incessant ramblings

Steve Krug brought up many interesting and great points about usability. I would agree that most web users scan instead of read through like a novel they want to read. Heck, I do that myself. But then he brings up things like "Employment Opportunities" vs. "Jobs". Isn't Employment opportunities self explanatory? Who, that is looking for a job, doesn't know what employment is? Or an opportunity?

I somewhat agree on the search function though. Guys, I just want to search. If I have to choose how I'm searching, beyond Google, it's just annoying. Sometimes I have to perform multiple searches if there's things like Title, Author, Keyword, because I don't choose the right option. It's not a multiple choice test guys...just let me search, please. On the other hand, if I'm on Amazon searching for a DVD, and I choose to search books, I'm an idiot. Fair enough. I do like those types of distinctions.

His example of buttons though...just because a button is flat doesn't mean it's not a button. Why should things have to "pop out" of the screen for you to know they're a button or a link? There are certain things that are common enough on the internet to make you know something is a link. If it's your first time on the internet, perhaps it's time you learn a thing or two. For instance, generally text-links are a different color or style on a site to make them stand out. If you see that color/style, you can usually say "oh it's a link". Now, if people are using that color or style on other things that aren't links as well, then there's a possible issue. Say you have a site that is 3 colors (black, blue, white). Black background, white text, and then blue or styled white text needs to be used for hierarchy. Will bold white links stand out enough? Or do they need to be blue? But then if you use blue, can you use blue in the larger headings and expect people to not try to click on them? It's enough to give a designer a headache. But we are here to solve those problems.

It is hard for me to believe so many people are internet (or even computer) illiterate. Of course, I do believe it...but at an age where I grew up with the internet and computers, it makes me impatient when I have to explain to people how to use something pretty basic. Maybe it's because I had a bit of access to a computer and the internet before most people my own age did, and it fascinated me. I think I was around age 10 when I got a computer in my own room. Good times.

All in all, I do believe the internet should be user friendly. Perhaps this is why I'm not a fan of full-flash websites (the back button is one of my best friends...and Flash hates it :< style="font-weight: bold;">much thought" rather than "no thought at all".

After all...the use of the brain keeps it young. If we didn't have to think, even just a bit, we'd become more drone-like than our society already is.