TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
--- Sandy Harris <sandy -at- storm -dot- ca> wrote:
> Frames were number one in a "top ten mistakes in web
> design" article a few
> years back:
>http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990502.html
>
> I think that has changed, but they're still "use
> with caution".
The use of frames is not quite so debated today. The
article you quote is by Jakob Nielson, who has been
cited as a Web usability guru for years.
The debate over "usability" has split into two groups:
the Spartans and the Designers.
The Spartans advocate fast download time over
everything - therefore the page should be mostly text
(in strict HTML). They prefer that images be avoided,
but will allow the use of small ones. Jakob falls into
this category.
The Designers have a "let me do what I want to"
attitude. They want the site to look good and don't
worry about download times, et cetera.
Personally, I believe the answer is somewhere in
between (and totally depends on the audience). The
Spartan approach is best if you're designing a Website
for users with low-end technology; the Designer
approach works for people with DSL or cable access.
For the rest of us, keeping it simple is the best
principle - that includes considering download times.
Most important, however, is navigation - clear signals
that tells the user where he is and where he can go.
BTW, I wrote my thesis on Web Design, and quoted
Nielson several times throughout it. I then used his
Website in a study of Web usability - and it was the
lowest scorer across the board. Most of my test group
- mostly composed of new users - said they would not
return to the site; it didn't give clear signals as to
intent or navigation.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by DigiPub Solutions Corp, producers of PDF 2001
Conference East, June 4-5, Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. http://www.pdfconference.com or toll-free 877/278-2131.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
