Simplicity over features -- usually
Jakob Nielsen pretty much validates application development practices from the likes of 37signals when he writes, "Most users have low commitment -- especially to Web sites, which must focus on simplicity, rather than features."
Less really is more, it seems. The usability maestro puts the dilemma into terms every content-site designer should take to heart:
"Users' willingness to learn is the most important factor in how much complexity you can allow in the user experience. If people are extremely excited about a user interface, they'll welcome more features and will spend the time to figure them out.
"Mostly, though, users have a low engagement level with user interfaces and just want them to get out of the way. People don't want to spend time learning, they want to spend time doing -- a well-documented effect called the paradox of the active user."
On a content Web site, maybe it's a reach but I consider blocks of categorically organized links to be, in effect, user interface features. As such, the advice might apply to the numbers and groupings of links a site might provide on, for example, its home or index pages. It's worth debating, anyway.
On this site
Industry news headlines
Web feeds (RSS)
Recent SI News and Commentary
Sid says
In matters of technology, far fewer skeptics than fans are fools.
I agree with Nielsen's view.
I agree with Nielsen's view. I worked as an intern at GameSpot.com, a huge Web site with tons of users, many of whom are hard-core video-gamers. (I should know, because I was one for a few years.) That's a site where less is not more to most users.
However, I don't think that's the case for most sites, especially newspapers' sites, which most often are absolutely overrun with content, crammed into every corner of every page.
Post new comment