Here’s a little secret that I’d like to share with you: most people just aren’t all that thrilled by forms. They don’t like filling them in, they don’t like thinking about them, and they certainly don’t like the idea ofContinue reading… Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!
Tag: forms
Making a better web form
Which usability changes make the biggest difference? Invited by LoanBright to review their forms, we were surprised by some of the results. Among the changes we tested – layout, wording of questions, addition of extra pages – the only one to make a significant differenceContinue reading… Making a better web form
The piece of HTML created just for me: Reset
HTML 2.0 appeared in 1995. At that time, I was working in usability of forms – and I still am. But I didn’t have email or an internet connection. So I think it was remarkably nice of the authors to includeContinue reading… The piece of HTML created just for me: Reset
The value of ‘other’: other countries, other choices
Yesterday I was scrolling down yet another list of countries – must have been over 150 of them. There’s always a slight frisson to the game for me: will I find United Kingdom? Or perhaps I’ll be offered England, ScotlandContinue reading… The value of ‘other’: other countries, other choices
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
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. This paper was first delivered at the 47th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Florida. Introduction If you want to create aContinue reading… Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
Case study: Improving a paper form for the Open University
A large proportion of the costs of dealing with forms comes from sorting out the mistakes that people make when they fill in the form. Back in 1999, I worked with the Open University on their paper Registration Agreement and associatedContinue reading… Case study: Improving a paper form for the Open University