[Bf-webcontent] Search boxes

[Bart Veldhuizen]

Hi Andrew,

thanks for your excellent comment! I had not yet thought of the
information retention/branding arguments. I'll keep this one in my
reference folder :)

Bart

On Sat, 2004-04-24 at 17:56, Andrew Kator wrote:
> On Apr 24, 2004, at 6:00 AM, bf-webcontent-request at blender.org wrote:
> 
> > What's your opinion
> > about having a search box on every page, by the way?
> 
> The ubiquitous search box should be tastefully placed, noticeable yet 
> less prominent than the page content.  The existing size and placement 
> is good and is not distracting from content.
> 
> Many users expect to see a button for searches,  titled either 
> "Search," or "Go."  Personally I am not sure the button is needed, but 
> some would insist that it should be there.
> 
> Some designers *strongly* argue that the search should always be at the 
> bottom of the page.  Make people read (or at least scan) the page they 
> are on first before deciding it doesn't offer the information they are 
> looking for.
> 
> Problems to avoid:
> 
> (1) When the search function replaces standards for content 
> organization and presentation.  It is much easier technically (and much 
> less expensive) for the content presentation to become dictated by the 
> search function.  The problem is that viewers know what they are 
> looking for, typically only search for what they are looking for, and 
> often barely read what the search results have returned.  This is even 
> more of a problem when search functions dictate organization and 
> presentation.
> 
> (2) When used as a primary method of presentation, search results 
> encourage people to view content as individual elements and out of 
> context.  Very bad for tutorials and learning materials.
> 
> (3) Viewer/user satisfaction and information retention decrease, even 
> though the visitors are supposedly getting exactly what they want.  
> This ties into (1) and (2).
> 
> (4) Branding (brand and product recognition) also decreases because 
> there is a fine line between fast-and-efficient and too 
> fast-and-efficient to be memorable.  Remember, it is a fact that 
> learning and memories take time to form.  And yes, even though Blender 
> is open-source it still needs branding and product recognition -- and 
> so does the website.
> 
> Search Usage (how many times people use the search function) is one 
> method used to determine the effectiveness of a site's design and 
> presentation.  If people are searching as the primary method for 
> finding content, the site is in need of changes.  (Apple Computer paid 
> $2 million USD last year for that advice about improving their site 
> designs.)
> 
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