Web artists need to understand web usability

Afterimage, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Henry Guild

WEB ART IN CONTEXT

Given the Internet's pervasive influence, artists recognize unprecedented creative and business opportunities. However, artists must modify methods and strategies when utilizing global communication systems. As new technologies present exciting challenges, artistic creation entails competition and comparison with business applications. On the Internet, art competes with commercial, governmental and educational sites. Significantly, computer science researchers seek to uncover and to resolve problems in the human-computer interaction process; usability testing becomes an essential part of systems development. As the following study reveals, a set of Web art sites present usability problems, which may inhibit viewer access and understanding.

RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY

To illustrate the effects of usability problems, a series of works from the Alternative Museum's Web site will be studied (Alternative Museum 2003). Considering the TAM digital media commissions, heuristic analysis will reveal that serious usability problems prevent accessing pages, understanding navigation, and comprehending functionality. When artists use non-standardized technology, viewers must stop interaction to resolve system-related problems. Failing to follow conventions about content and navigation design, viewers may have difficulties understanding purpose and function. Since a panel of art experts has considered the works exemplary, curators and artists should reassess the user's needs in development.

Since anyone can create a site, what are the responsibilities of Web artists? While distinctions between amateur and professional may become unclear, the majority of art sites present low aesthetic qualities (Walker 2001). Interestingly, Nielsen (2000) proposes using an engineering perspective. By watching people perform tasks on a site, designers can determine successful strategies and problematic features. While all sites exhibit usability concerns, eliminating serious problems can greatly improve the user's experience. By conducting usability tests in development, Web artists can interactively formulate ideas and evaluate results.

PERSPECTIVES GAINED FROM THE LITERATURE

Various usability tests should be integrated with site development. For example, paper mock-ups, page designs, prototype versions, and final implementations can be reviewed at different stages (Krug 2000). Typically, developers initially perform heuristic evaluations to identify and to remove obvious usability problems (Nielsen 1993). Instead of relying on scripted scenarios, evaluators explore the site in an open-ended manner. After repeated viewings, evaluators identify significant issues that require attention. To guide heuristic evaluations, Nielsen (1994) has provided a set of usability guidelines (e.g. user control and freedom, consistency and standards, recognition rather than recall, aesthetic and minimalist design). Finally, evaluators produce a list of problems, which reference usability principles that have been violated. Consequently, the set of commissioned works on the Alternative Museum's Web site will be evaluated in reference to usability principles identified in the literature.

RESULTS OF HEURISTIC EVALUATION

The TAM digital media commissions on the Alternative Museum Web site demonstrate substantial usability problems, which may prevent users from accessing pages and understanding functions. In several cases, artists rely on non-standardized technology and neglect established design conventions. When artists use Flash, Shockwave, or Virtual Reality Markup Language technologies, users must have systems that possess required software or must download needed programs. Accordingly, the value of established communications standards becomes reduced. Also, viewers depend on navigation conventions to be used and content descriptions to be effective. Therefore, usability concerns interfere with understanding purpose and functionality.

How serious are the problems on these sites? Specifically, 3 out of 4 sites employ design strategies, which may prevent or discourage viewing. Considering the one readily accessible work, confusing page design and content descriptions inhibit comprehension, If Web art is to be effective, interaction requirements must be given greater emphasis. Next, heuristic evaluations will reference the four commissioned works.

To View the Buddha Hotel, a user must make a series of decisions. Initially, a navigation choice demands identification of the client's hardware platform.

But, why should users have to identify system requirements? The Internet is based on using hypertext markup language (HTML), which allows users to view content irrespective of hardware (Nielsen 2000). To access this work, viewers must choose between PC or MacIntosh platforms. If a networked terminal is used, which option is correct? Next, a series of screens leads to another option. Since content is defined with the Virtual Reality Markup Language, users must download software to continue. After accessing four introductory pages. users must make more decisions to view the work. However, promises of trouble-free installation leave unanswered questions about potential benefits and time demands. Essentially, Web designers must deliver content simply and effectively.