Re: UKNM: Which kind of user?

[Ian Fenn]

Robb writes:

 > This may work for lastminute.com, but as a user I really hate the "what

kind of user are you?" approach that some web sites take.


Absolutely. It wouldn't work for Chopstix:


So how good are you with a wok?


1. beginner

2. intermediate

3. expert...


Hmmm....


 > This may be because they're so badly thought out. For example, when I go

to a computer manufacturer's site and I have to say whether I'm a home or

business user, and they present me with a range of PCs they think will be

right for me.

 >

 > [valid point, well made - snip!]

 >

 > The options suggested for lastminute.com look sensible, but (even with the

addition of "groups") where would I click to travel with three mates? Maybe

groups, maybe families (although we're not a family, that maybe the best

place for packages designed for four people). You'll often find that there

are users who don't neatly fall into your definitions.


Absolutely. Maybe what is needed is:


1. Home

2. Home Office

3. Business

4. Corporate

5. You


..."You" being a page which brings up a bespoke build service?! :-)


 > I generally think that in most cases, the nature of the content should

help users to guide themselves to the correct information. So instead of

"business" and "home" computers, how about (just off the top of my head)

"budget", "performance", and "servers"? "Home" and "business" users would

then visit the appropriate sections according to their actual, rather than

perceived, needs.


Don't Gateway do this? I know they used to...


 > So as long as the information is there (e.g. when looking at a

lastminute.com hotel price you can see the single supplement, the child

rate, group discounts, etc.) you don't need the extra step of saying who you

are.


In the last minute example, the initial step of selecting "sole traveller"

would ideally cut out inappropriate offers... and re-present those that are

(i.e. display the total cost including single supplement rather than having

the latter on a secondary page) - this would save me a lot of valuable

lastminutes!


All the best,


--

Ian Fenn



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