My initial thoughts of the website were, it is sleek and simple. I started exploring 100 Gallons for “10 minutes.”
First, I clicked on the play button in the center of the movie. After the video, I was intrigued by the button Why 100 Gallons. This lead me to then click the About button. Once I read about the project, I wanted to learn more about the staff.
Image provided by imaginaryplanet.net
So, I opened See more about the staff here link, in a new window. This took me to the Powering a Nation website. So, I skimmed through the 2013 team list.
Next, I looked at the contact tab. One of the first things I do when I go to a website is look for the contact page. I like to know how easily you can contact the site owner. Lastly, I skimmed through the awards. I quickly noticed that 100 Gallons: Reflections From A Nation Powered By Water has not won an award. Most of the awards received are for Born into Coal and Coal: A Love Story.
I returned to the original window and made my way through each story and graphic. Once I picked my way through the stories, looked at the white bubbles underneath the progress bar. This effectively made me watch movie again. Very clever…
Finally, time was up!
I would be lying if I claimed to have only spent 10 minutes on the website. I honestly did not realize how long I spent exploring it. My actual time on the website was 17 minutes. I feel the website is very engaging and interactive.
As I look back on my initial experience on the website I cannot think of any issues or problems. Come to think of it, many of the 10 tips were nailed. Still, the website left me wanting more.The buttons below the progress bar are very small. A few times I tried to click and missed the button. The website was built upside-down. The menu is on the bottom of the page. When exploring more about the project and team it directed me to a different website.
When I returned to the website, I immediately found the contact form. Contact info was clearly marked and easy to access. I appreciate how they built the website in sleek and clean format. Though it can be a bit bare.
Next I had my brother Fred do a usability test. He navigated the website from top to bottom. His first comment was, “I am confused with the video image.” Did not like the layout of website. First he played the video. After watching the entire video, he clicked Powering the Nation button at the top (taking him back to the home screen).
Confused, Fred clicked the How to View button. He quickly dismissed the information and clicked on the white bubbles. He went through the first three bubbles intensively, then skimmed the remaining bubbles. While clicking on the bubbles, Fred said, “I feel as if I am stumbling on information.”
Image provided by gailperry.com
I do not like the layout of website, he exclaimed. The website is easy to navigate, but not initially. His final comment on the website was, “I thought it was just a video, and that’s it.”
When I asked him to find the contact information, he Clicked on 100 gallons at bottom (taking him back to the home screen). Then, he clicked the About button. See more about staff button. He finally came to the Contact tab. It only took him 40 seconds. He thought it to be “relatively easy.”
Fred and I had very different experiences with the website. At first, he was confused and I was intrigued. He did not look at the Why 100 Gallons? or About buttons. We both clicked on the white bubbles. After watching Fred, I noticed I clicked on more buttons in the ten minutes than he did.
Though the website had its highlights, a few things can be improved upon. The white bubbles underneath the progress bar should be enlarged. This would make it easier to click on them. The website is very bare at first and can cause confusion for the user. Fred thought it was “just a video.” Lastly, the page length is too long for some articles. I had to scroll, and scroll, and scroll, finally getting to the bottom
There are several things to keep in the website. The images after watching the movie were great. They relate back to certain scenes in the movie. The first thing on website is the play button on the video. This introduces you to the story and cause. Most importantly, to me, the website is very interactive. This always keeps users engaged and on the website.
Alexander Landt 