Web Usability

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:

• Learnability : How easy it is for users to accomplish basic tasks during first visit?
• Efficiency : Once users have learned the design, how quickly they perform task?
• Memorabilty : When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily they can re-establish proficiency?
• Errors :How many errors do users make, how severe are those errors and how easily they recover?
• 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.?