Website Trouble....Big Trouble

Recently I've been covering physical products with my usability blog, but over the past few days I've stumbled on some websites that depict how to fail when building a website.  Uglytub.com has topped my list for one of the poorest built websites I've ever seen.  Typically when building a website, the first step is to make sure all the links work, the color scheme fits the topic and the site is built for the user to easily navigate the website.  Uglytub.com however completely ignored all of these rules and took a serious turn for the worse.  The site has multiple serious design errors, especially within the overall site design, top navigation and links.  

When looking at the site, the typical user would usually click on tabs located at the top in hopes of being taken to their desired page with information pertaining to that individual.  From using other websites (thanks to their mental model) most individuals would expect something to happen when clicking on anything on the page.  The ugly tub website however has only one link that works on the site.  None of the pictures are linked to any product and the other links along the top are not linked to anything and are simply there.  The other issue I have with the design flaw of this website is the overall experience the user gets with this site.  The color schemes and photos used have almost nothing to do with what the site actually is about.  This design flaw would surely create errors for the user when they arrive to the homepage and attempt to do some action.  The flaws of this site surely fit what you're not supposed to do with any website design for selling or informing the public about a product.  Hopefully in the very near future the developers of this site will fix these issues and create a better overall experience for the user.

Desks Are Just Not Big Enough

Through out my college career, I've spent countless hours behind a desk either studying, doing homework and sitting in class.  One of the biggest issues that i've come across is the size of the desks in our class rooms.  Though these desks are designed fairly comfortably and are aesthetically pleasing, they do not quite accommodate for the user.  The size of the space that is provided is not typically big enough for me or other classmates that I know.

The design error with this product lies in its overall desktop design.  Most individuals, thanks to their mental models, place their largest (and most needed) product in the middle of the desk space because there is isn't space for anything else.  The user experience for the individual that doesn't have many resources needed will be satisfactory with this product, but in many cases we need more then one thing at a given moment.  This results in an error and sways the user into creating a new solution when using the product.  The solution that I propose to this issue, though quite costly, would result in less errors for many users.  By ordering new desks that are are either larger, or come with attachments the errors would be less likely and result in more space for the individual to work with.  However the downside to doing this is the amount of money that would be needed to get the new desks and the space that would be taken away due to having larger desks in the room.

TV Trouble

The rise of simplistic design is within technology is a trend that has seemed to take over the market.  Though most of us enjoy the easy to use technology, there are some issues with having this design.  A great example of this can be found in my living room with my Vizio television.  The tv looks great, functions perfectly fine and has great visuals but can only be turned on if you have the remote.  There are no buttons on the tv at all which leads for issues if you were to ever lose the remote or the remote batteries die.  There is almost no design flaw when it comes to the quality of the television as it works perfectly, however there is a design function with the usability of the television.

Most individuals would resort to looking somewhere along the bottom of the television thanks to our mental model of tv's, but wouldn't find anything with my tv.  Using our mental models of products allows us to interact with things based off our past interaction with a similar product.  This issue with the tv isn't a terrible issue and can be easily taken care of without changing anything, but making some changes would create a better user experience.  By adding a few buttons to the tv, the usability of the product will increase and less errors (or attitudes) will arrise for the product.

Spacing Issues within the Library

Since going to college, I've discovered a lot of design issues with objects that we seem to use almost everyday.  Before studying within Digital Communications, I would generally adapt how I was going to use a product to what it could do.  Since coming here, I've learned that it should be the other way around.  An example of this is found within the Library in the corner of each part of the building.  A small table is placed next to the lounge chairs in a tall rectangular shape.  Within this rectangle is a sliding inner piece that swings out to create a table for one of the chairs due to the lack of table in the area.  However, the issue of having to create enough room for this piece to slide out arrises.  For the table top to properly be slid out and spun around for the chair, that has to be at least 2-3 feet of clearance on all sides or else it won't be opened properly. 

