The site is the brain-child of Maura Donohoe, who’s got lot’s of experience in the area – she’s been a teacher for over 20 years, and running a school-book shop for over 6….so she’s going to be able to help anyone that runs into any school-book related problems.

They wanted the site to be a little different to the school-book sites that are out there at the moment. Be sure to keep an eye on the easyschoolbooks blog; they’ve also got a home on Facebook & Twitter, so check them out & say hello.

From looking at how it’s been used so far, there are return visits and people arriving through search. To make it easier to get at the good ideas, I thought an RSS feed with some of the better ones would be helpful. You can grab the feed, or look at the published ideas, on the TwitEye Ideas page. Over there you can also look at different categories of ideas, and search the daily archive to see if there’s anything of interest. Or, if you’re intersted in taking a look at the full stream, check out the TwitEye homepage.

The Beauty Agent is an intimate and exclusive workshop that arms you with the skill, know-how and insider tips to recreate that perfectly groomed look every day with minimal effort. They will help you to recreate amazing looks with advice and personal guidance from the fashion and film industry’s top make-up artists and hair stylists.

As Jo says,

“I set up The Beauty Agent because I’ve always believed that with professional guidance, the right tools, a little time and effort and some insider info, every woman can look like they’ve just stepped out of a salon every morning

The website allows users to book places at the beauty & style workshops, and to buy gift vouchers for their family & friends – something that will no doubt be popular with the style conscious coming up to Christmas.

As beauty editor with Galway Now, Cork Now & Limerick Now magazines, Jo’s Beauty Agent Blog will make essential reading for anyone interested in the latest beauty tips and tricks.

Site Homepage

There are a number of things that struck me about this page:

• Firstly, why oh why would they use Comic Sans font (in <font> tags) as a header for the page? Given the clean look of the site, the choice of this header seems strange.
• My next thought was: “What is the big empty rectangle doing in the middle of the page?”. This doesn’t show up in Internet Explorer (only Firefox & Chrome). I’m assuming it’s for some type of banner, but testing the look of the page in multiple browsers would have been a good idea.
• Finally, the banner “Click Here to Purchase” is out of keeping with the look and feel of the rest of the page. While it is eye-catching, as it’s intended to be I’m sure, I think the colours used could be more in keeping with the look of the site.

Site Login

Security for any web application is important. In the case of the TV licence application, they’ve chosen to use a 17 digit reference number and a 5 digit PIN number.

Using a 17 digit number that is given to users on a printed renewal notice is not user-friendly. This is made worse because the reference number is presented in a single string, with no spaces. This makes it difficult to transcribe and leads to user input errors. There is a reason why credit card numbers are split into groups of four with spaces in between – it makes them easier to read.

Even more user-friendly would be to use something that makes sense to the user, such as a readable word, a contact number, or email address.

Payment Screen

This is the main focus of the application. It is why users are on the site. And it too, could have some work done on it user-friendliness.  A requirement of proceeding with payment is that you accept the terms and conditions of the service. To do so, you need to be able to access the terms and conditions. When you click on the link to view Terms & Conditions, the window opens in the top left of the screen (shown below), making it far too easy to miss.

Some other enhancements to usability on this screen could be to present form dynamically according to the type of credit card selected by the user. For example, a Mastercard does not have an Issue Number. Rather than doing this, they have included the text “(if present)” beside the fields. This approach forces the user to think about options (and leaves the door open for errors), rather than making it as easy as possible for the user to accomplish their task.

In one way having a service such as this available is an excellent idea that makes (my) life easier. On the other hand, with some small enhancements, it could be much more usable.

In certain areas, for example academic research, constructive criticism through the reviews of others working in the same area is how work is evaluated. Doing so allows those involved to improve their work based on the input of fresh ideas and perspectives. Weaknesses are identified, and in doing so, those producing the work (and those using it afterward) benefit.

I am often involved in offering advice on the redesign of existing websites. In such cases, and particularly when the site or content has been developed in-house, there can be the reaction like that you would expect if (not when!) you were to tell someone they have an ugly baby. Immediately adopting a defensive position in such cases is not always the most productive approach (when talking about websites, not babies, in which case it may be justified!).

Feedback is a good thing – use it wisely

It can often be difficult to get honest feedback on your website, or any aspect of your business for that matter. In cases where it is offered, it is often worthwhile to consider it. This is particularly true when it is unbiased or unsolicited, for example, through feedback from customers, discussion on unrelated websites (for example, message boards, etc.). There are numerous examples of discussion forums frequented by designers & developers (for example, in Ireland Creative Ireland, Irish Webmaster Forum). These forums provide access to experienced professionals who freely offer their time and opinions on new websites. Such objective feedback can often appear to be harsh, but it is rarely wantonly so. Taking such opinions on board can allow subtle changes to new sites leading to their improvement before a wider public launch.

Look at feedback objectively

Looking at the feedback you get objectively, and not taking it personally, are important steps in keeping your sanity. While a lot of time, money and effort may have been spent before you get suggestions, even small changes may be beneficial.

