Transcript C. Creating effective library web sites for children and young adults

WEB DESIGN FOR CHILDREN
AND YOUNG ADULT LIBRARIES
Ross J. Todd
School of Communication,
Information and Library
Studies
Rutgers, the State
University of New Jersey
4 Huntington Street
NEW BRUNSWICK NJ
[email protected]
DISCUSSION
What makes a great web
design?
UNIVERSAL DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 1
EQUITABLE USE:
The design is useful and marketable to people
with diverse abilities.
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GUIDELINES
Provide the same means of use for all users:
identical whenever possible; equivalent when
not
Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users
Provisions for privacy, security and safety
should be equally available to all users
Make the design appealing to all users
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 2
FLEXIBILITY IN USE:
The design accommodates a wide range of
individual preferences and abilities.
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GUIDELINES
Provide choice in methods of use.
Accommodate right- or left-handed access
and use.
Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 3
SIMPLE AND INTUITIVE:
Use of the design is easy to understand,
regardless of the user's experience,
knowledge, language skills, or current
concentration level.
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GUIDELINES
Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
Consistent with user expectations & intuition.
Accommodate wide range of literacy and
language skills.
Arrange information consistent with its
importance.
Provide effective prompting and feedback.
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 4
PERCEPTIBLE INFORMATION:
The design communicates necessary
information effectively to the user, regardless
of ambient conditions or the user's sensory
abilities.
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GUIDELINES
Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for
presentation of essential information.
Provide adequate contrast between essential information
and its surroundings.
Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
Make it easy to give instructions or directions.
Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices
used by people with sensory limitations.
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 5
TOLERANCE FOR ERROR:
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse
consequences of accidental or unintended
actions.
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GUIDELINES
Arrange elements to minimize hazards and
errors: most used elements, most accessible;
hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or
shielded.
Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
Provide fail safe features.
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 6
LOW PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The design can be used efficiently and
comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
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GUIDELINES
Allow user to maintain a neutral body
position.
Use reasonable operating forces.
Minimize repetitive actions.
Minimize sustained physical effort
R J Todd
2003
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: 7
SIZE AND SPACE FOR APPPROACH AND USE:
Appropriate size and space is provided for
approach, reach, manipulation, and use
regardless of user's body size, posture, or
mobility.
GUIDELINES
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Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for
any seated or standing user.
Make reach to all components comfortable for any
seated or standing user.
Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices
or personal assistance.
R J Todd
2003
DISCUSSION
What are the implications of these
principles for the design of web
sites for Children and Youth
Library Services?
R J Todd
2003
Information
Seeking
and Use
On the WWW
Connecting with Information
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Failure to utilise Boolean operators
High levels of insecurity and uncertainty
Lack of understanding of search engines
Simplistic searches based on guesswork
High expectation of technology to make up
for poor searching techniques
Limited use of systematic, analytic-based
strategies
R J Todd
2003
Interacting with Information
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Range of coping strategies: including
accepting errors and delegation
Absence of critical and evaluative skills
Not questioning the accuracy or authority of
information
Inappropriately favouring visual cues
R J Todd
2003
Utilising information
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Information management issues: time,
workloads, deadlines
Make use of any somewhat-relevant sites
Tendency to plagiarise
Willingness to construct answers on limited
information
R J Todd
2003
DISCUSSION
What are the implications of these
principles for the design of web
sites for Children and Youth Library
Services?
R J Todd
2003
Gender Differences and Web
Design and Use: Denise Agosto
Are there differences in the way that boys and girls
approach the choice and use of web sites?
 Girls tend to be more engaged with web sites that
encourage and support girl’s skills and abilities
(Confidence)
 Girls prefer web sites that encourage exploration
and inductive learning (Collaboration)
 Girls prefer websites that have clearly defined
target audiences (Personal identification)
 Girls prefer websites that present information in
narrative or story form rather than simply listing
data in chart, graph or almanac form
(Contextuality)
Gender Differences and Web
Design and Use
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Girls prefer flexibility of navigational paths; ability
to rearrange the physical placement of objects on
the screen; encourage extended exploration
(Flexibility / motility)
Girls prefer web sites that connect users to other
people or some form of interactivity (Social
connectivity)
Girls prefer web sites that represent people as of
many diverse racial, ethnic, and gender groups as
possible (Inclusion)
Girls want to see that when girls and members of
other marginalized groups are represented, they
are represented in positions of respect and
influence (Inclusion)
Analysis of Web
Sites
R J Todd
2003
Know the law
USA: Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998
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Relates to websites directed to children under 13 that
collect information
Legislative requirements:
- provide parents notice of information practices
- obtain prior, verifiable parental consent for
collection, use and disclosure
- parents able to request to view / review data
collected
- parents able to prevent further use of personal data
- limit collection of information to only that necessary
for activity
- establish and maintain reasonable procedures to
protect confidentiality, security and integrity of
personal data collected