Though this table has no real mental model for us to understand because of its design, the usability of the table seems to be lacking a bit.  The table is usable and can work for the user, but the first stages of getting the table out causes issues which can result as errors for the individual using the product.  Another issue that can arrises due to the design of this specific table is mapping.  Because of the specific way that the table needs to be opened, most people don't understand how to properly use it unless somebody with experience with the product says something.  To make this product more usable, I recommend possibly having the table slide out instead of wrapping around the whole slide to come out.  I also recommend the use of a simple instruction sheet on the front of the table to let individuals know that a table is within the wooden shelf.

Door Trouble

Though watching someone walk into a door is quite amusing, when it's you who happens to crashing to a  door, it becomes not so funny. One of the biggest design flaws i've ever encountered belongs to a building right in the middle of my college campus.  A door generally has a hand placed vertically for someone to pull it, as our mental models of other doors has taught us.  However this particular set of doors is the complete opposite.  Instead of having a push bar or something that says "push", a vertically placed handle rests on the door.  Though the door still affords the capability to be opened and closed, it causes constant errors with users as they leave the building.  This particular design flaw is quite interesting in many ways.  After encountering the door multiple times during my college career, I still mix up whether I should pull or push the door open.  The handle is aesthetically pleasing and matches the rest of the wood work within the building, however creates errors that leads users to encounter mistakes many times.

From a usability standpoint I propose a solution to this issue that is not expensive and can be easily done.  Instead of having to take off the handle and replace all the parts and the door itself possibly, I believe that by simply removing the handle and placing it horizontally on the door will solve the issues.  Our past experiences with doors tell us that typically when you see a horizontal handle that is long and along the center/side of the door, we should push it (not pull).  This will also save the college money due to not having to replace the door or handles and can simply just shift their positioning on the door itself.  By doing this, the college won't have to spend money on replacing any handles, and individuals such as myself, won't crash into the door any longer.

It's Always too High or Too Low....Table Issues

One of the most annoying things I can think of when in a house is when the table is either too high or too low.  Though most of us don't think about this too often thanks to our mental models of a table, we use them how they're supposed to be used anyways. When sitting at an ordinary table, we can generally rest our hands and arms across the table at a comfortable position. However when we rise or drop the table height by a few inches it becomes extremely uncomfortable.  

Due to "The Great Marquette Flood of 2015", I am currently staying with some friends in their apartment.  While staying here I've noticed that the island in their kitchen that is supposed to be used at a table is very high and poses design issues.  The individuals residing at the apartment have a variety of chairs around the table and none of them are the ideal height to use this table.  I've have personally seen many occasions when visitors try to use the table with the chairs they have and end up pushing the chairs away and just standing at the table instead due to height of the table.  

To solve this design issues of the table in the kitchen, I have a few proposals that could solve the issue and provide a comfortable and usable piece for their apartment.  My first idea to fix this issues would be to ask the LandLord what the model of the table is and find the chairs that are built to fit this table exactly.  These chairs may be the exact height that would allow an individual to enjoy the table and allow it to be used for its original purpose, rather then a standing post for individuals to lean on.  My second idea to fix this problem is a bit more radical and may not be the most cost efficient option.  The owners to the apartment could replace this table/island and instead provide a normal kitchen table for the kitchen.  Though this isn't the most efficient option, it would eliminate the issue entirely and provide an item that individuals would be more comfortable using.

Exit Through the Wall

When sitting at dinner this past week, I noticed something very odd with the wall right besides my table.  Our dining hall at college has temporary walls that can be moved and rearranged to accompany different dining situations that are needed.  These walls afford the capability for different designs and larger dining sessions, however when they are moved they can afford some different uses by accident.  This specific situation deals with one of the exiting signs found along side of the wall in the cafeteria.  This situation could afford a serious health risk if something were to arise in the cafeteria and if individuals used the mental model of an exit sign and went to leave through this specific door.

Though this isn't a huge design flaw, and most would recognize that the doorway wouldn't actually work for what they needed it for but it could be considered a design flaw because of its mapping within the cafeteria at this time.  The original purpose is an exit which it says along the top, but the position of the door states that it is not being used for this purpose.