Usability Lessons from the Hospital

Usability isn't only for Web design. It's also applicable in the real world as things aren't always well-designed. Paying attention to real world design can help you think through usability for Web design. For instance, there is an elevator in New York where the numbers are in three columns. The numbers go across, but in this elevator they go from right to left instead of left to right. It's in English not Hebrew.

Elevator in NY:

10 9 8

7 6 5

Most elevators:

8 9 10

5 6 7

This concept can be applied to a Web page by assuring numbers, letters, and other meaningful groups of information are sorted in a logical order.

I also saw a school speed zone sign where it said to slow down during the following times:

7:30 AM - 8:15 AM

2:45 AM - 3:30 PM

Hmm... figure out what's wrong with this sign? This one can also teach a lesson for Web design usability. What lessons come to mind?

Donald Norman talks about such design in The Design of Everyday Things. While I was in the hospital twice in a little over a one week period, I discovered a few usability problems.

The room I was in last week had a small TV, the kind that hangs from the wall like those you see at the blood centers. It had no captions, but the law (Television Decoder Circuitry Act (TDCA)) only requires TVs 13 inches are captioned. NBC didn't work on that TV. Go figure... it was the only channel I could enjoy without captions because the olympics were on and sports are easy to follow.

The one good thing about that small room was the button to call the nurse. It didn't have a speaker, so no one would try speaking to me when I called. She would just come as soon as she could.

My first room for the second visit's adventures had a brand new flat screen TV. The only way to get the captions turned on was to fiddle with the options on the side of the screen. Could not do it from bed. Thankfully, tall Hubby was there to do it. Not everyone has the luxury of having someone there to do it or even with the know-how.

The TV remote control was on a remote with three buttons: call nurse, light on / off, and TV. I could only go one way in changing the channels. If on channel 5 and wanted to be on channel 4, I had to go through all the channels to get to channel 4.

The second room had the same TV and remote set up. Once again, tall Hubby had to turn on the captions. This time, when I called the nurse, she talked back through the speaker. We had to remind every shift and multiple nurses on that shift that I couldn't hear over the speaker.

Luckily, I had family with me to help talk to the nurse. But I was alone all morning and without my implant. So I could not even hear any sound coming from the speaker where I could say what I needed and hope they caught it. Thankfully, I had a nurse who came in often enough that I didn't need to call.

meryl k. evans is the Content Maven behind meryl k. evans, meryl k. evans. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.

Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Internet browsers are useful, but they can be dangerous. Clicking on malicious links can direct you to dangerous websites that steal information or infect your device.
Apple's latest iOS update introduces advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, which may be capturing and analyzing sensitive information.
Breach site confirmed 56,904,909 Hot Topic users' data leaked online. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the company's silence makes matters even worse.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how an innovative Easy-Way kit turns standard strollers electric, simplifying navigation for parents.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about T-Mobile being hacked in broad cyberattack on global phone and internet companies.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to add, customize and manage widgets for quick access to apps and info from your iPhone home screen.
Wrong Google searches can not only compromise your device and personal data. They can also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. Hackers are targeting Google searches.
China's Shanghai Kepler Robotics has developed a new humanoid robot that can carry up to 35 pounds per hand for commercial applications across various industries
Checking your hearing has gotten easier with the new hearing test feature in AirPods Pro 2. You can take reliable hearing tests using your iPhone or iPad.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how a VPN — virtual private network — works and how running it can slow down the operation of your device.
The WalkON Suit F1, an exoskeleton developed to help people with disabilities, can actually walk over to a person in a wheelchair, solving a major problem.
ClickFix, a new scam targeting computer users, is on the rise in the U.S. The scam prompts its targets to click on a link to fix a problem.
Skydweller is the world's largest unmanned solar-powered aircraft that can stay airborne for weeks, and even months, without refueling.
The U.S. government said it is investigating after People's Republic of China hackers targeted commercial telecommunications service providers in the U.S.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to lure unsuspecting victims, and some are impersonating an email help desk or support team.
You can unsend or edit your iMessages with the latest iOS updates. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how you can save yourself some potential embarrassment.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says there’s been a rise in cybercriminal services using hacked police and government emails to send subpoenas and data requests to U.S. companies.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Axiom Space and luxury designer Prada are collaborating on NASA's Artemis III spacesuit design.
Voice assistants may cause confusion across devices. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers some solutions to fix it.
Shameless scammers trick veterans into giving personal info or cash. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explores five common scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you honor our heroes with these powerful podcasts, audiobooks and documentaries this Veterans Day.

How To Boost Your Chances at Having a Successful Web Site

New Web sites are springing up online by the millions.... Read More

Web Page Building for Beginners 4

Page ranking by search engines such as Google are not... Read More

Why Use Professional Web Site Designers For Your Next Web Development Project?

Probably you know someone who has created a web site... Read More

Design Matters in our Visual Culture

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. First impressions often leave lasting impressions. Impressions... Read More

To Hire or Not to Hire a Website Designer

In the early years of the internet the actual design... Read More

How to Design Website Which Google Likes

Are you going to design or redesign new website or... Read More

How to Get Your Visitors to Create Content for Your Website

An ongoing challenge for webmasters today is to provide fresh... Read More

Increase Your Credibility With Web Site Awards

Web Site Awards are given from other sites to reward... Read More

Should I Use Pop-Up Ads?

Web advertising has taken many forms, including those that appear... Read More

Leave Those Links Blue!

Don't mess with those links! When you're designing your site,... Read More

How to Design a Search Engine Friendly Web Site

Many web site designers don't design their sites for the... Read More

Teach Yourself CSS The Easy Way

I taught myself HTML back in the mid-nineties and was... Read More

When Good Computers Go Bad

Remember the day that you got your new computer (or... Read More

Website Basics

The Basics You have a flourishing business ? everything is... Read More

Web Design:10 Magnificent Millionaire Dollars Ad Copy Secrets To Empower Your Website..

Hello, how is your website doing?Are sales flowing in?If you... Read More

Web Designers Beware!

As a web designer, I have a personal interest in... Read More

How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Member Sites Make in Their Marketing Copy

If you have a web site to which people pay... Read More

Design With Purpose

If your website is falling through the cracks, the chances... Read More

What Content to Publish on Your Website

Many businesses want a simple website where they tell people... Read More

5 Instant Tips for More Online Sales

Even after you've managed to bring traffic to your site... Read More

10 Reasons Why You Need A Multilingual Website

The internet continues to grow and has become the default... Read More

Website Design: Color Me Blue

Chris, a new consulting client, asked me to help him... Read More

Top Ten Absolutely Free Websites for Downloading Cool Fonts

The following list of websites is the best compilation of... Read More

10 Things All Webmasters Should Know

Geared Up with a website and lots of energy to... Read More

How to use Emotional Content to Increase Visitor Response

Did you know that many folks make "buying decisions" when... Read More

Antigo wedding limo ..