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Enhancing Information Navigation

This document discusses techniques for improving the "information scent" and navigation of websites. It suggests that good navigation allows users to easily find what they are looking for through clear labeling of links and categories. Specific techniques mentioned include using multi-word links with descriptive terms, speaking block navigation, placing important links in prime real estate above the fold, and designing for glanceability so users can quickly understand options.

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5 views19 pages

Enhancing Information Navigation

This document discusses techniques for improving the "information scent" and navigation of websites. It suggests that good navigation allows users to easily find what they are looking for through clear labeling of links and categories. Specific techniques mentioned include using multi-word links with descriptive terms, speaking block navigation, placing important links in prime real estate above the fold, and designing for glanceability so users can quickly understand options.

Uploaded by

ipseforcada
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

READING and

NAVIGATING
Scott Klemmer
[Link]

Informavores!

Information Scent
Can people figure out how to get to
the information they want?
Do they realize what options are
available?

How can you detect poor scent?


Flailing
Low confidence
Back button

User Interface Engineering, Designing for the Scent of Information, [Link]

Low-Scent Navigation

Surprising categories
Short links
Hidden navigation
Icons provide little additional
information
Stanford Federal Credit Union, [Link]

Generic Icons Rarely Help

Coursera, HCI, [Link]

Icons help when...


they facilitate repeat recognition
when you know what something looks
like but not what its called
Good redundant coding can help

Improving scent: multi-word links


With specific, recognizable terms
Trigger words, not clever terms
This also helps accessibility

[Link]/hci - [Link]/pg/assignments/view/213029/assignment-1-design-exercise

Improving scent: Speaking Block Navigation

[Link]/2008/02/26/navigation-menus-trends-and-examples/

Does location matter?

Eyetracking

Image courtesy Ed Cutrell, Microsoft Research

Design for glanceability

The Poynter Institute [Link]/extra/eyetrack2004

Prime Real Estate


Above the fold
Where people expect
Where other pages put similar content
Not where ads usually

People are more than happy to


scroll if they think theyll be
rewarded

How People Read


Online

Jakob Nielsen, How Users Read on the Web, October 1997, [Link]/alertbox/[Link]

They Dont

Jakob Nielsen, How Users Read on the Web, October 1997, [Link]/alertbox/[Link]

Interlaced Browsing

Measuring the Effect of Writing Strategy


Site Version

Sample Paragraph

Improvement

Jakob Nielsen, Alertbox, [Link]

To learn more...
User Interface Engineering, Designing for
the Scent of Information
Peter Pirolli, Information Foraging Theory
Jakob Nielsen, Alertbox,
[Link]/alertbox

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