As we were talking previously in the principles of web design and its usability, we discussed how the design is important, but not as crucial as usability. So many users depend on valuable information for many reasons such as medical, law, or business to meet their needs and in many cases, the needs of a second party. Library Information Science (LIS), in this case becomes relevant to assisting these users or businesses in research.
Web usability testing is one way to find out about how users look at websites. Usability gurus, Nielsen and Pernice (2009) have researched “eyetracking – a simple trail or path of what a person is viewing on a computer screen.” They (Nielsen & Pernice, 2009) have researched web usability by using “heatmaps” that use colors to represent data that shows the fixation of the eye on parts of a website and this gives them a better perspective of how users benefit from a website.
In looking at web design and usability, designers as well as companies must realize that creating a website is not just about attracting users by using creative graphics. Nielsen and Pernice (2009) recent studies have shown that users did not focus on graphics in many cases; their focus was on information and its links to other pertinent information. In this case, the focus of LIS should be on understanding the importance of web usability and seeking to assist both the business and user to make information more accessible.
