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usability

Getting the big picture with WordPress 2.9

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By Bryan - Posted on 21 December 2009

There are a number of nice features and improvements that are included with the new WordPress 2.9. Probably the feature that will get everyone's attention is the improvements in the media-handling of images and videos. The improvements in this latest version of WordPress continue to show why this open source blogging application excels in usability.

Four features that the developers are highlighting in WordPress 2.0 include:

  • Global undo/”trash” feature, which means that if you accidentally delete a post or comment you can bring it back from the grave (i.e., the Trash). This also eliminates those annoying “are you sure” messages that have been used to have on every delete.
  • Built-in image editor allows you to crop, edit, rotate, flip, and scale your images to show them who’s boss. This is the first wave of our many planned media-handling improvements.
  • Batch plugin update and compatibility checking, which means you can update 10 plugins at once, versus having to do multiple clicks for each one. The project is using the new compatibility data from the plugins directory to give you a better idea of whether your plugins are compatible with new releases of WordPress. This should take the fear and hassle out of upgrading.
  • Easier video embeds that allow you to just paste a URL on its own line and have it magically turn it into the proper embed code, with Oembed support for YouTube, Daily Motion, Blip.tv, Flickr, Hulu, Viddler, Qik, Revision3, Scribd, Google Video, Photobucket, PollDaddy, and WordPress.tv (and more in the next release).

Be sure and check out the video showing off WordPress 2.9 after the fold.

Expect significant usability improvements in Drupal 7

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By Bryan - Posted on 13 May 2009

When I recommend to someone that they should use Drupal for a project it is not uncommon for them to question my wisdom on the subject. Those new to Drupal are often shocked by Drupal's initial learning curve, no rich text editor in the core, and a user interface with a longer workflow than it really should be. As powerful and functional as Drupal can be it historically has had usability issues.

Luckily, Drupal's developers have recognized these usability issues and over the past couple years have made great effort to group together and improve Drupal's user interface. In fact, last year I was able to meet a few of the developers in one of Drupal's first usability exercises. The Drupal community is serious about improving Drupal for Drupal's non-tech users. In the past year, Drupal developers have focused improving the Drupal user experience and roll those improvements into Drupal 7.

There is a lot of information out there regarding the user interface and workflow improvements that are being pushed into Drupal 7. One of the best summaries I've read on the Drupal 7 improvements can be found on this page at Rufzeichen Webdesign: Cinderella unfolds her beauty - Drupal UI Report. So if you've tried Drupal before but preferred another CMS with better eye candy, you might want to come back and give Drupal 7 a try when it is finally ready for release. Drupal 7 will be ready when it's ready and I don't think you'll regret waiting for it.

Usability and Control

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By Bryan - Posted on 05 January 2009

Mike Elgan has a good article in ComputerWorld, Why products fail.  He makes a point that many usability tests really miss the entire point of what people really want in a product.

When you ask someone what they really want, they won't tell you the truth because they're not aware of the truth.

Both users and product designers alike talk about user interface (UI) consistency, usability and simplicity, and system attributes like performance and stability. What's missing is that these attributes are means to an end. The real issue is always the user's physiological feeling of being in control.

In the article, he later goes on to support his argument. I think he is right, true usability is all about control. Something for all of us to ponder about the next time we participate in a usability exercise for our content management system.

Quoting IT: CMS Usability

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By Bryan - Posted on 07 December 2008

"The usability of a content management system is paramount. If authors and site owners can’t work out how to use the CMS, you’ve got nothing. The CMS can have all the functionality in the world, but usability trumps it all."

 -James Robertson, Practical ways to assess CMS usability, Column Two, November 25, 2008

 

TYPO3 Version 4.2 Released

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By Bryan - Posted on 23 April 2008

There is a new version of TYPO3 available, version 4.2.  There are lots of usability and performance improvements in this latest package. 

The main focus of the new 4.2 version is improving usability, but there are also many enhancements for system administrators and developers. Including bug fixes, there are nearly 650 enhancements in TYPO3 4.2.

What is very interesting about this version of TYPO3 is that it is one of the first CMS that have dropped full support for PHP 4 in a stable release.  TYPO3 and a number of other Web projects took the "goPHP5" pledge earlier this year and we watched it happen.  To run TYPO3 you will want need to make sure you have PHP 5.2 or greater on your Web server. 

TYPO3 version 4.2 can be downloaded from TYPO3.org. Technical documentation and the release notes can be found at typo3.org/development/articles/release-notes-42.