Usability Issues

[mkmurray]

A general rule of thumb is that a website should be no more than three levels deep and it seems to hold true of menus and site maps as well. Here I think it would make sense to create a site map that is three level's deep and anything deeper than that should not be included on the site map (i.e., articles, etc).

I think I agree with dougk from a advanced web browsing perspective. Most of us here could handle a comprehensive page like that, utilizing the Find functionality of our web browsers, etc.

Obviously a novice web surfer would want to steer clear from something like that. Therefore, they can use they default browsing provided them on the home pages. Meanwhile, the advanced surfers could click the Site Map link and utilize that page instead.

This way, the main entrance into the site follows the "general rule of thumb" for average web surfers, but allows an advanced navigation of the site as well for the rest of us.

[thedqs]

Though you don't want to get it so large that your browser takes forever to load it and with the church's site linking in EVERY document I can imagine a 10 MB text file

[kfarr-p40]

I know this thread is old... but I wanted to voice some comments about the home page of the lds.org site.

I just wanted to say that I agree with the comments about the javascript menu at the top. It is overly complex and there is too much content below the enormous header at the top. The logo is in a strange position and seems out of place with the larger "WELCOME" text at the top.

Also, can someone make the anti-aliasing on the border around the top of the white center section a little crisper? It looks kind of blurry and doesn't have a clean edge as one would expect (the same goes for the separation between the blue and the brownish color on the right and left columns).

I see some improvement has been made since the initial launch of the site. The links on the right-hand navigation are better than what was there when the new design was first launched. The links on the left-hand navigation are kind of messy with the pictures being different widths.

Now that Cameron Moll works there, you guys should take a second look at his designs:

http://www.cameronmoll.com/projects/lds/

They are a lot cleaner than the current home page. It makes more sense and is easier to navigate. The large photo that looks like it would come from the First Presidency's message in the Ensign is a nice focal point. Overall, it seems to be easier to find things and navigation wouldn't be burried in a complicated menu system.

Also, I am curious about what the thought process was behind the collapsible navigation in most of the sub pages. To me, it is counter intuitive (some pages have it collapsed by default and others don't?) and I cannot think of many sites that would use such a technique.

Sorry to be so harsh. It is not bad by any means.... it just COULD be better. Layoff a little on the javascript and focus a little more on the overall design.

[daddy-o-p40]

I would like to interject a new perspective here.

I am the father of a disabled child. The current design of many sites (including church sites) are not disability friendly. I am hoping that as the dependency on technology grows in our society perhaps the American Disabilities Act (ADA) gets ammended to include internet accessibility compliant as well.

In addition to the current menus being overly complex they are useless to people with motor skill impairments. My daughter likes to look up her primary lessons the week before so she can prepare for the lesson in advance. This is because her disability does not allow her to keep up with the lessons in class.

People with disabilities strive for independence. Imagine her frustration when she tries to use the menus. The current menu design is so hypersenstive that they have made the content inaccessible to her.

This is also an issue for the elderly users.

Can someone elevate this oversight to the interface team?

[WelchTC]

We have people looking at many things to help the disabled. We have budgets and resource conflicts that prevent us from making instant changes so it will take time. However I remind you that our technology offerings are not the only source of material for individuals. Please help us by being patient.

Tom

[daddy-o-p40]

Tom,

I'm guessing that you mean purchasing a copy of her primary manual and having her use it.

People with motor skill impairments can't brush their teeth, or comb their hair. So taking books off the shelf and turning pages are not really an option.

The computer is not a luxury.....it's assistive technology which enables the disabled to not be left entirely behind.

No one is asking that lds.org be entirely redone. But it is very reasonable to ask that any new improvements be made accessible to everyone.

[WelchTC]

I'm simply stating that the Church continues to move in this direction with ALL of their resources, not technology. It is a slow move...admittedly...but we are moving that direction.

Tom

[cannona-p40]

The computer is not a luxury.....it's assistive technology which enables the disabled to not be left entirely behind.

No one is asking that lds.org be entirely redone. But it is very reasonable to ask that any new improvements be made accessible to everyone.

I would be very interested in discussing this with yu further. My job at the Church has been and continues to be primarily concerned with resolving such issues.

I would appreciate it if you could email me at cannonaw (at) ldschurch (dot) org so we could continue this discussion in greater detail.

Either way, thank you for your input. It is greatly appreciated. We have focused so far primarily on accessibility for persons with visual and hearing impairments, but we realize that those groups are by no means the only ones confronted with access issues.

Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Aaron Cannon

[daddy-o-p40]

Aaron,

Thanks for the info. I have sent you an email and look forward to chatting with you.