In situations where you are using external consultants, designers or developers, taking on board their opinions is important. While you understand your business in more depth than they will, they should understand their business better than you do. That is not to say that all advice should be followed without question, there should be a reason, and a business case, for all suggestions. In such situations, it is far worse to get no opinion than one with which you disagree. By looking objectively at the alternatives, you will be in a better position to make an informed decision.

Evaluate the Source – Wisdom of crowds?

While feedback can be found from many sources evaluating those providing it is important. The “wisdom of crowds” or “crowdsourcing” has gained traction in recent times with the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies. The idea behind this is that leveraging the knowledge of large numbers of people will provide more useful information than a small number of consultants.  While this may be true, and in many cases extremely useful, realising that not everyone is an expert should be considered.

Lessons

The availability of feedback on new web design and development projects can be of huge benefit to both small and large businesses.  By welcoming a fresh perspective improvements can be achieved before a wider public release of any site.  In accepting feedback it is important however, to look at the feedback objectively and to evaluate the source before accepting suggestions at face-value. It may just help your baby grow into something more beautiful!

ReVibe offers a range of services to companies seeking to invest in the health of their employees, and individuals who are interested in a healthier lifestyle. As Eiginta, ReVibe’s founder says, they are committed to:

“…educating, motivating and inspiring people to create healthier, more productive and fulfilled lives. Our commitment lies in supporting, maintaining and enhancing the health and wellbeing of those we work with, and empowering them to make better lifestyles choices”.

Judging by the glowing testimonials from satisfied clients throughout the site, the services offered by ReVibe should be a big hit in Galway.

Further information on this, and samples of other recent web design and development work, are available from the Portfolio section of the site.

Firstly, a new site was launched for Kenneth Madden Photography. Kenneth is a photographer based in Galway who needed a website that showcased his work, without taking away from the impact of his photos. There are some really nice images on it, and it’s well worth checking out.

Secondly, I’ve completed an Intranet site redesign for the Office of Corporate & Legal Affairs (formerly the University Secretary’s Office) at University College Cork. Following their change in name and focus, a redesigned web presence was in order. The site is only available on the UCC Campus Network, but here’s a preview of the Office’s new clean & spacious homepage.

Further samples of, and details about, some of the work that’s been keeping me out of trouble recently are available in the (newly redesigned) Portfolio section of the site.

Forms of Date Input

“Flat Calendars”

Many websites have relied on representations of “traditional” paper-based calendars, showing rows of days and dates which the user can click.

from Google Calendar

The screenshots above and below show two alternatives for the flat calendar approach: the first (above), displays the calendar on the screen so it is immediately visible to the user when the page loads. The second (below), is a “pop-up”, meaning they rely on user interaction (e.g. clicking on a button or link or in a text box) to make the calendar appear.

from Avis Car Rental

“Drop Down” Lists

A second option is a drop down list style date input. These are most commonly seen in forms where credit card expiry dates are asked for. The use a fixed list of dates, which minimises the chances of a user making a mistake.

from Budget Car Rental (…where I spent some time working long time ago!)

“Natural Language” Approach

The final option I am going to look at is a newer approach. It allows the user to type the date and (or) time into a text box. The application then interprets this and translates it from how the user has phrased it, into an “acceptable” (from a programming perspective) date format. An example of this is shown in the images of the (very useful) web app Remember the Milk.

which the application then interprets as:

Impressive eh?! This is particularly impressive because it promotes a more natural interaction between the system and the user. It does not force the user to rely on one representation of dates and times, instead, it adapts to how the user naturally expresses themselves. This should be the case, as highlighted by Cornelis in an article on the diversity of date input methods:

…it is hard to find any pattern or rationale why one website has chosen for model X [for date input] while the other has chosen model Y. The suspicion would rise that the date input method is often dictated by the way the backend would ‘like’ it. This is a situation which neither we, as interaction designers and consultants, nor the end user should settle for.

The (brief & slightly) More Technical View

Providing functionality like this is obviously much more complex than giving the user a drop down list to select from. There are Open Source JavaScript libraries that can provide much of the functionality for you (finding one of these stopped me from going past the paper planning stage of writing my own JavaScript Library to handle this…thankfully!!). Examples include Date.js (released under the MIT License), and Datetime Toolblocks (released under a modified GPL).

