Best practice in design on NREN websites A heuristic evaluation made for TERENA TF-PR February 2004 By Julia Gardner & Gitte Kudsk, UNIC

2 Best practice – for whom? What the sales department thinks is Best Practice What the customer needs Suggestion from the design department Demand from the economics department Result from the production department

3 Purpose of the evaluation As a delivery for the TERENA Task Force in Public Relations the purpose of the survey of NREN websites is to find Best Practice on how to set up and maintain an NREN website. The leaders of the deliverable will look at the current websites of the NRENs and make an assessment, for a report to be given at the next meeting in February, and will also prepare a report/presentation at this time.

4 Ways to make an evaluation of a website Qualitative user evaluations Usability test Field study Workshops Quantitative user evaluations Questionnaires Expert evaluation based on a list of established usability principles

5 A heuristic evaluation A usability inspection where usability specialists examine the user interface and judge whether each element complies with a list of established usability principles (the “heuristics”).

6 Usability = User friendliness + Usefulness (relevance) Accessibility – Is it possible for people with any kind of disability to use the website Navigation – Is it possible for any user to find the information he is looking for Content – Is it possible for the user to understand and use the information on the website. Is the information on the website relevant for the user.

Results of the evaluation

8 Results Accessibility Navigation Content

9 Every frame and page should have an unique title, so that identification and navigation is easier

10

11 Every non-text element should have a text equivalent

12 All information must be available without colour

13 Results Accesibility Navigation Content

14 All pages must include a clearly visible link to the homepage Site logos should link to the homepage

15 Provide access to the main menu from all parts of the site

16 Use the menu to clearly indicate where a certain page belongs

17 Give the content a useable date

18 Write for the net Make sentences short and precise Label sections to allow the user to scan the page easily Write less Start with the conclusion

19 Do not write text in a different colour unless it is a link

20 Do not use animation to attract attention

21 Avoid “pogo sticking” List of services Booking service Videoconferencing service Technology service Training courses Booking service Xxx xxxx xxxxx Videoconferencing service Xxx xxxx xxxxx

22 Avoid “pogo sticking” - example

23 Design should be consistent across the site

24 Search results should offer sufficient information to allow the user to make an informed choice

25 Results Accesibility Navigation Content ”Content is king”

26 Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site - 1

27 Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site - 2

28 Offer direct access from the homepage to topics of special interest

29 Inform about problems from the homepage

30 A site map on the homepage is a concise introduction to your site

31 Include general contact information on the homepage

32 Avoid organizing the material on the web according to your own organisation

33 Use cross-linking

34 Clickable organisational charts

35 Customer support – helpdesk

36 News

37 Questions ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

38 Suggestion Read the rapport Have a look at your own website Can you do anything better? Feel free to ask –