Website Design. User Experience and Usability - Essay Example

of the Interaction Design Interaction design derived its architectural foundation from the ‘interdisciplinary course of human beings that are constantly engaged in interactive relation with technology and industry (Cummings, 2013, p. 1). Web designs, with foundational structure inspired from softwares, drew behaviours although the interactions of functions are invisible to users (Saffers, 2007, p. 4). Interaction design is likewise defined as an aesthetic facilitation between human beings and products or services that are perceived with certain ‘awareness’ due to the microprocessors that can sense and respond to tabs and keys used as prompts and commands (Saffers, 2007, p. 4). Being engineered to respond to human beings, there are embed rules, methods, and scientific contextual nuances targeted at responding to problems and circumstances (Saffers, 2007, p. 4). With the recent influx of collaborative media, information technology and its software become essential in practicing ‘digitally mediated practices’ through collaborative action based on “cross-medial infrastructures (Parviainen, Tuuri, & Pirhunen, 2013, p. 103).” Computers for instance became more functional and have increasing became a necessity for daily use because it is engineered with disciplined design, structures, and communicative processes that are truly instrumental for interaction and for online discourse (Parviainen et.al., 2013, p. 103). This is developed by people who invented interactive technology to hasten the “reduction of physical action and cognitive load of users (Lowgren & Reimer, 2013, p. 86).” As researchers, they proposed that design interaction should be patterned and choreographed based on human activity to make information technology purposive and truly utilitarian (Lowgren et al., 2013, p. 86). Thus, tech engineers develop many ways to improve micro and macro models for interaction (Lowgren et al., 2013, p. 86). Definition of User Experience User experience refers to the empirical relation of a person with digitized technology for design, communication and interaction, as well as that aesthetic experience with online games. This is such a wonderful experience of all information technology-dependent persons because ideas evolved into digitized realities that have seemingly traced realities into digital forms (Moggridge, 2006, p. 1). Such is significant because it has scaled up entrepreneurial design for the development of technology (Moggridge, 2006, p. 1). For instance, a person, as a user of computer and or of the online social network, or of software programs embed in it will certainly be able to appreciate it when user is able to read and understand the methods and its application. These logical systems and methods or approaches must be read well to fully enjoy its functionality. Gube (2010) explained that user experience refer to the interfacing of system or a website generally detailing on human-computer interaction (p. 1). At its maximum, a tech experience can appreciate its utility if the technology can interact with human factors, produce accessibility, make use of it for marketing, do ergonomics and bolster system performance (Gube, 2010, p. 1). As such, the web can be valued of its efficiency, services and creative functionalities (Gube, 2010, p. 1). Must be user-centered Gube (2010) asserted that the web engineering must be user-centered or must be tailored sensitively in accordance to the needs of the users or subscribers (p. 1). Gube (2010) defined user-centered design as technological architecture that is design to fit to the needs of users (p. 1). Business experts contended that a product can only jibed with utilitarian value when products are developed to answer the needs of clients or the market (Gube, 2010, p. 1). The sales of these goods cannot be appreciated when it lacks value and is bereft of meaning for clients (Gube, 2010, p. 1). That’s why technologies these days are modelled by its usefulness, multi-tasks feature, and ability to interact with dynamic creativity (Gube, 2010, p. 1). With the increasing number of web users and each of them have varied interests and levels of creativity, it is also becoming a challenge for technology engineers to respond to these needs by studying the landscape closely (Gube, 2010, p. 1). Golden roles User designs have also its golden roles. Web design must be contextualized to users’ needs, defined strategies, experiential options, effects it desired to generate from its end users too (Gube, 2010, p. 1). The web must therefore be embed with apps, platforms and programs that befits the creativity and diversity of its user. Hence, users’ needs must be accounted to make these specific experiences real and responses desired are generated from the actual experience in itself (Gube, 2010, p. 1). Usability There is evident distinction between user experience and usability. The former may refer to the emotional contentment or dissatisfaction of the users while usability refers to the level of tech friendliness and efficiency of its interfacing (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). The website must be effectively navigable and must have customizable system such as drop down menus. It must also be designed where users can immediately see the indication where they have browsed into and where they can navigate back (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). Figure 1. Usability (Gube, 2010, p. 1). The url of the site must be easy to implant in user’s memory and thus proper domain must be utilized: .com, .net, .gov, and the like (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). Web engineers must ensure that the site can be readily be found by search engines and can also be interlinked with other sites to increase its relevance, rank and utility to the community (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1; Mandel, 1997, p. 10). Experts further contended that the website must be pliant as a multiple browsers (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). The content of the website must be updated regularly because after all, its contents are the drivers of users (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). Others call this making the site as content-centric (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). Its layout must also be designed using themes and must be free from clusters (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). It must be also easy to download and if it’s marketing something, it must be engineered with SSL encrypted pages for financial transactions (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1). Framing, styles, content, and patterns must be contextualized on web’s functions (Clubrunner, 2013, p. 1; Nielsen & Loranger, 2006, p. 8). Strength and weaknesses of Amazon & eBay The strength and weaknesses of Amazon.com and eBay are almost similar based on its internet design, usability, and security. As to Amazon.com , the strengths are the following: 1. On its internet design, there is evident presence of the golden roles of web development in Amazon.com (Marasco, 2012, p. 1). 2. It has usable dynamic features to market variegated products and services (Marasco, 2012, p. 1). 3. Capacity to compete with other leading websites that are globally marketing products and services (Marasco, 2012, p. 1). 4. Products sold are excellently developed. Experts appreciated that the company has its strategic acquisition and efficient distribution chain and logistic (Marasco, 2012, p. 1). 5. The company develop customer-oriented practices and they offer free books sometimes to readers. This approach also invites online traffic, too (Marasco, 2012, p. 1). 6. It has a clear leadership on costing that are considered competitive at the scale present in market competition (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013a, p. 1). 7. The company provide efficient operation in logistic and distribution of products (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013a, p. 1) Amazon.com has gained a global appreciation as one of the leading online market of products and services. But just as the company have good sides that can be maximized to strengthen its claims for corporate strength and for the enjoyment of opportunities, it also has its bad sides (Fottrell, 2012). On its design, the consumers experience may vary but the site at a glance is in a mess and disarray as products and services are not arranged in a very aesthetic fashion that would make it pleasing and clean to the eyes of the customers (Fottrell, 2012). The site looked like an “ukay-ukay” in a market, a term used to refer to those products sold in a messy and disarranged style that customers need to rely on its search engine to exactly find the products and services needed. The mess-look is just too unhealthy to the eyes although contemporary youths would might not mind it as it’s a replica of their post-modern lifestyles. Second, on its usability, while the web have dynamic some of its info-tech products are frowned to be a gateway for expensive e-books that may need consumers to constantly upgrade the memory cards (Fottrell, 2012). Third, on interactivity, while the web encourage readers to be interactive and to inspire them sell their products online but the list of prices are allegedly misleading and are common occurrence. Fourth, some reviews of customers are nonsensical (Fottrell, 2012). Fifth, the webs remained insecure like any other web from online hackers and from forex rate fluctuations (Fottrell, 2012). eBay’s strengths, on the other hand, are the following: 1. On its usability, eBay has great influx of interaction between sellers and buyers. It has the distinction of maximizing the golden roles too of web designing (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). 2. Its design is patterned on its business model, brand and payment system which generated a revenue of $14.07 billion in 2012 and a profit of $2.60 billion but its employees also cover an extensive number of 27, 270 based on the 2012 data (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). 3. It has the largest market presence in 150 million online listings and another 105 million users within 37 countries (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). 