Archive for the ‘Web Development’ category

Usability and Interface Design in eLearning

January 13th, 2011

E-Learning stands for electronic learning. It is a way of learning through electronic media in the combination of various media such as computer, web, electronic books and other technologies. It shows that e-learning requires an interface between the person and technology. To facilitate the e-learning, we need an interface that provides ease in the chosen subject without getting lost in ridiculously complicated or confusing components of the technology for learning process. This concept creates the interface design of the e-learning process.

It is necessary to make the e-learning website interface design in significantly simple but professional manners. If the design is created in improper and unprofessional ways, it affects the usability and standard of e-learning program very badly and adversely.
It is obvious that usability and interface design of an e-learning program is the only key that can destroy it or make it successful to reach the goal. Though it is the core important element of e-learning program to make it successful, even then it has probability to be neglected. If the usability and interface design elements of a website are neglected, it can cause high failure of that e-learning program. So you must keep in consideration with priority. These aspects of e-learning also matter for its value to motivate the learners and buff up their learning skills. Thus it is the initiative to make the e-learning program successful.

Once you consider the importance of usability and interface design, you also need to consider the ways to build a better interface to represent the e-learning program in best manners. Make sure of the key elements to improve the usability, functionality, user interface and importance of the e-learning program. To increase the ease to navigate through the e-learning program, it is necessary to improve the usability and interface design because they represent the quick wits of the learner that helps them out in easy transverse throughout the information. Learners should locate and find it easily how to access the course of their need and where they are standing within it. The e-learning program should be capable to motivate the learners and stimulate their learning skills.

You must test the usability after the finalization of the e-learning program. It enhances the program’s value by making it more user-friendly. Testing also enables you to make necessary correction if there are any issues left behind while designing. Best time to finalize the e-learning program is only after usability testing. It will increase confidence to make the program target the set goal.

Best Practice for Website Contact Forms

December 21st, 2010

Contact forms often create perplexity and aggravation for several people which can lead toward loss of online business. There can be situations when a person is somewhat interested in your product or service or has any vacillation in shopping and he/she faces inconvenience in contacting. In this case, that customer can be lost and can send him/her right away to your competitor.

Here are some best practices for website contact form developments and implementations.

Captcha challenge:

Although Captcha is a best way to cut down spam humility but often Captcha images are very tricky, hard to read, and mostly have damaged vision. If Captcha images are being used in contact form make sure that the image placed by you is easily readable at some distance from monitor. Moreover, audio support options can also be included whereby a series of numbers is read out to the user.

Multiple request options:

Always provide multiple request type options to users as this helps the users in categorizing the type of request according to their precedence. This is also useful for data mining at later date. This can be very useful for those who are in confusion between selections or have no option of their choice.

Minimize necessary fields:

Another way to facilitate your clients is to offer minimum necessary fields in contact form. A person who is making a pre-sale inquiry should only be asked for his/her e-mail address as it is enough for reply. There are many contact forms that have several compulsory fields to fill which can cause exasperation for your clients. So, it is wise to demand only necessary information and leave other spaces optional.

Use thank you pages:

Sometimes, a person submits his/her details and after submission he/she views a blank page, an error page, or directed back to contact page. This situation creates confusion in the mind of person that either the form has been submitted or not. So, it becomes very important to design a proper ‘Thank You’ page. Also, you should keep testing it frequently to make sure that it is displayed properly or not. ‘Thank You’ page gives a confidence to customers that they will likely to be heard back.

Provide tips:

Another best practice is to clearly mention all compulsory fields and give validation rules on the form how to complete these fields.

For example: CNIC number (xxxxx-xxxxxxx-x)

Security:

Security arrangements should always be up-to-date if you are selling your product and services online. Ensure that they are working properly and keep checking them frequently.

Avoid unnecessary popup:

Unnecessary popup on web page should be avoided because it can cause frustration to the users.

These practices for website contact forms can help you in composing forms that are quite comprehensible and easy-to-use, which can make your clients more happy and satisfied.