Today I saw a subject line "7 Fatal Risks of Cloud Computing" in my inbox. I am working for a company which is very active on Cloud Computing, thought of understanding the risks of cloud computing, was eager to read and understand the risks of cloud computing.
When opened the link and saw this page (Screen Capture 1).
I scanned the title and a one liner instruction saying "Please take a moment to answer the following questions then click submit to continue". As said in the instruction there is couple of questions below and a "submit" button. This feedback page has set a right expectation with its users.
As I was eager to understand the risks of the cloud computing, quickly answered the couple of questions and clicked the "Submit" button. Annoyed to see the page being filled with so many error/feedback messages in red (screen capture 2).
I was wondering why there should be so many error messages as I have answered only two questions? Then wide opened my eyes to see big list of form fields on the right column. Being a User Experience Designer I started evaluating the design and understanding the design problems instead of understanding the Cloud Computing Risks (focus is lost).
This is a clear example of what happens when the design is screwed up. This design lost the potential user, also the objectives.
Proximity, one of the usability principle not effectively used. The layout is divided into two column; instruction, questions and submit button are placed in left pane and the other fields in right pane. With this division, there is clear separation which sets the users mental model that he/she is expected to answer only two questions and submit to get the Cloud Computing Risks. But the page did not behaviour as expected. Instead, user was supposed to fill in other details before clicking on the submit button. It is hard to relate in that fashion with the current design.
Having the questions and form fields in a single column would have been better approach which sets right expectation in the users and brings in strong association saying the user has to answer those questions along with filling form before clicking on the submit button.
When opened the link and saw this page (Screen Capture 1).
 |
| Screen Capture 1 |
I scanned the title and a one liner instruction saying "Please take a moment to answer the following questions then click submit to continue". As said in the instruction there is couple of questions below and a "submit" button. This feedback page has set a right expectation with its users.
As I was eager to understand the risks of the cloud computing, quickly answered the couple of questions and clicked the "Submit" button. Annoyed to see the page being filled with so many error/feedback messages in red (screen capture 2).
 |
| Screen Capture 2 |
I was wondering why there should be so many error messages as I have answered only two questions? Then wide opened my eyes to see big list of form fields on the right column. Being a User Experience Designer I started evaluating the design and understanding the design problems instead of understanding the Cloud Computing Risks (focus is lost).
This is a clear example of what happens when the design is screwed up. This design lost the potential user, also the objectives.
Proximity, one of the usability principle not effectively used. The layout is divided into two column; instruction, questions and submit button are placed in left pane and the other fields in right pane. With this division, there is clear separation which sets the users mental model that he/she is expected to answer only two questions and submit to get the Cloud Computing Risks. But the page did not behaviour as expected. Instead, user was supposed to fill in other details before clicking on the submit button. It is hard to relate in that fashion with the current design.
Having the questions and form fields in a single column would have been better approach which sets right expectation in the users and brings in strong association saying the user has to answer those questions along with filling form before clicking on the submit button.
5 comments:
post the usability understanding links it will help us to understand more.
Google is best person who can give you hell a lot of postings on proximity ;)
With the same layout, if the 'Submit' button was on the bottom right hand side of the page, would it have been less confusing?
Good one sir :) even All the principles of UXD is missing here ( desirable, findable, usable ) and proper layout is missing. even start never develop like this :)
An example to good-example would have been better. I guess the core problem lies at the root, engineering course does not teach you any thing about usability. They should include it as a subject for engineers who are moving towards software/hardware industry.
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