Usability

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Usability
The NYS Forum Webmasters Guild Presents

• The cornerstone of delivering your content.

December 5, 2008
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Old Business
IT Accessibility Committee Questions from
November Guild Meeting on Validation Tool
Status (As of 11/13/2008)

• The requirements document for changes described
  in S08-005 has been given to Hi-Software.
• There is currently no funding for renewal of the
  On-Line Web Version. (Budget Miracles Welcome)
• The PC version should be available for renewal
  through ASAP or SHI on State contract.

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Agenda

• 900am - 905am Openning and Greetings
• Jim Costello - Webmasters Guild NYS Co-Chair
• 905am - 920am Introduction to Usability
• Christopher J. Ford - Webmasters Guild
  Steering Committee
• 920am - 1035am Speakers
• 1035am - 1055am QA
• 1055am - 1105am Break
• 1105am Break-Out Mini-Sessions
• Featuring an in-depth look at the NYS
  Archives Project

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Why Usability?

• 87 Interest Rate Among Forum Members
• Usability is often forgotten in the pressure to
  put out content.
• Usability is often confused with Accessibility.

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3 Ps of the Internet Web

• Some forces have significantly driven the quick
  development of Internet Web technologies.

• Physics Tim Berners-Lee

• Pride Author/Artist vs. User

• Pictures Bandwidth and Quality

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Vowels of Web Design
Ask yourself if your site/content is

• Accessible?
• Expandable?
• Implementable?
• Operable?
• Usable?

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Usability.gov

• In general, usability refers to how well users
  can learn and use a product to achieve their
  goals and how satisfied they are with that
  process. Usability, as defined by Joseph Dumas
  and Janice (Ginny) Redish, means that people who
  use the product can do so quickly and easily to
  accomplish their tasks. Usability may also
  consider such factors as cost-effectiveness and
  usefulness. U.S. Dept. of Health Human
  Services (Usability.gov)

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Other Usability Sites

• Sensible.Com Advanced Common Sense by Steve
  Krug. Web Usability Consulting site.
• UseIT.Com Jakob Nielsens Website. Multiple
  types of information.

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Google Says

• a well-designed Google product is useful in
  daily life. It doesn't try to impress users with
  its whizbang technology or visual style - though
  it might have both.
• Audience and cultural context matter.
• Google doesn't know everything, and no design is
  perfect. Our products ask for feedback, and
  Google acts on that feedback.
• http//www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/ux.html

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Accessible vs. Usable

• They arent the same!

As your customers want more services that meet
their needs and an increasing population wants
easier access to that information, the webmaster
stands in the middle and tries to bring these two
concerns together for increased user
satisfaction. How do you do this?
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How do you address bothUsability Accessibility?

• Participate in management or project team
  discussions concerning proposed content or
  functionality for your site.
• Create a simple checklist of things you will look
  for or require before content is published.
• Be on the lookout for ideas that can sustain the
  usability of your site rather than planning on
  reworking your site after the fact.

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Examples of Increased Usability

• Breadcrumbs
• Highlighting links while hovering with a pointer
• FAQs on the site, terminology, or subject matter
• Offering a site in multiple languages
• Is someone with a mobile device able to access
  your site? (Warning, cross-over question.)

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Resources

• Webmasters Guild Website
• W3C
• Usability.Gov
• Sensible.Com
• UseIt.com
• www.teacherjohn.com
• www.humanfactors.com

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Your Panel Today
Sponsored By The NYS Forums Webmasters Guild

• Application of Usability Principles in the
  Redesign of OPDVs Web Site
• Lizette Rivera, Web Site Manager, NYS Office for
  the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV)
• Rethinking a Higher Educational Website
• Fred Doyle, Director of Web Services, University
  at Albany, SUNY
• Studying Web Usability at the New York State
  Archives
• Heather Bolander-Smith, Archives and Records
  Management Specialist, NYS Archives
• Keith Swaney, Archives and Records Management
  Specialist, NYS Archives
• The ROI of Usability How User-Centered Design
  Supports Your Agency
• Spencer Gerrol, Executive Director, Human Factors
  International (HFI)
• Usability in Practice
• Susan Powell, Director of Web Content, NYS
  Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF)
• Facilitator
• Christopher J. Ford, Information Technology
  Specialist 4 (DB)
• NYS Department of Health (DOH), Project
  Management Office.

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Thank You

• In addition to the officers of the Webmasters
  Guild, the IT Accessibility Committee, and
  todays speakers, the following people served as
  special committee members or provided input for
  this event.
• Kristen N. Albright, NYS Department of Parole
• Mary Beth Sullivan, NYS Archives
• Shirley L. Bull, NYS Department of Health
• William M. Ryan, NYS Department of Health
• Edward Knoblauch, New York History Net
• John Plante, NYS Office of the State Comptroller

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Panel Presenters

• Now for our first speaker.