PhIxDA Automagically

Authors Note: I originally started this post on December 2, 2008. Some of the information is dated but I figured I would post it. You will see my updated comments through out but I have left the piece in its entirety.

I have been spending some time lately researching navigation when it comes to environment based interactions. The short answer, “hotspot” navigation vs traditional “listed” navigation. This style of navigation is not new in any sense and has taken many forms both good and bad.

Before I began my research I laid down a few questions and expectations for myself to answer. They are basic and simple but they are fundamental when it comes to navigation design. The questions I asked myself were:

1. Is there an alternative form of navigation aside from “hotspots”?
2. Does the navigation act as a distraction to content or does it compliment it?
3. Is the goal and purpose of the content being served through this interaction model?
4. Is it engaging and reactive to the user?

My expectation in going into the research was to instruct or provide information on a product/process with minimal user distractions. I also wanted to assume that it would be an easy to follow narrative that requires user interaction to progress in a direction.

I really like the idea of making people interact and learn at their own pace rather then forcing them to click next and watch a slide show. By making the user choose what they want to learn next you can re-enforce a learning pattern based on natural curiosity. I feel people retain information better when they want to gain the information and providing a user driven learning environment with a “hotspot” navigational style is a very clear way to do just this. It provides information for the user to learn more based on what they just read about and stay focused on the topic.

This however can also lead to a very jumbled navigation style which produces a negative learning affect. When the user navigates for the sake of navigating because they can, the concept and information being presented is lost. This is why it is important to keep transitions and lead-ins short and to the point. This will help keep the user focused and on task. It is also important to keep the “whizbang” to a minimum in the sense that it should not be a distraction to the information but rather reinforce the information or supplement it.

Authors Note: Some of these websites no longer exist and if you find copies of them please let me know.

Alfa Romero: Experience 159

Alfa Romero has done a very nice job of combining HD video with a web experience. The navigation is suttle however and many people might not pick up on how to proceed forward. I how ever like the use of traditional text based links in a hot spot manner. Over this does a great job of making the user absorb the information while allowing then to navigate at their own pace.

Conflict: Denied Ops

Great crossover between gaming and usability of a website. There is a learning curve and it is most definitely not accessibility compliant but then again it is a video game. The one downside of this here is that it takes a bit of time to get to the pertinent information, but again, its a video game.

Unilever – Who is Fermin?

Interesting use of gestures for interactivity. Although this site seems to be an interactive advertisement it was done well. Downside is that it has a long load time for little content.

Michelin – Forward

Hotspots galore in this place. The animation is smooth and well thought out. The hotspots are a little overdone but they do serve their purpose. Things to take away from this are the hotspot design and the navigational movements.

UPM – Forest Life

Very subtle and clean interface with the use of hotspots to gain further information. I like the combination of self delivered info and and guided process which you are taken through on this site. My main take away from this is how clean the UI is and how elegant it is to use.

Nokia – The Internet Walk

Interesting mix of video and interactivity. The hotspots and interactivity are limited in size and creativity but they work. I’d like to see this type of thing take a different way, kind of like a choose your own adventure rather then travel across a straight line.

Acura – 2008 MDX

Very high use of hotspots. It was good to see layer of the hotspots also, enter the cabin and if you look out of the windshield you see the hotspots you just came from. This however could lead to confusion and cause the user some frustration.

Australian Navy

The Australian navy apparently likes EA’s The Sims… not an original concept, but when you look at the target market and who this adversite is for you can see why it was chosen. Hotspots are abundent and an easy indicator to the content they contain. The idea of following the ship for a day is a very good concept and they executed it well.

Travelers Insurance – In Synch

Authors Note: As of this posting it was discovered this website will only work with Flash Player 8. Kind of a bummer but when it did work it was a well made instructional piece.
I don’t really have any bad thoughts on this. The interface is well indicated and you know where you are at all times. The interactive tests are well done and good models for the types of tests we could perform.

Motorola City – Soul Police

The beast that started it all. As much of a great showcase that this site is, it doesn’t lend itself to anything else. The motion is the biggest selling point of this one. It is pure eye candy, but it is done well and serves its intended purpose. The navigation works well but there is a lot in the way when it comes to getting the pure information the site wishes to present.

Loews Sunnyville

Authors Note: As of this posting this website is no longer available. After viewing many videos that told you about backyard options and equipment you were allowed to go in build your own backyard. Very SimCity in its way it worked. Visit http://www.firstbornmultimedia.com/websites/sunnyville/ to see the archived version
Well done Home Depot … I mean Loews… actually well done to the company responsible for this, First Born Multimedia. It is a great mix for an adversite. The interactivity is engaging and attention grabbing and they did a very impressive job camera matching. the navigation is very straight forward and easy to understand. no complaints, only compliments here.