The Resnet site is fairly simple to use and follows Neilson's basic principles for site design. There is not a lot of "jazz" on interior pages and has no splash page. One area where Resnet could improve is in the page width, since on some screens it may be necessary to scroll horizontally. While Resnet homepage does contain the 3 features according to Neilson's principles, the search bar should be in the upper right hand corner, and the information on the front page should be summarized more. The "legal online music" interior page should have a link back to the homepage as well. A good metaphor for the page may be something signifying getting connected to the internet, which the cables they already use as part of the logo could work.

The resnet site is very simple and easy to follow. there is not much changes to be made other then just making it more fancy looking, not to much graphs or no graphs at all. overall i like the content and scroll down to get all the point it just need a little work to be done on it.

There are not many concerns of the Resnet website that get Nielson fired up. The site is very simple and precise. No splash screens or dense graphics. The structure is simple and gets the job done. One thing I noticed is that current website trends put the search box in the upper right of the page instead of in the left menu side. Upon arrival you see the Resnet site logo along with what the purpose of the website is for - "Residence Hall Network at UT Austin"

There is a significant amount of scrolling on the homepage but with the invention of the scrolling mouse, its not a big deal. The site does not require and horizontal shifting unless the window is resized much smaller.

Nielson says the homepage should should have a logo which is slightly bigger than the rest of the website and Resnet does not have that along with a logo clicking to the homepage button.

In the end, the Resnet website is ideally creating, the only thing that sticks out is the Downloading Music link. One thing that should be implemented in the
bread crumbs linkage. It will help in navigation and usability. A metaphor that could be used to gain instant attention to what the site does is have the phrase "Get Connected!" somewhere. Nowadays eveeryone associates that phrase with the internet.

I like the fact that the page can be manipulated to fit different screen sizes, this helps alot. The site does do a good semi-good job of stating the where am I and what does this site do question but I think a more structured higherarchy of something like ut austin website > housing > its > resnet would be more informative. No splash page so Nielsen approves. I think that a logo in the upper left hand corner of the main institution (ut) would be well advised because the top of the home page seems a little confusing. Am I at the its services? Am I at housing and food services? Who does resnet belong to and how do I get to any parent page?

I do like how on the home page the most important feature of the site is layed out in steps. However I think Nielsen would recommend a more informative homepage with the most important feature 1 short click away.
The site isn't overly large so there shouldn't be too much breadth or depth but in making improvements to the site these aspects must be taken into consideration. Breadcrumbs are neat but depending on the depth and breath of 'the new' site I don't know if they would make 'the new' site more usable.

Maybe a good use of site metaphor would be to have a page of a dorm room (or a selection of possible dormroom floorplans and have the connection points highlighted in some way and when these points are clicked on, an explanation of their workings ensue. This, of course, would not be the home page but perhaps a supliment to a written description of the process.

And while the site is under construction we will not have any little men in hard hats drilling and such, we will post only when a working site is avaialable, as Nielsen recommends.

The Resnet site is SIMPLY a site devoted to setting up an internet connection in the dorm room and should aim to accomplish this goal as quickly as possible. The over all design of the Home Page could use some improvements such as tying the graphics into not only "connections" but the University as well. After all it is a service of UT. The goal of the site is the first bit of info you read which is great. I don't believe that a metaphor for the site is necessary but if it is a must of the group's re-design, then it should be basic such as what was previously mentioned: "Get Connected." As far as navigation goes...it is obvious "Where you are," but "where you have been," and “where you can go," could use some improvements. When clicking around this site, I find myself asking, "Can I just get the process over with and move on?" The images representing Resnet, ITS, and the Housing Service are nice but have NOTHING to offer. Info within the middle of the home page should cover the simple quick steps of "What to do..." and shouldn't be excessive enough to require scrolling.

The Resnet logo should definitely be a link to the home page. Sadly it isn't. The only possible result from the lack thereof is depression, despair, and hopelessness.

I just don't see where the designers got the nerve to allow a home page link on the home page! I found myself stuck in a loop of clicking the link, only to result in the same page loading! How can this be?

