this ppt explains about web usability.

1.  Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's
experience when interacting with a product or
system — whether a Web site, a software
application, mobile technology, or any user-operated
device.

2.  Web usability is about making your website in such a
way that your site users can find what they're looking
for quickly and efficiently. A usable website can
reap huge benefits on to your website and your
business.
 Good usability means:
Easy to Learn, Efficient to use, Easy to remember
Error tolerant, Subjectively pleasing

3.  Every `10 invested in improving your website's
usability returns ` 10 to `100 (source: IBM)
 A web usability redesign can increase the
sales/conversion rate .
 Low Usability Result in:
Frustrated Users, Visitor Living,
Reduction in Repeat Visiting, Higher Support Cost,
Decreased Productivity.

4.  Who will use the product?
 What are they trying to do?
 How long should it take?
 Will they be happy about it?
 Under what circumstances?

5.  Users have gradually become accustomed to
particular layouts and phrases on the Internet, for
example:
 Organization logo is in the top-left corner and links
back to the homepage
 The term ‘About us’ is used for organization
information
 Navigation is in the same place on each page and
adjacent to the content
 Anything flashing or placed above the top logo is often
an advertisement

6.  The term ‘Shopping cart’ is used for items you might
wish to purchase
 There are numerous other conventions like these that
enhance your website's usability - can you think of
some more?
 Don't underestimate the importance of these
conventions - as the Internet matures we're getting
more and more used to things being a certain way.
Break these conventions and you may be left with
nothing but a website with poor usability and a
handful of dissatisfied site visitors.
 Don’t forget to use a site or “sight” map

7.  Most users have screen area set to 800 X 600 (3/2003)
 Short attention span
 Task in mind or an information need
 Previous experience with websites and other media
 Limited connection speed
 Users do not read - they scan
 Used to printing and page idea

8.  Images & animations. Use the alt attribute to describe
the function of each visual.
 Image maps. Use the client-side map and text for
hotspots.
 Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts of
audio, and descriptions of video.
 Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read
out of context. For example, avoid "click here.”
 Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent
structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.

9.  Graphs & charts. Summarize or use the long desk
attribute.
 Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative
content in case active features are inaccessible or
unsupported.
 Frames. Use the no frames element and meaningful
titles.
 Tables. Make line-by-line reading sensible.
Summarize.

10.  Product doesn’t match job or task
 Poor organization/layout
 Product not self-evident
 Requires recall rather than recognition
 Inconsistent screens, messages, terminology
 Design is inefficient
 No exit or undo
 Help or documentation is not helpful

12. Restrictions must not be on user
 Don't prevent your users from navigating through the
Internet in the way that they want to. For example:
1. Every time a link is opened in a new window the
back button is disabled. Approximately 60% of Web
users employ the back button as their primary means
of navigation (source: Usability Interface). If you
do this then you're preventing 60% of your users
from using their primary navigation - now that can't
be good for usability.

13. 1. Don't use frames to lay out your website. Frames
can cause a number of usability problems, namely:
 Disabling the back button
 Bookmarking not possible
 Impossible to e-mail the link to someone else
 Problems with printing
 Users feel trapped if external links open in the same
window
There are lots of other ways that websites can place
restrictions on its users, ultimately damaging their
usability - can you think of any more? Just think back
to the last time a website really infuriated you -
what annoying thing did it do to make you feel that
way?

14.  Do not use popup windows
 Do not require users to remember information from
page to page
 Support printing
 Tables
 Make line-by-line reading sensible
 Summarize
 Write meaningful labels

15. Conclusion:
Usability is all about making the process easier to
use. The website should provide all the essentials
and rest users only looked into the website for
what they want. Most professional web design
firms take care of these usability factors so that a
less frustration is produced and users feel relaxed.

16. By - Mukesh singh