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Ron Dough
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« Reply #15 on: 13:52:52, 09-08-2008 » |
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You've missed out "And don't have access to a computer, let alone know how to use one", Kitty.
It's a nightmare to navigate: there's no discernible logic whatsoever. Another example of a Beta version being foisted on the public to discover the problems for free....
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Ash
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« Reply #16 on: 16:08:10, 21-08-2008 » |
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Hi, The problem with website designers is that they set out to impress other website designers rather that set out to make them easy to navigate. Ideally, a website should be as easy to use as the contents pages of a book, but this is seldom the case. But even allowing for garish graphics, there's no reason why they shouldn't be user-friendly. IT Engineers have a saying: "If it isn't broken, it's because it doesn't have enough features yet!" Just take a look at any university IT services website, and then be thankful! http://www.le.ac.uk/cc/Best wishes, Ash |
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When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #17 on: 16:28:12, 21-08-2008 » |
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Ash,
Thanks for breaking your silence!
That's not a very pleasing sight/site that you've linked to at all, is it? But at least you can see where everything is, or how to get to it: the new R3 board seems to be another example of the BBc speciality know as 'the massive backwards step'. Areas which used to be easy to access are now hidden away, and even the most important information of all, the day's programmes, are now hidden from view.
Barking.
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Ash
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« Reply #18 on: 16:57:40, 21-08-2008 » |
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Partly the problem with the site I linked is that people tend to use the mouse to read. What I mean is, as they look at a screen, a web site, say, they will move the mouse around more or less randomly, and the eye can't help but follow the cursor. Very often when I'm speaking to someone over the phone, quite often outside the UK and someone for whom English is not their first language, I have to ask them politely but firmly to take their hand off the mouse and actually read the screen.
The problem with IT people designing webpages is not of course peculiar to them. Academic librarians design their webpages to impress other academic librarians, not necessarily to help students, or their non-librarian academic colleagues. Consequently, there are choruses of groans to be heard at the commencement of each academic year, shortly upon us, from the various different bodies within the academic community. 'User-friendly' had become the misnomer of all misnomers!
I have noticed a trend recently with the BBC that their interactive aspects, messageboards, are being marginalised. My cynicism gene suggests this is a strategy for reducing negative feedback, something which most, if not all, organisations, tend to find an attractive course of action.
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When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #19 on: 17:14:55, 21-08-2008 » |
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Your last paragraph reads particularly true, Ash. The Today programme's boards were severely proscribed some while ago, with only prescribed topics permitted. The original reason for the creation of this site was the fear the the previous reorganisation of the BBCR3 board might go the same way, and although it didn't, quite, even the saner comments made thereon are ignored or discounted by the management.
There are some crazy illogicalities on the new board. One concerns the programme Through The Night, six hours of almost continuous music from 01:00 to 07:00 every night. The music is now listed, but without timings, so a listener or would-be-recorder has no way of telling when whatever they want to hear will start. Once the list moves to the archive, however (about a week later), the timings are included although they're by then virtually useless.
No joined-up thinking whatsoever.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #21 on: 23:21:07, 21-08-2008 » |
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So what do you click to get that, Andy? It's not what comes up when I click "Schedule" (though it darn' well ought to be....  ) User-friendly is just an alien concept, no? |
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Andy D
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« Reply #22 on: 00:01:11, 22-08-2008 » |
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I have to admit that I don't rely on links that I'm provided with, Ron - I clicked on a link which is on my browser home page, it's like a favourite bookmarks list. If the new schedules system is still in beta, it shouldn't be appear as the only option on the live Radio 3 site - you just can't get the staff these days  |
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