Because of my deafness, I rely on lipreading to listen. While I’ve worn hearing aids since I was a baby, I’ve always needed to read lips to “hear.” I do catch things from time to time without reading lips, especially a song I know by heart. I can follow it when I play it on my iPod.

Photo from sxc.hu user doc_

Listening Contrast

But it’s harder to follow a song playing it on the computer when there’s background noise. One cool feature in hearing aids is the T-coil. It blocks out background sounds so you can hear during a telephone conversation. It also works the same way for headphones.

This morning, Paul (the spouse) comes to talk to me. He stands right where the shades behind me reflected on his face turning it into a striped one. Although I could see his lips, the stripes distract me that reading his lips is as reading the mouth of an ostrich. So I ask him to move over a little so his face falls between the two blinds shedding the stripe look.

If you compare my lipreading skills with and without hearing aids, you can tell when I’m not wearing hearing aids because it can take a few “Huhs?” and “Whats?” before I catch something. “My mom needs the mop,” can easily be “My mom’s knees pop.”

I listen better when there’s a strong contrast between the words, visuals and sounds. A lighting issue, too much background noise or no hearing aid can all interfere with the listening experience. Just like on websites with little contrast between the background and the text. Poor contrast creates a more difficult online reading experience.

Reading Contrast

Online content requires a different style of type than print does. What works in print doesn’t always work online and vice versa.

In newspapers and magazines, what color are most of the words? What color is the background? Black words on white backgrounds, right? You may see color on occasion like in the print edition of USA Today, but usually the paper uses it for section names (green for money, red for sports, etc.), graphs, photos and other visuals.

Then why have we seen a bad trend of sites using a variation of gray text on white backgrounds? There’s little contrast. I have excellent reading vision (for now!) and it strains my eyes to read this. What of those with not so great reading vision?

Maybe web designers think black on white is boring because it has been used for so long. The first websites from my first foray on the Internet in 1993 all used white backgrounds, black text and blue links. It worked well.

Gray text challenges our scanning abilities because we have to work harder to distinguish the gray from the white. This doesn’t mean to avoid gray on white altogether. Some gray — just like some italics — is okay, but not when they show up in lots of paragraphs.

Granted, I’d rather read gray on white than black on hot pink or blue on red (red does NOT make a good background for a lot of content). The key is to have enough contrast without harsh colors. I don’t follow some people back in Twitter because I can’t read their content. One person uses yellow for links on a white background. Couldn’t see them at all.

Do you struggle to read online content because of poor contrast? Why do you think many sites continue using gray on white? How does a light contrast between words and background affect your reading?

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I’ve spent too much time on social networks this morning that I’d better keep this short and get stuff done to enjoy the long weekend. Besides, lots of great reads this week. With a longer weekend for most of us, I figure you wouldn’t mind the extra reading. Worthy stuff. Have a whiz bang fourth!

4th of July in 2007

Brain food…

• 30 Websites to Find Free Vector Graphics: I currently manage two PTA and one other nonprofit organization’s websites. This should come in handy. Figure y’all could use it, too. [Link: Deborah Edwards-Onoro]
• Are Case Studies Helping or Hindering You: People also misunderstand what makes a white paper. Yes, it should mention the company, but not until the ending.
• 50 Powerful Time-Savers for Web Designers: Great resource.
• Google Web Fonts: Nice free fonts with no Comic Sans look alike. Whew. [Link: theparallaxview]
• How to sell your services for a higher price: Motivating read.
• 300+ Resources to Help You Become a WordPress Expert: Even I’m overwhelmed.
• What Is The Point Of Writing A Book If You Have No Online Presence? A keeper for writers. Not just for authors.

For fun because we’re allowed…

• 10 Words of Summer: Last week, I asked what you think of when it comes to summer. Vacation is the only one on this list that I’d think of.
• Pacman Tube Map: Nom nom.
• 10 Coolest Items Inspired by Alice in Wonderland: Surreal, of course.
• Archiving People’s Woes: 10 Cheerful Websites. Instant upper without the Rx. Some new. Some familiar. Some not safe for work. [Link: Gina Stark]
• 10 Amazing Geek Bars and Restaurants: Love Miracle of Science’s menu.
• 20 Animal Group Names You Probably Never Heard Of: What kind of business do flies have? Corps of giraffes? They’re serving our country? [Link: Erika Napoletano] More? OK. Fun with Words: Collective Nouns. [Link: Samuel Hawk]
• Alice in Wonderland Cupcakes: Off with her … frosting?
• 12 Coolest Typography-Themed Furniture: I do love good a font. The drawers are the only useful item, but the font is plain.
• 16 Online Gamers Unmasked: What they Really Look Like. I don’t remember the last time I created a game alter ego other than the one on the Wii, and it’s awful. These rock.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Meryl Evans

Gary Rosenthal Menorah

Congrats, Kathlin Sickel for winning a copy of Andy Hayes’ ebook. No matter how you spell it, Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday that grew because of Christmas. However, at least it’s fun — you can’t say that about many Jewish holidays.

