UNIVERSAL USABILITY IN PRACTICE

      This section provides some web sites guiding novice users to the World Wide Web:

(1) A Novice's Guide To The World Wide Web  ( members.aol.com/bikerchris/main.htm) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(2) Beginner's Guide To Life And The Internet  ( members.aol.com/JB44/index.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(3) Beginner's Guide to the Internet  ( www.elfden.freeserve.co.uk/) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(4) The Help Web - A Guide To Getting Started on the Internet  ( www.imaginarylandscape.com/helpweb/) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(5) The Internet Help Desk  ( w3.one.net/~alward/) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(6) University of New York at Albany - Internet tutorial  ( library.albany.edu/internet/) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(7) Learn The Net.com  ( www.learnthenet.com/english/index.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(8) Life on the Internet: Beginner's Guide  ( www.screen.com/start/guide/default.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(9) Microsoft - The Complete Internet Guide and Web Tutorial  ( www.microsoft.com/insider/internet/default.htm) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(10) Netscape Tutorial  ( w3.aces.uiuc.edu/AIM/2.0/tutorial/index.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(11) New User's Directory  ( hcs.harvard.edu/~calvarez/newuser.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

(12) About The Human Internet - Internet for beginners  ( www.netforbeginners.about.com ) last accessed date: 2001/4/24

(13) AARP - Computers & technology  ( www.aarp.org/comptech )last accessed date: 2001/4/24

(14) Internet 101  ( www2.famvid.com/i101 )last accessed date: 2001/4/24

(15) AARP - Expedition Internet  ( www.aarp.org/expedition )last accessed date: 2001/4/24

(16) Online tutorial - Patrick Crispen's Internet Roadmap ( www.mcs.brandonu.ca/~ennsnr/Resources/Roadmap/Welcome.html) last accessed date: 2001/4/17

      Here we provide some good examples of web sites more accessible to novice users.

(1) YAHOO ( www.yahoo.com ) last accessed date: 2001/4/23

• Using clear Hypertext link

• Using consistent presentation.

• Providing user position (path).

• Searching is easy to perform.

• Using font styles and font sizes consistently.

• Link text is meaningful but brief.

• Not using image map to confuse novice.

• Not using unnecessary ornamentation or embellishments.

• Using common words, not "techno-jargon".

• Provide sufficient Online Help

(2) America Online --  AOL ( www.aol.com ) last accessed date: 2001/4/23

• Every image should have ALT text.

• Convey the important information in the image.

• Providing constructive, specific error messages when users make mistakes.

• Place frequently used functions in the top menu structure.

• Enable easy searches -- provide a variety of search options for different skill levels and preferences.

• Provide descriptive names for all interface components.

• Link text is meaningful but brief.

• Provide online help

• Provide web site index

• Provide webmaster information

(3) Chevy Chase Online Bank ( www.chevychasebank.com ) last accessed date: 2001/4/24

• Be predictable - users could understand the consequences of their actions and be aware of what they must do next.

• The number of actions is small.

• Place frequently used functions in the top menu structure.

• Provide descriptive names for all interface components.

• Link text is meaningful but brief

• Don't use unnecessary ornamentation or embellishments

• Provide online tutorial (Online Banking Demo)