Characteristic (page 38 and 380-382)

Question

Your observation

Visibility of system status

Does the web site tell you where you are?

 Yes, there is a title page for each main subject.

Title tag is not being effectively used: currently, using URL address, could repeat title or be more descriptive over the site

Match of system and the real world

Does the web site use realistic language and conventions?

 Technical wording mixed with common understandable language

User control and freedom

Does the web site allow the user to control activities?

 No, feels like there are too many options and if mouse moves just a bit, there are too many options with other sub-categories

Consistency with standards

Does the web site present information and terms consistently?

 The Tech pages are consistent with tables and text, but if it is linked out, the pages change or documentation is too wordy to understand

Error prevention

Does the web site make it hard or easy to make mistakes?

 Very easy to make mistakes, no clarity to where user is on site.

Recognition rather than recall

Does the web site make you remember things or make things obvious?

 No, overload of information in technical terms, needed information is hidden quite well,

Flexibility and efficiency of use

Does the web site make it easy to do things in more than one way?

 No, there is no return to main page/back button; there is really no good navigation.  There is also no site map.

Minimalist design

Does the web site encourage interaction?

 No, site seems to be very cold and technical, thus making the user shy away from interaction.

Error recovery

Are error messages plainly stated with clear solutions?

 There is an email to contact the webmaster for any questions to the site, but there is not a Q&A section available for common questions.

Help and documentation

Does the web site present help effectively?

 There is a lot of documentation but it is not organized well.  It seems like there is too much documentation, which makes the user shy away from trying to find the page he/she needs.  Wording and organization is poor.