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Copyright
© 1999 by Bonnie Skaalid
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One
of the ways to make a web site understandable and easier to
use involves the use of metaphor. A good metaphor makes it
much easier to anticipate actions. Two of the metaphors
which have made the web experience easier to understand
involve the ideas of browsing and searching. Both of these
metaphors have been transferred from our understanding of
how you find things in a library. Browsing occurs when you
wander around looking for something interesting while
searching involves designing an active plan to find some
information.
Time
spent in front-end analysis will be time well spent if a
useful metaphor can be developed to help navigation. For
example, many shopping sites use the metaphor of the
catalogue, with main navigation menus similar to the
categories found in a paper catalogue.
Examples
of Sites with Strong Metaphors
Note:
these links contain screenshots with graphic files ranging
in size from 40k to 60k which may be slow loading on 28.8
modems.
Conceptual
Models and Mental Models
The
designer analyzes the content to be taught, the task to
be performed or the information to be displayed, and
defines its structure and functionality. This structure
in the designer's mind is called a conceptual model
([1]
p. 14)
The
user also has a model, a mental model which he has built up
according to his experiences in a site. For example, a
designer may have in mind an online catalogue, with feature
screens describing products and an online ordering system
(here again, we use the metaphor of the catalogue to make
things easier to understand). The user may be familiar with
the paper version of a catalogue but may be unsure how the
online version corresponds to his understanding. After
trying options, the user will begin to develop his own
mental map, based on his experiences. However, if his mental
model is different from the designer's conceptual model,
errors will occur and the user will become confused or
frustrated. In designing a conceptual model, the closer your
design matches familiar situations, the easier your system
will be to use.
Here's
an interesting article discussing the conception of
metaphors for the net: Metaphors
and the Net
(link active as of Jan.6/99)
[1]
Bielenberg, D. (1993).
Interactive design and the mythical "intuitive user
interface". Journal of Interactive Instruction
Development, 6 (2), 14-19.
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