Choosing the best Date Input Option

Given the options, what should be considered when choosing how you ask your users for a date (edit: emm…not that kind of date, you know what I mean). Here are some points, which are all related, to consider:

1. Frequency of use. If the user visits the site / application infrequently, making how the input works as obvious as possible is wise. By providing a flat calendar, that is modelled on paper-based calendars, users do not need to adjust to new types of interaction. If the user visits the application frequently, they may be more responsive to learning how to use novel forms of interaction (if they are of benefit).
2. Trade off between ease of use and speed of use. With some of the date input methods, there is a trade-off between ease-of-use and speed-of-use. While the Remember the Milk model of date input is fast (I find it faster than a flat calendar because you don’t need to use a mouse), for users unfamiliar with it, it is not easy to use initially.
3. Type of user. The profile of your user will impact every aspect of your design; the date input method is no different. If your users technical awareness or skill level is not low, then as simple a means of interaction is required. If they are at a higher level, again more innovative and productive means of interaction can be used.
4. The design of you application. The overall design of the application can be of influence. Sometimes, it is not practical to include a flat calendar on the screen, instead, due to space constraints, or other design limitations, pop-ups may need to be used.
5. Cultural aspects. As date formats differ between countries, for example 10-3-08 means different things to users in Ireland and in the US. Making users aware of these differences, and ensuring that your application is aware of how to handle them is crucial in order to avoid inaccurate inputs.

The usability of any web application should be a key concern in web design & development. Reducing the amount that any user has to adapt, and making interaction requirements obvious, will improve usability. The innovation in date inputs outlined are one such way that this interaction can be improved for certain types of web applications.

www.gerandgus.com

The site itself is built on WordPress, which allows allows the site owners to keep everyone up-to-date with latest news and changes, without having to rely on a web developer. It also allows users to interact with the site owners (useful, because its meant for a group of people that know each other) through comments on blog posts. WordPress is an Open Source blogging platform, or as its developers describe it:

…a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

The site also uses a number of web-based services to provide additional information to users, and allow people to interact in different ways. Firstly, because the wedding is in the south of Spain rather than Galway, Google Maps was used to help people find their way from the Airport to the hotel. Google Maps provides tools which allows you to customise their maps in different ways. For this site, we customised the map to give both the location of the airport and hotel, as well as using it to calculate the shortest route and give driving directions and an approximate driving time. More details on using Google Maps for these types of services are available from the Google Maps documentation.

The site uses another Web-based service, Flickr, to share photographs. This allows the site owners, and their friends, to edit, label and store their photos in one place, before they are displayed as part of the Wedding Website. Again, this is possible by using the tools provided by Flickr – further details are available from their services documentation (these services are only for non-commercial use; commercial use must be arranged with Flickr). To create the fancy Photo Gallery used to display pictures once they were taken from Flickr, the very easy to use open source Galleria photo gallery (based on JQuery) was used.

Combining Open Source applications and web-based services, with a web design that made everyone happy, resulted an extremely flexible, and very functional wedding website.

I have the wedding to look forward to now….

This identifies a number of problems perceived by SMEs when dealing with Web Designers & Developers:

• 76% admitted that their site needed improvement.
• 44% of businesses agreed that ‘commissioning a website was a confusing and/or frustrating experience’
• 41% agreed that ‘Web designers try to confuse us with jargon’
• 30% agreed that ‘it was hard to find a web designer that understood their business’
• 23% were unhappy with the quality of graphic design on their site.
• 40% were unhappy with the level of business generated by their website.
• 36% did not find it easy to update their website.

The results of this survey do not make great reading for those working in Web Design / Development. Before looking at the issues releated to poor experiences with web developers, there are a number of interesting points:

1. I find it interesting that “64% of businesses targeted specific key search terms”, while at the same time, 76% feel their site needs improvement. That companies are actively marketing websites which they admit are below a standard they are happy with is somewhat surprising.
2. I would be interested to know the sample size used. Because the survey was conducted electronically, it could be argued that the validity of the findings related to Broadband could be open to argument (for example, are people less likely to respond to an electronic survey if they are on a slow connection?) This is also true of the results related to Email Usage, where the validity of the findings must be questioned: as the survey was conducted via email, it is automatically biased against those without email, or with slow internet connections.

The poor perception of web developers is an important issue to understand. Further information from the survey would be useful in getting a clear picture of what has caused this, for example:

1. How long ago did the companies unhappy with their websites get them done, and have the spread of findings changed over recent years? In an article on ENN Ray Fielding, CEO of ISME says:
   

   …these businesses were misled in the past by web designers and that this had left a sour taste in their mouths. “There were too many fly-by-night cowboys out there in the late 1990s. I think many of those [that don't have a website] attempted a website in the past but lost the will to live…

2. What reasons are given by the 40% of companies that were unhappy with the level of business generated by their website? What expectations did the companies have prior to setting up their site, and what steps were taken to achieve these objectives?
3. In what ways did the respondents feel that the process of commissioning a website was frustrating, and how could their experiences have been improved?

That 41% of those surveyed agreed that “Web designers try to confuse us with jargon”, is an extremely surprising finding. The process of developing a website should be communicated in a way that the client, no matter how aware of the technology, should be able to understand. It should not be assumed that people not involved with Internet technologies on a day-to-day basis will understand the underlying technology.

Both this finding, and the 30% agreement that “it was hard to find a web designer that understood their business”, both signal poor communication skils on behalf of designers / developers. It is obviously a fundamental problem if a developer can neither understand their client, or make themselves understood.

What are your experiences?