Some breadcrumbs might be useful to indicate to the user what subsections they are in. For instance: Faqs-->General. I can't even describe my mental anguish, when trying to remember exactly where I was!

We can only thank the good lord that the designers chose to stick with the standard colors of blue for unvisited links and purple for visited links. I'm not quite sure how I would be able to comprehend the complexities of other colors. Due to its orangeness, I didn't even realize there was a menu on the left side of the page until someone pointed it out to me!

Currently I feel that a toilet could be used as a metaphor for the resnet site. Having a big picture of a toilet with an interactive handle with which you can flush any dreams you ever had of finding what you're looking for down the drain.

In all seriousness though. With some modifications, the resnet site doesn't have to be a toilet. I think it would be wise to stay away from any major metaphors for the site as a whole, but perhaps we could include some icons next to certain links that would visually represent the various things you can do on the site. The resnet logo already has a phone cable to indicate getting connected. We could use a similar icon by a "Get Connected" link on the menu. A question mark could go next to the Faq or Support sections. If we really did want to get intense with our metaphors, we could turn the whole interface into a telephone where the buttons are the menu for doing various things on the site; however, I think Nielson might hunt us down and shoot us. That is if his head didn't explode from the mental overload caused by such a sinful act.

The resnet site does not seem to have a simple unifying structure as specified in this chapter for simplicity of navigation. The sidebar information does not seem to provide direction towards the main purpose of the site. In the same sense there is a lacking sense of "where I am" at this site. While the Resnet logo is large it does not directly tell the user where they are up front. This and the fact that the main logo does not link back to the main causes critical navigation and structural problems that can be easily fixed. While Nielsen is critical of metaphors I think a web service metaphor diagram, set-up completely above the fold could be useful for the purpose of the site, leaving no need for sidebar navigation and cluttering of text. Resnet might also include a purchasing metaphor for easy guidance to payment options for web services they provide.

I think that the Resnet site incorporates some of the ideas Neilsen presents on site usability with exception to a few key items. The main, which has been addressed in previous forums, is the clickable logo that returns the user to the home page. In fact, the Resnet site does, indeed, help show where the user is by showing the hierarchy of where the user resides by showing the ITS and HFS images BUT they too are not clickable! The site also follows order in the main body by keeping the hyperlink color scheme traditional and I believe there is a good attempt at making the (un)visited link colors of the side menu different enough not to confuse the user.

I think that a good metaphor for the site would stick to the theme of "Get Connected" and to use something along the lines of a cable traveling across the screen to a socket where it is connected and each of the five steps shows the progress of the cable 1/5th of the way across the page. The page must stay usable so I think we could make a computer on a desk metaphor work with minimal clutter and confusion to the user. Possibly a filing cabinet or a stack of papers with visible links showing the side information presented on the left menu (e.g. - Legal Online Music, Policies, etc).

Well I liked the fact that the page did not have metaphor. I go to the site for tech information and when I have problems, I don't need it tool puzzle me with what means what.

The navigation should be moved around, the search bar to the top more and the "where you are" links should be moved to the top. Some news information should be listed on the front page, like problems with the network or network security warnings etc.

There is a link that gets you back to the home page but the logo is not it. Also some of the links do not keep track of history.

The Resnet site utilizes most of Neilsen's ideas on site usability. However, the search box needs to be moved to the top right corner where it can be more centrally located. Also, I would like the logo to work, or maybe even be redesigned. The starting page is too confusing, although it does offer easy access to those looking to connect and get out, but it definately needs to be reorgainzed and clearer as to its purpose for being.
Also, I think the color scheme is horrific. Links that have been clicked on are a bright purple next to paragraph headers that are bright orange. All these color faux pas give the user a headache.
The links on the left had side also need to be reworded and reorganized.
As for a metaphor, since Resnet really isn't a business, and instead is just there for confused and newbie freshman, I'm not sure a metaphor could be optimally utilized. It would probably just get in their way. If this were a business site seeking to gather more business, I think wit would be more appreciated in that domain.

