Web usability refers to how easily users of a web site can achieve whatever it is they want from the web site.
Five dimensions of web usability:
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Learnability: How easy it is for users to accomplish basic tasks during first visit? |
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Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly they perform task? |
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Memorabilty: When
users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily they can re-establish proficiency? |
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Errors:
How many errors do users make, how severe are those errors and how easily they recover? |
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Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design? |
| Web site Characteristics: | Dimensions |
| Content | |
| 1.Presence of Decision Aids | Does the web site provide help for decision making? |
| 2.Information on Products and services | Does the web site provide information on product and services? |
| 3.Information on the firm | Basic information on the company, background etc. How often is the web site updated? Is there a "what's new" |
| 4.Frequent update of content | How often is the web site updated? Is there a "what's new" section or a section introducing new products, catalogues? |
| 5.Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) | Does the web site provide frequently asked questions on section on product-related question or the company? |
| 6.Company contact Information | Does the web site offer any way to contact the company via mail, e-mail, phone or fax? |
| Design | |
| 1.Complexity of Navigation | What type of navigation structure is deployed in the web site? |
| 2.Presence of site index / help | Does the web site provide an index / help page? |
| 3.Use of multimedia | What type of multimedia does the web site use? Are there heavy graphics, animations, sound and videos? |
| 4.Search function | Does the web site have search function? |
| Privacy | |
| 1.Privacy statement | Does the web site provide privacy statement with notice, choice, access, security, and enforcement? |
| 2.Use of third party privacy seals | Does the web site provide third party privacy seal that reinforce privacy? |
| Security | |
| 1.Provision for individual user accounts and password | Does the web site provide opportunities to create individual account with logon-id and password? |
| 2.Presence of mechanism for making online as well as offline financial transactions |
Does the web site provide opportunities to make no online transactions? |
| 3.Use of secure mode of data | Does the web site provide secure modes of data transmission such as SSL, HTTP, Encryption etc.? |