Category Archives: Visually Impaired

Tab Rows, Good Example

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Using tabs is sometimes a very good option for a wed design. Visitors use them to navigate the site and to know where they are.

JCPenney 20071229

The JCPenney tab rows are 100% fine. They use a different color for the selected tab, but this color is similar to the one used for the unselected tabs. From the usability point of view, I can imagine that this could affect visually impaired and color blinded people.

MySQL 20071229

Giving users a graphical and shaped sign could be much better for everybody. The MySQL website not only uses a different color for the selected tab but also makes a connection to the menu line below, creating a much obvious and nicer visual effect.

Bad Color Contrast, Analysis of New ReadWriteWeb Design

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ReadWriteWeb has recently changed the design, the website looks more organized but the colors they chose could be a serious problem for a lot of people.

It’s an extremely important usability issue to choose the right color contrast. A lot of people have color disabilities and the combination of red on white could really become a problem.

ReadWriteWeb Design 20071218

In my opinion, the new ReadWriteWeb design is too shiny, it bothers my eyes, I just don’t feel comfortable looking at it. Actually, the red on white and the green on white are the most common trouble contrast options.

Designing for the people with color disabilities is actually designing to everybody, better color contrast will be preferred by all your users.

How to Place Product Pictures Without Pop-Ups

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Tesco, the British retailer, developed a nice solution to show users product pictures avoiding the use of pop-up windows.

Tesco Homepage Screenshot 20071212

Pop-up windows are a big usability issue, they confuse users and they negatively affects impaired people. Think that some people just don’t notice the pop-up windows, some close them straight away and some don’t know how to close them.

Tesco placed a “View more images” link on the product description, when clicked, the user is taken to the pictures page.

Tesco Product Description 20071212

Then, in the pictures page they placed a very visible “Back to product” link. I think this solution is a very good one and help users easily navigate pictures. This is a nice usability pattern to keep in mind.

Product Pictures 20071212