Ada Derana website is a major news provider website in Sri Lanka. I am going to apply 25 point website usability check list in order to evaluate www.adaderana.lk.
1. Site load-time is reasonable
Site loading is very quick. It takes only 2 to 3 seconds.
2. Adequate text-to-background contrast
Text-to-background is well designed. They have used Black and Red on White background which is highly contrasting. Which allows reader go through the text without any burden.
3. Font size/Spacing is easy to read
Headlines are in slightly big font and are readable. But it would be great if content font and line space increased.
4. Flash & add-ons are used sparingly
Ada Derana web site is so much cluttered with Flash & add-ons.Basically it is distracting the viewer.
5. Images have appropriate ALT tags.
ALT tags have been used very well. When the viewer moves the cursor on to an image it provides a brief description of the news.
6. Site has custom "not found/404" page
Site does not have a customized 404 page; neither has it directed the viewer to the home page. This is a minus point.
7. Company logo is prominently placed
They have placed the logo in a banner which is on top. Since Red is highly used for news headlines, Logo is not highlighted.
8. Tagline makes company’s purpose clear
Sri Lanka’s premium 24 x 7 News portal is the tag line of the site which gives a clear understanding of the purpose of the company.
9. Home page is digestible in 5 seconds
Site is understandable to the visitor in less than 5 seconds.
10. Clear path to company information
Company information is not available in the web site. This is essential to build up the confidence of the viewer.
11. Clear path to contact information
Contact us tab can be easily seen on the top menu bar. This also provides advertising information to the companies.
12. Main navigation is easily identifiable
Navigation is easy with all the tabs provided in the top of the site.
13. Navigation labels are clear and concise
They are OK.but it would be better if put in much bigger font and in upper case. Labels are in one word. That can be seen as a good thing.
14. Number of buttons/links is reasonable
The number of buttons they have used is high compared with other sites. But since this is a news provider that is fine.
15. Company logo is linked to home page
When the visitor clicks on the logo it takes him to the home page. This is a feature most of the viewers are expecting.
16. Links are consistent and easy to identify
There are links to sports, business and also to Facebook, Twitter and you tube. They are in smaller font so not easy to identify.
17. Site search is easy to access
Yes. Site search is provided in the top right corner which is very easy to access.
18. Major heading are clear and descriptive
Major headings of the site are Lead story, hot news and top picture story. But they are not that much clear. Only difference is that font is in Blue. Font size is same as normal news headlines.
19. Critical content is above the “Fold”
Yes. Lead Story and Hot news are above the fold.
20. Styles and colors are consistent
Yes. Site consistency was there from the beginning. With the Red and Blue headings, Black content, Same Font and etc.
21. Emphasis is used sparingly
Lead Story heading is in Blue and other headings are in bold font in Red background to get the attention.
22. Ads and Pop-ups are unobtrusive
So much of Ads and Pop-ups have been used which interrupt and distract the viewer.
23. Main copy is concise and explanatory
Yes. At a glance viewer can understand this is all about News.
24. URL’s are meaningful and user friendly
http://www.adaderana.lk/ This URL is easy to remember, meaningful as it is the same name as the television news.
25. HTML page titles are explanatory
<title>Sri Lanka News-Adaderana-Truth First</title>
Explanatory enough.
In my opinion Ada derana website would be much more user friendly if it goes for some changes with font size, line spacing and reduce the Ad clutter.
Accessibility
1. Site load-time is reasonable
Site loading is very quick. It takes only 2 to 3 seconds.
2. Adequate text-to-background contrast
Text-to-background is well designed. They have used Black and Red on White background which is highly contrasting. Which allows reader go through the text without any burden.
3. Font size/Spacing is easy to read
Headlines are in slightly big font and are readable. But it would be great if content font and line space increased.
4. Flash & add-ons are used sparingly
Ada Derana web site is so much cluttered with Flash & add-ons.Basically it is distracting the viewer.
5. Images have appropriate ALT tags.
ALT tags have been used very well. When the viewer moves the cursor on to an image it provides a brief description of the news.
6. Site has custom "not found/404" page
Site does not have a customized 404 page; neither has it directed the viewer to the home page. This is a minus point.
Identity
7. Company logo is prominently placed
They have placed the logo in a banner which is on top. Since Red is highly used for news headlines, Logo is not highlighted.
8. Tagline makes company’s purpose clear
Sri Lanka’s premium 24 x 7 News portal is the tag line of the site which gives a clear understanding of the purpose of the company.
9. Home page is digestible in 5 seconds
Site is understandable to the visitor in less than 5 seconds.
10. Clear path to company information
Company information is not available in the web site. This is essential to build up the confidence of the viewer.
11. Clear path to contact information
Contact us tab can be easily seen on the top menu bar. This also provides advertising information to the companies.
Navigation
12. Main navigation is easily identifiable
Navigation is easy with all the tabs provided in the top of the site.
13. Navigation labels are clear and concise
They are OK.but it would be better if put in much bigger font and in upper case. Labels are in one word. That can be seen as a good thing.
14. Number of buttons/links is reasonable
The number of buttons they have used is high compared with other sites. But since this is a news provider that is fine.
15. Company logo is linked to home page
When the visitor clicks on the logo it takes him to the home page. This is a feature most of the viewers are expecting.
16. Links are consistent and easy to identify
There are links to sports, business and also to Facebook, Twitter and you tube. They are in smaller font so not easy to identify.
17. Site search is easy to access
Yes. Site search is provided in the top right corner which is very easy to access.
Content
18. Major heading are clear and descriptive
Major headings of the site are Lead story, hot news and top picture story. But they are not that much clear. Only difference is that font is in Blue. Font size is same as normal news headlines.
19. Critical content is above the “Fold”
Yes. Lead Story and Hot news are above the fold.
20. Styles and colors are consistent
Yes. Site consistency was there from the beginning. With the Red and Blue headings, Black content, Same Font and etc.
21. Emphasis is used sparingly
Lead Story heading is in Blue and other headings are in bold font in Red background to get the attention.
22. Ads and Pop-ups are unobtrusive
So much of Ads and Pop-ups have been used which interrupt and distract the viewer.
23. Main copy is concise and explanatory
Yes. At a glance viewer can understand this is all about News.
24. URL’s are meaningful and user friendly
http://www.adaderana.lk/ This URL is easy to remember, meaningful as it is the same name as the television news.
25. HTML page titles are explanatory
<title>Sri Lanka News-Adaderana-Truth First</title>
Explanatory enough.
In my opinion Ada derana website would be much more user friendly if it goes for some changes with font size, line spacing and reduce the Ad clutter.
Congrats on a good review...
ReplyDeleteHowever, you haven't considered the fact that AdaDerana.lk is not actually a corporate or brand website, rather a 'content selling website'. When I say it's a 'content selling website', the reason is that their business model is based on creating content (News) and selling advertising to the people who come there to consume that content. (Same thing what TV channels are doing).
When evaluating such a website, you need to take into account the "Editorial to Advertising Ratio" too. That is, what percentage of the home page content are editorial stuff, and what percentage are advertising? Would you be able to review this and post a comment here? :-)
Also, your comment about "important content are above the line", I don't quite agree. For a news website, top story isn't the only important content. What about the other news? Are we going to a news website just to read the top story? So, I'd say most of the stuff which are above the fold, falls into "advertising" and more important "editorial" stuff are below the fold. So, from a user's point of view, they will find it bit uneasy to find the content that they are looking for while all these ads are pointing at them to grab their attention.
Correction:
ReplyDeleteFrom "Also, your comment about "important content are above the line","
To: Also, your comment about "important content are above the FOLD",