Architecture of the information
the information classification system,
the navigation structure,
the labeling or labeling of the options and
the application search system.
Index
1.systems classification of information
Exact classification systems. They are useful when the user performs a search for known elements. There are different classification types:
Alphabetical.
Chronological. In frequently updated content.
Geographic.
Ambiguous classification systems. They are useful if the user wants perform a random search or if you want to search content by personal criteria. The types of ambiguous classification that exist they are:
Thematic or by categories.
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Task oriented.
Audience oriented.
Metaphorical.
2.Structures of navigation
Hierarchical. Tree-shaped structure, in which from a home screen or page The different levels and sublevels of content are accessed in an orderly manner.
It is a very suitable structure for large volumes of content.
Allows the user orient yourself well in navigation, knowing what level is found.
Allows you to organize the contents in various levels of depth: more general at higher levels, more specific at deeper levels.
Linear. Very simple, linear structure that provides sequential access to the information. It has the following general characteristics:
The content progresses from the general to the specific.
It is a navigation highly scheduled.
Neighborhood links. They allow you to move horizontally, that is, between categories of the same level.
Return links. They allow you to return immediately to certain pages previous, such as home or the main menu.
Index links. They allow you to jump directly to information pages concrete.
Network. It is a structure without apparent order, with the following features general:
There is no hierarchy.
Allows very easy navigation free.
Requires a high link density.
It can cause disorientation on the user.
3.Labeling or lettering
That the user can quickly recognize the function of each option.
that I don't know disorient in the navigation process.
The title of the link must inform the type of information found in its destiny and avoid literary inclinations.
The title of a link should not be too general, but it should not be about to fool with attractive text. The objective is to provide the user with a good experience on the website and this will only be possible by facilitating your objectives.
The link title should warn about possible problems on the website. destiny. For example, in the event that it requires subscription, registration, contains frames or large images that delay downloading.
Link descriptions must be less than sixty characters. In the case If the destination of the link is obvious, the explanatory text will be removed.
Text balloons (ALT) with information about the destination of the link being they visualize When you hover your mouse over them they are very useful.
The same link should not be repeated when the same phrase or word is repeated in a text. The user may get confused, it is not clear if the information offered is new or the same one that appeared in the previous link. You only have to do it when it is Clear redundancy and do not confuse the user.
The first word of a link is enhanced by the primacy effect and by this reason must be distinguished from the rest of the information. It is effective that the first word of the link is a keyword about the topic discussed and relegate to the end of the line the most common words.
Poorly designed links are often not followed.
A link title should include the name of the site being directed to if it is different of the current one.
Not all browsers display ALT the same way. Furthermore, some systems For visually impaired users they can "read" the text instead of viewing it.
4.Location of the options
The user must be able find easily what you are looking for, since Otherwise you will get bored browsing and abandon the application.
The user must know in which area of the application is found or if it really is still in our application (in web environments You may not know if you have entered another website or if you are still on ours).
Visual coherence. Consistency in design is essential for the user can recognize at all times if you continue on our website. This consistency refers to both the structure of the pages, as well as the color range and the typography used, among others. The site's logo or brand must also appear on all pages.
Visual hierarchy. In the West, users read from left to right and from top to bottom. For this reason, they are accustomed to interpreting that the elements that are closest in the upper left corner of the screen are the ones with a hierarchical level top and the rest of the elements (those below or to the right of these) usually understand each other as sublevels of the first.
In this sense, it is important not to place two navigation menus in areas of hierarchy equivalent (for example, in the left column and in the top row of the screen), since the user will not be able to clearly determine what hierarchy exists between them.
The visual hierarchy can be reinforced using other resources, such as the size of options or color, among others.
Breadcrumbs (bread crumbs). This is a very used in systems with content in which there are many levels, as it allows the user to know where they are and where they come from (what are the levels prior to your state). It generally has a form of this type:
Home > Books > Design > Web design
Where, imagining the example of a bookstore online, the user would accessed the Web Design section found within the section Books, Design subsection.
Not always breadcrumbs show the exact path that the user, as it is possible that they have accessed to that point using a search engine or from an external link. However, they indicate the hierarchical structure of the application contents and allow you to return with ease to higher levels; For this, it is important to always activate links to previous levels.
Interaction Design Foundation: breadcrumbs
Links visited. For the user to know where they have been, it is important than the color of the links visited is different from the active links.
Redundancy. It is important that there are not two options in the same screen or page that activates the same function. The user will interpret that there is some difference between them and you will be disoriented when you see that they lead to the same place. Likewise, in the case of sites web, options that are already in the browser should not be included on the page (for example, adding the page to favorites).
Application map. The inclusion of a map in the application allows the user has a vision overview of its content and helps you find information that browsing the sections it would take a while to find. Additionally, it allows the lost user to reorient themselves.
The map must hierarchically represent the content structure of the application and must contain links to all the sections and subsections represented.
5.Search system
They allow users control navigation without depending on the menu options. For this they usually use directly the search option home.
They allow continue browsing if the user is disoriented. By It is important to include search options on all pages.
The search option must be a text entry box and not a link. Users have become accustomed to looking for an introduction box for text and is what they expect to find when they quickly scan the page.
The text entry box must be wide enough for contain the words that make up a common search.
Most users, if they do not find what they are looking for on the first interrogation, They don't usually keep looking. Therefore, good organization of contents so that the search is fruitful on the first attempt.
The option of advanced search confuses some users, who do not know how to use it. It is recommended not to include it in the home, but offer it as an alternative on the results page.
The search may limit yourself to some sections of the application determined by the user. In these cases:
The "Search in all sections" option should be the one activated by defect.
The section in which you have searched must be made explicit in the header of the search. page of results.
The user should be able to easily increase the number of sections in which search.
If too many results are returned, they must be provided suggestions for limit search.
A good percentage of users consult the first page of results and do not access to the following ones. Therefore, the results must be ordered so that the most important appear in the first places.