PageParadigm

ThoughtStorms Wiki

Users on web quick decisions based on constrained local information.

http://www.goodexperience.com/columns/04/0219.pp.html

I have already seen it linked from somewhere else - but still I can't get it.

:On any given Web page, users will either...

:: - click something that appears to take them closer to the fulfillment of their goal,

:: - or click the Back button on their Web browser.

Isn't it a kind of tautology? I mean, what should the users do? Click on something that appears to take them further from their goal? And I don't understand how he deduces his other theses from this statement.

– ZbigniewLukasiak

The point is, what they won't do is :

carefully read and analyse all the contents of the page,

use it to update their sophisticated and accurate internal mental model of the site,

use that revised mental model to make a measured decision about where to go next, based on taking the big picture into consideration.

Basically they lazily evaluate the page with an algorithm is like :

for i = 1 to smallNumber (~5)

if the next thing (looks like a link) && (looks like it gets me closer)

click it,

next link.

click back button

The important insight is in understanding how simplistically the (looks like it gets me closer) is, and how ruthlessly they ignore everything else.

– PhilJones

That's what you say, perhaps it is somehow suggested on the page, but only very vaguely. The "click something that appears to take them closer to the fulfillment of their goal" algorithm is not incompatible with carefull examination of the page before deciding what "appears to take them closer".

– ZbigniewLukasiak

OK, I admit. I only skimmed that page, and just assumed it was saying something like SteveKrug says. (Sue me! :-) I recommend the Krug book, BTW. And I think he backs up assertions about users ignoring context with some psychological / usability testing. Maybe EyeTrackingStudies sort support this too.

– PhilJones

I am reading it and it suggests:

:do not assume users can remember their entire browsing session:

::* provide breadcrumbs and other location tools

– Zbigniew Lukasiak

Well, ZBY, I wonder what you think of this: AboutWikiNavigation

I was trying to apply the PageParadigm to wiki navigation, by claiming that Wiki excels at contextual navigation; built by users for users. ... this is kind of coming from my perspective thinking about all the hemming and hawing people do about navigation- with pure fear that people will be lost, but they won't... maybe?

I was connecting:

JakobNielsen's emphasis on the importance of Contextual and Local Navigation over Structural Navigation (which ppl never comprehend anyway)

Mark Hurst's Page Paradigm idea that user's don't care 'where' they are, they only need to know what is relevant to where they are right now.

And in all my free time, I thought I might be able to back it up with research on Hyper text and HCI... But do you just think I'm bonkers?

– HeatherJames

Wiki excels at contextual navigation; built by users for users.

And in all my free time, I thought I might be able to back it up with research on Hyper text and HCI... But do you just think I'm bonkers?

Sounds frighteningly mainstream to me :-) Since using wiki I've been going back a lot to reading what people were saying about HyperText. Some interesting ideas there.

– PhilJones

I love the comment: Think of Wiki as a user interface to something on the WikiAsTheUltimateUserConfigurableApplication page.

That just makes sense to me. It is very like putting your head inside, as you call your wiki: a thought storm.

– HeatherJames

Thanks, also I like that AboutWikiNavigation link, reminds me of ADocumentIsNotATree and AWebsiteIsNotATree

– PhilJones