
  7. User Experience (UX).

(#1) Ergonomics (1857): a book by Wojciech Jastrzębowski, a specific discipline to address work/labor related pathologies, specially due to working postures and movements.

(#2) Human Factors (early 1900s, developed during WW II): Industrial Revolution accentuated the amount and variety of deseases, then more knowledge was needed to study and address labor related health problems. The combined term/discipline Human Factors & Ergonomics was established in mid-60s.

(#3) Man-Machine Interface (MMI) (1940s-1950s): early computers, physical controls.

(#4-5) Usability/Usability Engineering (late 1960s-early 1980s, Jakob Nielsen): new era of computers. Almost as a synonym and in the same period. User-Friendly Systems, computers started to have mass consumption and domestic use, a wider spectrum of users induced the consideration of non-technical consumers into the design processes.

(#6) Human Computer Interaction (HCI) (1970s-1980s): basically MMI but extended to electronic devices and virtual interfaces, psychology started to take part of interaction studies.

(#7) User-Centered Design (UCD) (1980s-1990s): a generalization of MMI and HCI.

(#8) User Experience (UX), 1990s(-2000s), Don Norman, further evolution including psychological/empathetic factors such as the joy or satisfaction a product or service could deliver.

When Good Enough is Not Enough

Awful UX Flaws to Avoid

Some of the most common and damaging web-design mistakes.

Study of 1999:

  1. Breaking or slowing down the back button.
  2. Opening new browser windows.
  3. Non-standard use of gui widgets.
  4. Lack of biographies.
  5. Lack of archives.
  6. Moving pages to new URLs.
  7. Headlines that make no sense out of context.
  8. Jumping at the latest internet buzzword.
  9. Slow server response times.
  10. Anything that looks like advertising.

Reference: The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 1999 (nngroup.com).

Study of 2005:

  1. Legibility problems.
  2. Non-standard links.
  3. Flash.
  4. Content that’s not written for the web.
  5. Bad search.
  6. Browser incompatibility.
  7. Cumbersome forms.
  8. No contact information of other company information.
  9. Frozen layouts with fixed page widths.
  10. Inadequate photo enlargement.

Reference: Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 2005 (nngroup.com).

Study of 2016:

  1. Unexpected locations for content.
  2. Competing links and categories.
  3. Islands of information.
  4. Repetitive links.
  5. Hidden fees and prices.
  6. Stranding users on microsites.
  7. Poor research results.
  8. Flawed filters and facets.
  9. Overwhelming users with information.
  10. Hidden links.

Reference: Top 10 Enduring (nngroup.com).

Study of 2021:

  1. Popups/overlays.
  2. Slow response time.
  3. Misleading links and expectations.
  4. Low contrast or tiny text.
  5. Inflexible input.
  6. Can’t select and copy-paste.
  7. Icons without labels.
  8. Layout shift on page load.
  9. Only huge hero image above fold.
  10. Mobile design on big screens.

Reference: Top 10 Web-Design Mistakes of 2021 (youtube.com, NNg).