I agree that the Resnet site should be more clear about what the site is used for on the front page. Also it is definitely frustrating that the links don’t change colors after you have used them. If a user is looking for some kind of information in particular and they are having trouble finding it, not being able to distinguish the links that you have already clicked on from the ones you haven’t visited yet can really be time consuming and frustrating. As far as metaphors are concerned, I don’t really see the need for a shopping cart because there is really only one product they are selling but in different forms.

The structure of the site is fairly well organized. The Resnet logo is in the preferred spot according to Nielson but it does not stand out more on the home page than the other links. The logo also doesn't link back to the home page on the other links. The first bold section in the "What is Resnet?" link should be on the home page so the user knows what the site is about. The "where am I", "where have I been", and "Where can I go" navigation principles for the most part hold up in the Resnet web site. The gray links arent standard and may be confusing to the question "where have I been" but the other two qusetions seemed to be answered.

Maybe for the metaphor it could be one of those chinese finger traps????

I think there are definitely some problems on the Resnet site in keeping track of where you are and where you've been. The grayed out links on the navigational bar aren't very noticeable, and the fact that they don't stay grayed out (or change to some other color) after you've visited them and returned to the main page can be frustrating. This site should be designed to get onto, get your business done, and get off of as quickly as possible and that's not going to happen if users click the same links again and again thinking there is new information.

A lot of sites put the search bar in the upper right hand corner of the page, enough where that was the first place I looked for it. When I didn't find it there, it didn't take long to find it, but it was still a little frustrating.

I have no idea what to do for a metaphor for the site. I guess a shopping cart could work.

The front page should have a clearer description about what the site is about. Even something as simple as writing 'Getting Connected to the Internet' rather than just 'Getting Connected' would make a difference. The page width of the site is relative, but if you resize it to a certain width, the navigation bar sort of messes up.

Resnet is a subscription service. I can't think of any metaphors for the site.

Although the site does highlight the current page you're on in the navigation bar, making them bold would stand out more. However, nothing on the site tells you where you've been or where you can go.

The logo is big, consistent and located on the upper left of every page, but doesn't link to the homepage.

The headline for each page also needs to be clearer, although it is slightly larger than the subheads, the formatting is basically the same and you can't tell how the information connects to each other.

Also, if resnet wants to talk about downloading music, it should include some associative links instead of leading you without warning to another site. I hate how the topics on the navigation bar collapse but don't have a + sign to let you know that there's more to see. It might be better for the complete navigation bar to be visible. Breadcrumbs would also make the site more usable.

Maybe the site could use a dormroom metaphor? The phone could lead to support, and there could be an instruction manual etc.

I also think that the resnet site doesnt make it all that clear what you can do there or where you might need to go to do whatever it is you need to do. All the information is provided but it isn't scannable. I think the navigation bar on the side is groovey and such but it doesnt have the users interests in mind in how it prioritizes the links. The first part of the site that says getting connected step by step, does more to confuse me by not answering my questions about what I am doing on the page. Do I get connected here should I go somewhere else? It should either say to get connected follow these steps or have a link to the steps that says "Get Connected"

I think the Resnet site should be more clear as in what the site is all about. So when the user sees the page, they will know exactly what the purpose of the site is: registering for the internet on campus! They could add in a bold text that's larger than the sub texts that says "Hook my internet up" or something along the lines of registering. I agree with Nielson in that the search engine should be on top so that it is easier to access and see.

The Resnet homepage does not answer the question "what does this site do?", but I'm don't think that is a bad thing in this case. Most students are directed to this site when getting connected in the dorm and just want to know how to finish getting connected.

The navigation could be better. The 4 sub links that are always present are a little annoying, especially since one is not really a navigation link, but a link to a different site.

This site really doesn't need a metaphor. I don't think the shopping cart metaphor fits well. You have the option of buying only one of three forms of the same service, not multiple products.

I think that site usability of the Resnet website could be changed in a couple of ways. First, I agree with Nielsen that the the search box should be placed at the top of the page. This would help people who don't want to read everything go straight to a certain topic, and I think that the search option would be utilized more at the top of the page, because in its current location, it is at the fold line on my screen, and not too many people are going to want to scroll down, especially on a site that requires more reading than most people want. I also think that the links should be better organized and designed, and that the security topics should be moved toward the top of the page as well so that a user would be able to quickly get where they need to go.

