Develop System Menus and Navigation Schemes 351
Step 4: Develop System Menus and Navigation Schemes 351
In a scenario requiring three navigational selections, their first study evaluated top and left panels only. In general, they found
Navigation was faster
When the first and second selection was made from the left panel.
When the panel used for the first selection (top or left) was split or sepa- rated from the panels used for the second and third selections.
People preferred
The first selection be made from the left panel.
The first and second selections both be made from same panel, top or left.
The second and third, or first, second and third selections be made from the same panel.
The best performing and most preferred structures were
Left-left-left (LLL).
Left-top-top (LTT). Next, Kingsburg and Andre added a right-side panel in a similarly structured study.
They found
Navigation was faster
When the first selection was made from the left panel (not top or right).
When all selections were made from the same panel.
People preferred
When all selections were made from the same panel. Among this study’s findings were that a right panel is a viable design option.
Overall conclusions were
Selection limited to either the left or right panels resulted in best performance and was preferred by users.
Performance-wise, it is better to start in the left, not the right panel.
352 Part 2: The User Interface Design Process
The navigation structures yielding slower performance and lower preference rat- ings were Top-Top-Top (TTT), Top-Left-Top (TLT), and Right-Top-Right (RTR). Perhaps these alternatives came out poorly because of less efficient scanning organiza- tion (TTT), excessive eye and pointer movement (TLT, RTR), or backward eye flow (RTR).
Another recent study by Oulasvirta et al. (2004) found that for people reading left- to-right languages, the tendency is to look to the left for the navigation panel.
Global. Global or site-wide navigation elements provide access to the site’s total scope or categories of available information. An evolving standard in design is to locate the global navigation elements horizontally at a page’s top. Locating the global links at the page top makes sense if one considers the logical flow of infor- mation through a screen. A selection from this global area eventually results in display of a page and its content, a top-to-bottom sequential eye flow. In the eye- tracking study reported by Nielsen (2006) in Step 3, a user’s first search of a Web page horizontally across the page top (top bar in the F) may reflect an expectancy that important navigational elements are across the page top.
Category or topical. Local, specific and contextual navigation elements within the category or topical area being presented are typically displayed in a columnar array down the left page side. For long lists consider placing the links within a frame navigation panel. A study found users preferred non-scrollable frames rather than having the links move off as a page is scrolled (Bernard et al. 2001d).
A second listing of links can also be presented in a column on the right side. Again, in the eye-tracking study reported by Nielsen (2006) in Step 3, a user’s early vertical search of a Web page’s left side (vertical bar in the F) may reflect an expectancy that important navigational elements are also along the left side of the page.
Embedded links. Phrases or embedded links will be provided within the contents area of a Web page. An embedded link is one found in the middle of prose or con- tinuous text. Embedded links are frequently used to lead to supporting informa- tion or provide definitions of terms. They are designate by an underline and a unique color. Because users preferred redundant links, consider duplicating embedded links in the left side navigation bar (Bernard et al., 2001d).
Minor. Minor illustrative, parenthetical, or footnote links can be arrayed horizon- tally at the page bottom. List of Content. For long pages with sections that are not visible without page scrolling include a set of links to each page section at the top of the page. These “anchor” or “within page” links provide a reminder of the page’s contents, a page outline that can easily be reviewed, and a quick way to navigate to desired sections. These links also assist people in getting to a specific section if they arrive from a different page.
Important links. For long scrolling pages, repeat important global or local links at the page bottom. When finishing a page, the user, then, will not have to scroll upward to locate important navigation links.
Common theme.
A common and consistent Web site navigation theme will enable