It is a known fact that the average statuses of Web sites that have been published on the Internet are poor. Many Web sites before publishing needed to have not just their content evaluated but also their general design. In order to evaluate a Web site successfully, the one who is performing the evaluation must follow a checklist of predefined guidelines. These guidelines have evolved from extensive research on the subject of Web usability and have been derived from the years of personal experience in creating and maintaining Web sited. The guidelines are outlined as follows:
1.content must be perceivable
2.interface in the content operable
3.content and controls understandable
4.content robust enough to work with current and future technologies
5.continuity throughout site
6.navigation understandable
7.target audience experience level
8.error handling
9.users with disabilities
10.preferences and settings
11.international users/languages
12.respect for users
Content must be perceivable. Guarantee that all content can be made apparent by any user in any form, the exclusion to this being those aspects of the content that cannot be expressed in words. Graphical representation is a quality that is used incorrectly on several Web sites. The Web developer for BMG Music Services site did a great job in designing the site with simplicity in mind. To view the BMG Music Services site, visit www.bmgmusic.com. The content of this site is easy to understand and all items are fairly easy to locate. Located at www.columbiahouse.com, Columbia House did not do as well in the perceivable content area of Web usability. In the same industry as BMG Music Services, one would think that they too would go with the simplistic approach. This is not the case. The content is more difficult to understand and items are a little more challenging to find.
The interface in the content must be operable. Ensure that all aspects of the interface be operable to all the users anticipated to visit the site. Tooting my horn is not what I am trying to achieve here, however Xtreme Web Designs created a good solid interface that is operable for Classic Kennels at www.classic-kennels.com. The content is appropriate for the business and it “fits” with the theme of the site. The Web developer for the Maryland Horse Show Association, Inc. located at www.mdhsa.org obviously did not test the interface before publishing the site. The only thing on the interface that worked properly was the