540-310 Human Factors in Information Seeking and Use

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540-310 Human Factors in Information Seeking and
Use

• Wooseob Jeong

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Notice

• Second part of this class will be held in Bolton
  531 (computer lab).
• At the end of the class, your group should turn
  in group membership with their roles with
  potential target URLs.
• Plan ahead, please.

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Final Project

• Group Formation
• Phase I by 4/21
• Identify the target site
• Phase II by 4/28
• Plan your modification with justification
• Phase III by 5/19
• Implementation of the revision
• Review of Krug - Due on 5/12

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Selecting a Target Page

• It should have the first level domain name
  without any subdirectory or file extension.
• http//www.something.com (O)
• http//www.something.com/part/ (X)
• http//www.something.com/first.html (X)
• Choose the worst one so that your efforts will
  be maximized.
• You will modify the home page only, not the
  whole site. (single page)

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What is Information Architecture?

• The science of figuring out what you want your
  site to do and then constructing a blueprint
  before you dive in and put the thing together.
• By John Shiple
• Useful URLs
• Restroom analogy

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Information Architecture

• Rosenfeld Peter Morville (2002)
• The combination of organization, labeling, and
  navigation schemes within an information system.
• The structural design of an information space to
  facilitate task completion and intuitive access
  to content.
• The art and science of structuring and
  classifying web sites and intranets to help
  people find and manage information.
• An emerging discipline and community of practice
  focused on bringing principles of design and
  architecture to the digital landscape.

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IA in plain English, please!

• Im an information architect. I organize huge
  amounts of information on big web sites and
  intranets so that people can actually find what
  theyre looking for. Think of me as an Internet
  librarian.
• Im an information architect. I help my company
  by making it easy for customers to find our
  products on our web site. Im a kind of online
  merchandiser. I apply one-to-one marketing
  concepts on the Internet.
• Im an information architect. Im the one who
  takes on that information overload problem that
  everyones been complaining about lately.

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What Isnt IA?

• Graphic design is NOT IA.
• IA is a part of designers job.
• Software development is NOT IA.
• However, they need to communicate well.
• Usability engineering is NOT IA.
• Often concerned testing all aspects of the user
  experience, inclusive of IA and graphic design.

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Why IA Matters

• The cost of finding information
• The cost of not finding information
• The value of education
• The cost of construction
• The cost of maintenance
• The cost of training
• The value of brand

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What do you hate about the web?

• Cant find it!
• Poor graphic design and layout
• Gratuitous use of bells and whistles
• Inappropriate tone
• Designer-centeredness
• Under construction
• Lack of attention to detail

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What do you like about the web?

• Aesthetics
• Big ideas
• Utility
• Findability
• Personalization

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You have to ask

• What is it that we are designing, and why?
• Who will use it?
• How will we know if weve been successful?

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The role of the information architect

• The consumers perspective
• Outsider
• The producers perspective
• Insider

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Who should be the information architect?

• Thinking like an outsider
• Thinking like an insider
• Disciplinary background
• Graphic design
• Information and library science
• Journalism
• Usability engineering
• Marketing
• Computer science
• Balance your perspective

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Collaboration and communication

• Marketing
• Information architecture
• Graphic design
• Editorial
• Technical
• Project management

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Dont Make Me Think! (1)
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Dont Make Me Think! (2)
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Dont Make Me Think! (3)
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Dont Make Me Think! (4)
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Dont Make Me Think! (5)
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Fact of Life 1

• We dont read pages. We scan them.
• Were usually in a hurry.
• We know we dont need to read everything.
• Were good at it newspaper, magazine,

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Fact of Life 2

• We dont make optimal choices. We satisfice.
• Were usually in a hurry.
• Theres not much of a penalty for guessing wrong.
• Weighing options may not improve our chances.
• Guessing is more fun.

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Fact of Life 3

• We dont figure out how things work. We muddle
  through.
• Many people type URLs in Yahoos search box.
• Its not important to us.
• If we find something that works, we stick to it.