The call from the client was “Can we borrow your camera? We’ve only got one, and we need two for the next test”. We agreed a modest fee and the deal was done. Or was it? Close questioning revealed thatContinue reading… Getting the video to talk to the audio
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How to obtain maximum insight by cross-referring site statistics, San Francisco, 2002
Slides from a presentation to the IIR/IMRO Symposium “Web-based surveys and usability testing”, San Francisco, California, US. Ou 2002 wsut – jarrett roddis from Caroline Jarrett
Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
This presentation, given to the 49th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Nashville, USA, offers an overview of my work with the UK Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs). It records some our findings on usability, and the changes we made as aContinue reading… Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
You’re designing a form for the web and you want to make it easy for your form user to choose answers to your questions. There are five HTML form elements available: drop-down box, radio buttons, check boxes, type-in box andContinue reading… Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
Setting usability requirements for a website containing a form
This paper, co-authored with Sarah Allen Miller, was originally presented at the Society for Technical Communication Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2001 Why set usability requirements In traditional systems development, users were locked into systems and had little choice about whether to use them. If they wereContinue reading… Setting usability requirements for a website containing a form
Why users don’t complain about bad forms
Originally written in response to the Florida vote controversy in the US’ 2000 presidential election, here are plenty of reasons why you may never know that users are struggling with your form. This article first appeared in January 2001 in User Experience,Continue reading… Why users don’t complain about bad forms
Understanding the costs of data capture: paper, automatic and with the internet
Organisations have sometimes been surprised and disappointed when they re-engineer a forms-based data capture process but fail to achieve their anticipated savings. This paper, delivered to the CIMTECH conference, University of Hertfordshire, in 2000 explains: how capture costs are built up fromContinue reading… Understanding the costs of data capture: paper, automatic and with the internet
Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
If you want to create a usable form, the first step is to understand what a form is. By unpicking its elements, it is then possible to improve each aspect and put it back together in an improved state. This paperContinue reading… Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
Market Research or Usability Evaluation?
I am a usability consultant and I believe, and find in practice, that usability evaluation is the best way to find out whether a document works for its users. However, I have frequently been in a position where my clientsContinue reading… Market Research or Usability Evaluation?
‘How to’ manual on forms design: guidelines on font size
This paper presents some of the conflicting advice offered to designers on one particular topic in accessibility: the choice of font size for visually impaired people. This creates practical difficulties for designers when trying to apply the advice. It wasContinue reading… ‘How to’ manual on forms design: guidelines on font size