Navigation (usability)
This page discusses site navigation and structure and reveals hidden features that improve ease of use. Use the Navigation horizontal menu for features and descriptions.
Feature: Uniform Look navigation
A uniform look ensures that every user, no matter where they are in the site or how they arrive to our site, knows they are at UMass Dartmouth's web site. The user also knows where the navigation will be on every page, where certain features are, and how information will be presented to them.
- Benefit to User
- Greater ease of use
- Layout fades into the background, so the user can focus on finding what they want and digesting the content they find.
- Studies have shown consistent layouts increase overall user satisfaction in a site, and give the user an impression of professionalism.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- No need to focus on layout and page appearance- all taken care of.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- No need to focus on layout and page appearance - all taken care of.
- Free to focus on page content.
Feature: UMD Logo
The UMD logo is located in the top left corner of every page in the new layout. It is also a link to the home page of UMass Dartmouth.
-
Benefit to User
- Acts like an official letterhead, letting the user know this web page is owned and operated by the university.
- Provides an easy link to the home page from any page on our site.
- Helps create unity among the pages, from the first element users see on the page.
-
Benefit to Content Provider & Site Developer
- No need to identify the page as belonging to UMass Dartmouth.
- No need to link to the home page - the layout takes care of that.
Feature: Styles Off/ Full Display Format
In the top right menu of every page (in the footer if the page does not
use a right menu) is the option to see said page in a styles off, printer friendly,
text format. When the Styles Off option
is selected, all CSS layout features are removed, leaving a free-flow design.
In CSS Off mode the user can return to the original layout
by choosing Full
Display Format.
- Benefit to User
- Users still using a text browser can find content and navigate the site easier.
- Disabled users or those using a text-reading browser can link from Full Display Format to Styles Off .
- Those with a slow Internet connection can choose the text only version to speed download.
- The Styles Off version provides the same links and options as does the Full Display Format.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Your content reaches a wider audience.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- Because the Styles Off function is set up to translate every page, individual text versions of individual pages don't need to be developed.
- Web Accessibility is required by both University of Massachusetts Web Policies and Federal Gov. Section 508.
Feature: Main Navigation Links
UMD Web is broken down into 6 major navigational categories: Admissions,
Academics, Research, Outreach, Student Life, Services and Administration, and, when related content is not displayed on the page, the link for News and Events.
The heaer links are always the same and available on every page (save for the News and Events link).
- Benefit to User
- Uniform look and feel to the site.
- Easier site navigation.
- The links are on every page.
- The links have menus which allow the user to go directly to a specific site.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- You don't have to worry about larger navigational issues and can focus on content.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- As the links and menus are in the header file, site-wide edits and changes can be accomplished by modifying one file
Technical documentation
Feature: Page Title
The Page Title is located immediately above the Main Content Area, in the blue bar directly beneath the breadcrumb trail. It is also found in the browser's title bar, right after the "UMD -".
- Benefit to User
- The Page Title uses the largest font size on the page.
- Easier site navigation. It's position and size ensures it will be one of the first thing's viewed, giving the user an idea of where they are and if the content might fit what they're looking for.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Complete control over the Page Title. Editable at any time.
Feature: Left Menu, Horizontal Menu
The left menu is the main navigational menu for every site. It contains
links for the main content area of the site, and sometimes, every page in the
site. The left menu can have also have a sub-menu.
- Benefit to User
- Uniform look and feel to the site makes it easier to navigate and learn.
- Every site has a similar navigational setup while still having individual links.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- The navigational structure for a specific site is determined by the Content Provider. Only the look is standardized.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- The site-specific content and left menu or horizontal menu are controlled by the Content Provider.
- The list is generated dynamically, eliminating the need to code a menu for every page of the site.
Technical documentation
Feature: Main Content Area
The Main Content Area is the large center area of the page.
- Benefit to User
- Font size is standard HTML or browser default. The user can increase the font size of the Main Content Area.
- Standard location and look to the area increases usability for user.
- Benefit to Content Provider & Site Developer
- This is the only area content can be uploaded.
- No need to know HTML or other Web programming languages when online tools are developed.
- 10 pixel border can be turned off if special content (i.e. Flash or Java) is displayed in the content area.
Feature: Right Menu
The Right Menu includes graphical and text links to the major web sites on UMD
Web. Right Menu links are to sites consistently accessed by students,
or high traffic sites.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Right Menu module can be turned off and replaced with site specific content.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- Right menu image and text links can be changed on every page by editing one file.
Technical documentation
Feature: Top of page link
The Footer contains a link to the top of the page, located in the upper left corner.
- Benefit to User
- Decreases the amount of scrolling the user has to do to reach main navigation elements
- Users with screen readers and other assistive technologies are aided- easier navigation through the page
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Professional look to site
- Helps meet accessibility guidelines
- Benefit to Site Developer
- Developer does not have to remember to place these links
- A pages length is less of a concern- the user can easily reach the top again.
Feature: Search
A Search option is available on every page header. Searches can target the entire
UMD Web Site, an individual Web site or Web page within UMD Web. Searches can
also target the UMD Online Directory and the Calendar of Events.
- Benefit to User
- User can search the specific site, the entire site, the UMD Directory or the Web using the right-menu search option provided on every page.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Sites are indexed regularly so searches will yield results more relevant by date.
Feature: SiteMap link
A link to the SiteMap is located in the footer of every page. The SiteMap
provides a visual breakdown to the site structure of UMD Web.
- Benefit to User
- The link can help a user navigate UMD Web.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Provides another way to get content exposed.
Feature: Link to Copyright Information
The link to the copyright information for university Web pages/publications
is displayed in the footer of every page.
- Benefit to User
- The navigational breakdown for UMD Web is repeated at the bottom of every page.
- Benefit to Content Provider
- Every page will have a link to the university's official copyright notice.
- Benefit to Site Developer
- Changes to the copyright information can be made by modifying one file. Changes will then show up on every page.