I also do not like the fact that the pages that are sub-linked from the homepage do not have any links to the main pages of the Resnet site. There isn't even a home link, which is very important. You have to either open them up in new windows or tabs, or continue pressing back until you get to the desired page, and both of these measures can be annoying.

In terms of metaphor, I think the main one that the Resnet site would benefit from would be a shopping cart. I think that this should also be a quick way to choose your plan and get your computer hooked up very easily and efficiently. I think that if a user should click the shopping cart, there should be an option to choose the plan they want and be done quickly. I think this would also be beneficial to users who are just renewing their service to Resnet.

As discussed in class, Resnet is usually visited by users once a month, semester, or year to connect to the University’s network and nothing more. Nielsen asks that navigation be the priority on a site’s homepage, but a user of Resnet has very little need for navigating on a site that has all the pertinent information on its homepage. If we take into account the need to “run the online scanner,” and minor links needed to complete the transaction, the navigation tools are usable.

For users who prefer a search box instead of following links, there is a search box provided within every link of the website.

There is no news or promotion section on the homepage, which I see as a positive aspect of the website considering the Resnet website is not a site for information but rather a place of use. Nielsen suggests that a homepage that offers the latest news within the service will provide the user with information on the purpose of the service, but Resnet satisfies that question within the first paragraph of the homepage without the latest news.

The one metaphor I can think of for using the Resnet website that would possibly be universal is the use of a “zooming shopping cart” symbolizing a checkout. In order to use this metaphor, we would have to re format the homepage so as to make the steps clear and simple without having to read over unnecessary information like “connecting your machine.” The “zooming shopping cart” could be a way of showing the final step in the list of things to do before checkout. The shopping cart could then be a link to the “What I Owe” page.

Based Nielsen's ideas on site usability from chapter 4, there are many ways in which the Resnet site could be improved upon. I think that the links on the left hand side are detracting from the usability. You have six main links: Resnet Home, Service Plans, Policies, System Security, FAQs, and Support.

You also have four "sub" links under Resnet Home: What is Resnet?, What's New?, Legal Online, and Music. First of all I think that these "sub" links should be separated from the main links. These four "sub" links are always present, even when you click on one of the other main links and then some other "sub" links appear for the other main link you have just clicked on. You should at least be able to hide the "sub" links of the Resnet Home link when you click on an other main link.

There also seems to be some issues with link color, concerning the links on the left hand side of the home page. The links only change color based on the link you are currently at. If you are on the Service Plans page, the link is grey, but if you then click on Policies, the Service Plans link returns to its original color and the Policies link is now grey. This defeats the purpose of changing link color in order to keep track of the places you have already been.

Other attributes that Nielsen might think should be changed is moving the search box to the top right hand corner, which has become somewhat of a standard location. Breadcrumbs could also be added to help with usability. As for metaphors I can't really think of any that would be useful. Sure you could maybe add a question mark, for commonly asked questions, or a shopping cart type metaphor as a way to pay for the Resnet service, but I believe it would be unnecessary and definitely take away from the site usability.

I don’t think that this site needs a metaphor because it will just make the site more confusing for the users. I think a metaphor is great for a site like Monster.com because it sets it apart from all of the other career sites, but the Resnet site should be as simple to use as possible.

According to Nielsen, the search box should be at the upper right hand corner of the page instead of at the bottom of the navigation bar. In addition, I think that the Resnet Help Line and e-mail address should also be in the upper right hand corner of the home page like it was on the Resnet site for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

There was some discussion in class about whether this site needed breadcrumbs or not. Breadcrumbs would be okay for this site but they aren’t crucial. The Resnet site doesn’t need anything more like top-level breadth or low-level breadth because Nielsen only recommends this for very large sites.

The home page isn’t very accurate because it doesn’t completely address what the site does. It just shows the students how to connect their internet right away. Then it leaves them to figure out on their own how to pay and what kind of plan they want. I think that the home page should be the “What is Resnet?” page and then the students should click on a “Get Connected” link to learn how to set up their internet. Finally, the home page and all of the other pages should continue to have the Resnet logo on the upper left hand side, but it should link the users back to the home page.