Please vote for your top 25 books on writing.

Brain food…

• 7 Traits of a Good Twitter Friend: Could not have said it better and agree with it wholeheartedly.
• 7 Reasons Editors (Might) Toss a Submission (Plus Prompt): Does your book pass submission muster?
• Quit While You’re Behind: Why You Shouldn’t Be A Writer: Not listening… gonna keep on making a living writing… yes, siree. [Link: Guy L. Gonzalez]
• 11 Sources of Free or Low-Cost Training: If you’re unemployed, try to find networking groups in your area. They might know of programs that subsidize training.
• Questions for Small Business Owners to Consider Before Writing a Book: You may have a great idea for a book, but is it enough to forge ahead?

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hanukkah: There’s gambling in Hanukkah. It’s called the dreidel game.
• How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell: In honor of all my web designer friends.
• A Doggy Christmas Surprise: And mine just sits there looking at me like I’m nuts.
• My Parents Were Awesome: Look at the kids now. Can you imagine them being mature adults? Look at the parents… can you imagine them acting like the kids?

The recent trip to Austin for Texas PTA’s awesome leadership seminar and PTA meetings to prepare for packet pickup blanket me with the feeling that school’s almost here. Is it time yet? Three years ago: school would’ve started this week.

But Texas legislature wanted to pump up tourism and cheap employment, it changed the required start date to late August. Thanks. We have bigger problems to worry about than when to start school.

We have a little over two weeks until school starts. We parents and guardians still have to deal with the packet pick up days and registration before then. (Read: write a lot of checks and pay lots of money.) Enough shootin’ and stompin’ and time for linkin’.

• 10 Reasons Twitter Might Actually Matter: For those who don’t want to bother reading the list of 62 ways to use Twitter.
• 30+ Principles to Better Landing Page Design: I happen to be reading and doing an abstract on Landing Page Optimization. Both give you the what and why.
• WebQuest: “A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.” [Link: misscj]
• 10 Words I Would Love to See Banned from Press Releases: These are the types of words I tend to delete when I decide to publish a PR.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Fancy Fast Food: Food network meets fast food = pretty fast food.
• Tweet song lyrics to @lyricrat of http://lyricrat.com/ to get the title and artist.
• Smokin’ Apps for mobile devices. Be sure to pick something other than “today” because nothing might appear.
• Want a ‘do from the ’80s and be able to fix your way out of trouble? Here’s the salon for you.
• Can it rain clouds? Or did someone have a giant whipped cream machine nearby?

• 10 Stunning (and Useful) Stats about Twitter: Whoa! I guess with way over 150 followers/following… I’m an example of overkill Seriously, not surprising. But it’s disappointing Twitter slows down so often based on these facts.
• Show or Tell? Never can get enough of this topic. Still need to work on it myself though I write nonfiction. [Link: Jane Friedman]
• Entitled Ten: Ten Things to Help You with Titles: Great tips good for more than just titles. [Link: Jane Friedman]
• Should You Outsource Your Online Presence?
• 99 Ways to Improve Your Web Site

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Icon Directory for Designers: You don’t have to be a designer to benefit. [Link: @davidvanvickle]
• World’s Fastest Remote Control Car: I love remote control toys. Cars, flyers and boats.
• Roller Baby Ad: Wow. How much time did it take to put this together?
• 20 Funny and Creative Toilet Signs (Not appropriate for work or children)
• Eternal Moonwalk: Awesome tribute to Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk.

I have the fondest memories of field day in elementary school. All the classrooms would have their own shirts with their teacher’s name and a mascot. I’ve been a Haines Hound, Vickers Viking and Strickland Spartan. We competed against other homerooms in the same grade levels and won ribbons at the end of the day. I still have my good sportsmanship ribbon from first grade. Probably the only time I ever deserved it

Imagine my surprise when I went to field day at our main elementary school when my daughter was in first grade (she’s in ninth now). The whole school wears one t-shirt (there may be color variations) and there are no ribbons or anything. Just a fun day with lots of group activities ending with a teacher’s tug-of-war. I think it’s a wonderful way to emphasize good sportsmanship and having fun while exercising.

• Tips for Usability Professionals in a Down Economy (applies in an up one, too).
• Social PR Survey II: Continued disconnect between clients, agencies
• Ten Twitter Mythconceptions
• 31 Ways to Get Inspired
• Industry-specific Twitter Guides by Profession
• Styling your Lists: 20+ Brilliant How tos and Best Practices
• The Ultimate Collection of The Best Light Swirl Photoshop Brushes

• 11 Geeky Mouse Pads: I have the color code, but don’t use it as a mousepad (not enough traction).
• Invisible cat door
• *PEW PEW*, NOM NOM: An AT-AT Cake
• If Microsoft ruled the world

Can we expect showers to follow? To be continued…

• 27 Twitter Applications Your Small Business Can Use Today
• The Top Five Innovation Killers: Go on. I dare you.
• 10 Free Things for Writers: Contains stuff I hadn’t seen before reading this list.
• Angry Editor Rant: Want to know why things aren’t going so well for some freelance writers? This could explain why. [Link: Anne]
• How to Land a Writing Job: Another winner from Anne. She’s on a roll!
• Experience Design: Why pages are the last thing you need to worry about. Lovely presentation by Tim Richards.
• 175 strategies and places for link building. Step 1: Find time. A 17-year-old has more time than a parent of three with a full-time paid job and part-time job as volunteer.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Drawings by Craig Frazier. Words by You. Submit your captions.
• Super Mario Brothers Rubik’s Cube: And I can’t even solve the original — just one side.
• Passover Does Facebook: Hilarious.