4. It directly competes with Amazon, Craiglist, Ubid, eBidAuctions, Google and Overstock but is accordingly entertaining 233 million customers around 37 countries (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). 5. It allows other individual marketer to trade and sell products online too. 6. While its strength relied on internet marketplace, “business model, economies of scale, localization, good payment system and brand” but it’s weakened by high fees and absence of growth strategy (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). 7. Ebay operates with localized systems where language fit to the local language of the consumers (StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013b, p. 1). Meanwhile, Ebay may have a pinterest-like design of products sold by vendors and is cleanly navigable, but the adage still holds true that even if you are into products doesn’t mean that you can immediately profit (Gil, 2013). Second, its usability is grand for large online vendors but people are cautioned that some products sold online are fake. Third, on interaction, there is apparent fraudulent vendor-buyer relations online as there are those who allegedly pay services and for products but remained unable to receive delivery or are unable to avail recompense or substitute of products that could satisfy them (Licciardo, 2006). Fourth, sellers are unable to maintain customer loyalty as some of the products are sold online with grand descriptions and photos but are appalling when delivered (Licciardo, 2006). There were also fake cancellations. These can breach the security and goals of the company as an online avenue for marketing (Licciardo, 2006). Customers expect satisfactory delivery of products and services. Like Amazon, eBay also faced sustained threat from hackers and the fluctuation of forex rates in the market (Whitford-Stark & Oswald, 2001). Sometimes, the auction details create misunderstanding between vendors and buyer, the latter happens to be likewise deceiving and are opportunists in their transactions (Whitford-Stark et al., 2001). Bidding wars may confuse consumers and therefore its essential that discipline, honesty and accuracy of one’s needs to ascertain that there are no breach of customer and vendee relations (Whitford-Stark et al., 2001; StrategicManagementInsight.com, 2013). References Clubrunner, (2013). 10 Golden Rules of Website Design and Functionality, US: Web, p. 1. Retrieved: http://web.clubrunner.ca/inner-lang-1-1.aspx?pageid=204 31 July 2013. Cummings, M. (2013). Designing for Interactions, User Experience US: Uxdesign.com, p. 1 Retrieved: http://uxdesign.com/user-experience-design-books/article/designing-for-interaction/19 31 July 2013. Fottrell, Q. (2012). 10 Things Amazon Doesn’t Want You to Know, US: Huffingtonpost.com, p. 1 Retrieved: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/10-things-amazon-doesnt-want-you-to-know_n_1624036.html Accessed: 10 August 2012. Gil, P. (2013). The top 10 eBay NewBie Mistakes, US: About.com, p. 1 Retrieved: http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/ebay101/tp/top_ebay_beginner_mistakes.htm 10 August 2013. Gube, J. (2010). What Is User Experience Design? Overview, Tools and Resources, US: Smashing Magazine, p.1. Retrieved: http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/05/what-is-user-experience-design-overview-tools-and-resources/ 2 August, 2013. Licciardo, D. (2006). Ten reasons you should not buy things from eBay, US: YahooVoices, p. 1 Lowgren, J. & Reimer, B. (2013). The Computer is a Medium, Not a Tool: Collaborative Media Challenging Interaction Design, Challenges, Open Access Journal, vol. 4(1), pages 86-102. Mandel, T. (1997) The Elements of User Interface Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Moggridge, B. (2006). Designing Interactions, 1st Ed. US: The MIT Press, volume 1, number 0262134748. Marasco, (2012). Amazon’s 2 Compelling Weaknesses, US: The Motley Fool, p. 1 Web: http://beta.fool.com/chrismarasco/2012/11/08/amazons-2-compelling-weaknesses/15995/ Retrieved: 31 July 2013. Nielsen, J. and Loranger, H (2006). Prioritizing Web Usability. USA: Nielsen Norman Group. Parviainen, J., Tuuri, K., & Pirhonen, A. (2013). Drifting Down the Technologization of Life: Could Choreography-Based Interaction Design Support us in Engaging with the World and our Embodied Living?, Challenges, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 4(1), pages 103-115. Saffer, D. (2007). Designing For Interaction. Creating Smart Applications and Clever Devices. 2nd ed. AIGA Design Press. StrategicManagementInsight.com, (2013). SWOT analysis of Amazon. US: Web , p. . Retrieved: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/swot-analyses/amazon-swot-analysis.html 31 July 2013. StrategicManagementInsight.com, (2013). SWOT analysis of eBay. US: Web, p. 1. Retrieved: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/swot-analyses/ebay-swot-analysis.html 31 July 2013. Whitford-Stark, J. & Oswald, S. (2001). eBay—the good and bad and downright ugly, US: Sheryll.net p. 1 Read More