Usability is Important (Even for Flash Designers)
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The document discusses making Flash content more usable, accessible, and search engine optimized. It covers 10 usability heuristics that should be followed like ensuring visibility of system status and allowing user control and freedom. Guidelines are provided for making Flash accessible to assistive technologies and ensuring replacement content is available. Tips are also given for writing Flash content to be more search engine friendly like including keywords and links in replacement content.
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Usability is Important (Even for Flash Designers)
- 1. Usability is Important(Even for Flash Designers) Danielle Gobert Cooley #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 1
- 2. About this talk Make your Flash more usable, accessible and searchable. In this session, I will discuss the “whys” and “hows” of usability and how it relates to Flash in the browser. #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 2
- 3. Always start with a joke! #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 3
- 4. People love kids Paul Trani said so! #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 4
- 5. Bio 12 years as user researcher/usability specialist BE, Biomedical & Electrical Engineering MS, Human Factors in Information Design Selected Employers & Clients #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 5 dcooley@4ORCEdigital.com @dgcooley
- 6. Making Flash more usable #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 6 Still true?
- 7. The good Real time validation! Conditionally enabling fields! Keyboard support! The bad Encourages gratuitous graphics Breaks web fundamentals Distracts from a site’s core values #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 7 Most research is O L D Really? Wow.
- 8. Bad Flash: Huggies #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 8
- 9. Really bad Flash #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 9 http://theoatmeal.com/comics/websites_stop
- 10. Good Flash: Garnier #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 10
- 11. 10 Usability Heuristics Visibility of system status Match between system and the real world User control and freedom Consistency and standards Error prevention Recognition rather than recall Flexibility and efficiency of use Aesthetic and minimalist design Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors Help and documentation #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 11
- 12. Visibility of system status Let the user know what’s going on #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 12
- 13. Visibility of system status #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 13 20 seconds
- 14. Match between system and the real world Speak the user’s language #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 14
- 15. User control and freedom “emergency exit” Support undo/redo For the love of god, don’t resize their browser #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 15
- 16. Consistency and standards Be consistent within your own site(s) Follow platform conventions Where do your users spend most of their time online? #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 16
- 17. Error prevention Error prevention > good error messages Confirm delete Conditional field show/hide enable/disable Dropdown vs. text field Data entry format (555) 314-1212 vs. 555.314.1212 #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 17
- 18. Recognition rather than recall Minimize memory load “After you click this link, go to “view,” then “presentation views,” then “slide master.” ( don’t do this) Account numbers are particularly ridiculous. #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 18
- 19. Flexibility and efficiency of use Include accelerators for expert users SUPPORT KEYBOARD USE #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 19
- 20. Aesthetic and minimalist design Avoid unnecessary things. Always consider signal:noise ratio #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 20
- 21. Error recovery Use plain language Tell the user what happened Be specific ALSO TELL THEM HOW TO FIX IT #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 21
- 22. Help and documentation Searchable List concrete steps for each task Should run in parallel with your tool/app/site #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 22
- 23. Content strategy Needs to stay current – flash tends to be developed once and then ignored. Who’s going to update it? How often? Proofreading workflow? Do we archive it? How far back? #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 23
- 24. Design Patterns #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 24 http://patterns.endeca.com http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/ http://www.patternry.com/ http://patterntap.com/
- 25. Making Flash more accessible Consider assistive technologies Screen reader: http://bit.ly/9rteL8 Click Here Skip stuff Navigation <a class=offscreenhref=http://maps.google.com/m?oi=screenreader>Screen reader users: click here for plain HTML</a><input type=hidden id=csi /> #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 25 http://webaim.org/techniques/flash/ http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/flash/tutorial/
- 26. Replacement Content #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 26
- 27. Making Flash more searchable SWF Object 2.0 “It offers one solution for everybody and promotes the use of Web standards and alternative content.” (Google) Write for keywords Language > images, use video transcripts Include links in replacement content Don’t be spammy They’re on to you! Remember download time #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 27 http://searchengineland.com/seo-or-flash-a-tough-choice-no-more-15505
- 28. Additional resources #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 28
- 29. Questions #FLashCampSTL @DGCooley @4ORCEDigital 29
Editor's Notes
- Field research has considerable advantages over other types of user research, but it also presents some challenges.There are many different types of field research, at least one of which will probably add value to your project.Like other forms of user research, field research must be done with care to avoid bias and leading the user.Visual aids, photos, videos, and copies of physical materials are helpful in remembering what happened during a field research session and in communicating your findings to others.Really, visiting people and collecting artifacts is a ton of fun. You're almost always learning something that no one else really knows.Analysis of field research findings can take a long time – affinity diagramming and mind mapping are helpful tools to speed the process while making sure you don't forget anything.