While we’re seeing more drop down menus on web sites, designers don’t always do what’s best for the users. How many times has a drop down menu unexpectedly popped up and you try to make a selection only to have it disappear? It doesn’t matter if a person has arthritis or other hand mobility issues, even folks with steady hands don’t always make it before the menu disappears. This disappearing menu problem also shows up in Windows.

So I’ve advised people not to use drop down menus. After all, users make a decision only to see another menu and have to make another decision. However, I don’t feel that way anymore as drop down menus become a standard and do work when done right.

A new trend has appeared with regard to drop down menus. Rather than disappearing, they stay until you close the window or click outside of the window. It also helps when a little down arrow appears next to the menu hinting more options will pop up.

Jakob Nielsen believes the X to close the window isn’t needed and that these drop downs should go away on their own when the user selects another item. This again is tricky because of the steady hand issue. But I would think if a user selects another top menu item, it’s by choice. It’s the selecting of a submenu item that proves hard. Like Nielsen says, timing can help here.

Also, some menus expand the sub menu directly below the top menu item instead of off to the side. This works much better since the users just have to go straight down instead of carefully navigate to the side. The image above shows an example of this from the Dallasnews.com web site. This menu leaves little room for error since the submenu starts at the left of its top menu and goes a little wider. Many submenus tend to start at Sports (shifted).

While the Blue JMR menu goes off the side, it has a timing mechanism so the user has time to select or pick another top menu item. This method works.

Even with this changing navigation menu practice, it’s still helpful to accept the user’s clicking of the top menu item. Of course, this depends on the site’s navigation design and content.

In sum: Drop down menus work well — as long as the design handles them right.

Navigation testing has one advantage. You can ask friends, family and colleagues to check out the menu’s functionality for you even if they’re not the dream user. These folks, however, aren’t the ones to ask about findability. For that, you need to go to your target audience.

What menu styles do you not like? Why?

After two years or so of reviewing casual games, I discovered a new passion: writing game reviews and announcing game news. I thought it was time to create a separate games web site as not all of you care about computer, mobile, and handheld games.

But every single one of you offers great insight. So I’m asking if you would please take a look at the test site and provide feedback: good and needs fixin’. Ready to meet my latest baby?

http://test3.spyrestudios.com/

I want to make the launch fun and exciting for you. So I think I shall seek out prizes. Yes, the catch is that the prizes will promote the new site. Contact me if you’d like to donate a prize or two.

How many times did you complete a form only to push the “Clear” button instead of “Submit”? What about “OK” vs. “Cancel” on a popup window? (Raises both hands — one for each.)

Why does this happen? Do we expect one button on the left and the other on the right? Are they too close together?

Jakob Nielsen reports that Windows applications put OK first, Cancel second while Apple places OK last. In this case, he advises developers to design OK/Cancel based on the platform they design for. The above screen shot comes from Thunderbird in Windows. The below image comes from Microsoft Word.

For Web forms, I suggest using one button. Of course, circumstances may prevent that. For example, you’re completing an order and you’re on the last page. Ecommerce sites certainly don’t want to give you another button to cancel the order, but users need assurance that they’ve canceled the order by pressing “Cancel Order” rather than just closing the window.

From my experience, I tend to read popup windows and zip through Web-based forms. I always assume software developers don’t create their popup windows the same way. But online forms — that’s another story. Silly, isn’t it? We shouldn’t expect Web designers to create forms the same way either.

Here, Nielsen gives two guidelines that make sense:

• Name a button based on what it does. Instead of “OK,” consider “Yes” when the dialog box asks if you want to do something.
• Highlight the most often used button except in cases where the action is drastic (of course, I can’t think of an example at the moment).

I think one more guideline would help especially where Web-based forms come in:

• Avoid putting the buttons close together: This forces us to pay attention and lowers the incident of “mouse slippage” that causes us to accidentally select the wrong button.

Many of us hit “Enter” when we finish a form or to begin searching (after entering keywords). Take care to prevent the application from executing something big when someone presses “Enter.”

You have to give Microsoft credit for its Windows XP shut down dialog box as shown below. Three options appear (Stand By, Turn Off, Restart) and each in a different color (yellow, red, green respectively) plus a Cancel button in gray and away from the others.

As users, we should look closely these windows and form buttons. In our fast-paced and overloaded world, we forget. Hence, keeping buttons at a reasonable distance from each other can give us the visual cue to look at the buttons.

What works for you? What doesn’t work?

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