Week 5 Reading Response

Everyone that uses a computer is a web users. Web users tend to have strong feelings about what we like and what we don't like about websites. The natural tendency is to think that most web users like the same thing we like. We tend to think that web users are all like us. But that is not the case. Designers are always trying to build sites that look great, but on the other hand, developers want to build sites with interesting, original, and elegant features.
The problem is there is no simple right answer for most web design questions. What works is good, integrated designs that fill a need thats carefully thought out, well executed and tested. If you carefully plan ahead it seems as if you will not stumble upon problems as such. Debates about what people like waste time and always leaves someones feelings hurt. Testing difuses arguments and break impasses by moving the discussion away from the realm of what works or doesn't work. An experience i had with testing was for the death star project. We did usability tests with paper mock ups leading to every screen. This was awesome because you got feedback of what links were missing, and just knowledge from someone else of how they think your interface works. Testing reminds you that not everyone thinks the way you do, knows what you know, and uses the web the same way you do.

http://www.usability.gov/refine/learnusa.html

https://www.cu.edu/irm/stds/usability/

http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/usability-testing.shtml