Web ignored Lessons from Hypertext, says Expert Bernstein

'We've known since 1990 that colour was a bad idea for links', said Mark Bernstein, founder of Eastgate Systems, the early developer and publisher of hypertexts, as he described how hypertext research was ignored in developing an orthodoxy for the Web. He was speaking at last month's "Dust or Magic" conference in Oxford, on working in the new media industries.

Colour is inappropriate for links as it conflates emphasis and linking, while blue is a particularly bad choice as it is the hardest colour to read, making the link content less obvious, he said.

Consistency in the appearance of links has been an early and enduring part of usability guidelines. However, designers have increasingly ignored calls for broader consistency across the Web as they develop their own set of markers - a move to internal consistency on sites. There has also been a move away from text links generally and, in particular, blue text. Perhaps slowly and in patches, the wheel is being reinvented.

Bernstein also took the opportunity to crticise information architecture: 'IA is a respectable club with which to beat complexity,' he said. 'Information architects are devoted to taming the creatives.'

He was joined in his opinion by other speakers at the conference. Brendan Dawes of Magnetic North likened the work of usability to that of the child-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 'When a technology is new, there is a lot of bad taste to start with,' he said, then, quoting Picasso, added: 'but good taste is the enemy of creativity.' Asked if he saw a neo-puritanism developing, he said that he was by nature rebellious. 'But I don't wake up and say 'Jakob Nielsen: you're gonna die', I just have fun...'

Nielsen and an overdependence on guidelines also came in for attack from Chris McEvoy of First Circle (see also The Time and Place for Usability).

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.