[thelist] Deep, Lopsided Navigation Systems

Rory.Plaire at wahchang.com Rory.Plaire at wahchang.com
Fri Jun 15 12:11:23 CDT 2001


Hi Ben,

I like the concept of Inxight's browser (http://www.inxight.com) although it
is a java applet. There are some examples which have been buried over the
last year (they used to be linked on the front page!) now at
http://www.inxight.com/products_wb/ht_server/ht_server_demos.html. The
people which developed this concept are the same that brought the UI, the
mouse and SmallTalk: yep, the Xerox PARC team. (see:
http://www.inxight.com/news/press_release/archives/1996/infoseek.html)

This concept is deeply rooted in several usability principles and rules, of
them visibility (see what you need, don't see what you don't), reuse of
habitual activities and feedback (just point to where you want to go, and
click to _see_ yourself move there), and support (by making new things
possible, and the same old browsing activity faster and more fun). Of
course, it could be improved to assist those with effective skills in
searching -- the rule of efficacy and of progression -- like by allowing
"groups of nodes" or restructuring of the tree or a "wormhole" concept.
Right clicking and a "search for more like this" would be a great time
saver, too.

<rory disposition="kindly my $0.02 before inflation and taxes" alt="8)"/>

 
| What are some good examples of corporate sites that have very 
| deep, very 
| consistent navigation that handle these conditions well?
| 
| Thanks.
| 
| --Ben 




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