Link mania; more on frames and the number of navigation links on a UI

Subject: Link mania; more on frames and the number of navigation links on a UI
From: "paul newbold" <newp -at- ncode -dot- co -dot- uk>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 11:43:08 -0000

Charlene, I think 4+/-2 is too low for the number of links on screen. The
actual number is 7 +/-2 which was established back in 1956 (Millar, the
Magic Number 7 +/- 2). Researchers at Microsoft did studies on software
interface/webpage menus
http://www.research.microsoft.com/users/marycz/chi981.htm and found that 16
navigation links worked well on a user interface.


Charlene wrote earlier -
" A few other good reasons to avoid frames:

1. Copyright problems:

2. Lack of space: Framesets can take up valuable screen real estate "above
the fold"

3. Lack of escape:

4. Link mania: there is a tendency to provide a long list of navigational
choices simply because they are in a static position on the screen. Many
designers forget that users get lost quite easily when there are more than 4
+/- 2 navigational choices (chunks) on screen.

Just some things to consider,

Charlene Dewbre"


Paul Newbold
nCode Int
Sheffield
United Kingdom

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