| the Back Button This may seem to be a relatively obscure point and seem as though I am wasting my time, however this has some merits. When designing webpages, the designer often times wants the page to be most effective for its use and users. In order to know what the users want, you have to know who your users are. Today there is a wide variety of users on the internet and, in general, using computers. Since they are so prevelant, computers are becoming a necessity in the worlds operations. Though they truthfully aren't a necessity, to continue "business as usual" or advance, it is the current trend to become computerized. With that noted, webpages are too becoming a very important way to access information. Though a large number of users are begining to loose some of their personal interaction "skills" due to computers, many times one can find information they are looking for quicker, easier, and more in-depth via an internet website. As part of this process, the user must access one page, but more often, many pages. To do this a user can either use their webbrowser's "back" button or click on a linked button on the webpage itself. Here a number of theories can be applied. Note: here my ideas will be applied. If a user sees the page, but does not wish to view it, a back button near the top of the page would be useful. If a user sees a page and does read through it, a back button near the bottom of the page would be more useful being they have are near the bottom. If one adopts one of the many conventions of sizing a page such that it only displays and contains information that would fill one screen and require no scrolling, then a back button near the top or bottom would be of similar use and effectiveness. (an example of this page is the actual information contained within the "how stuff works" website). Since users vary in skill level and reasoning for visiting the page, a general method will be adopted that will suit the general audience. Often times, links will be included which will allow for either style page to be used (the convention of only information that can "fit" on one page or simply having the entire article on a single page, which would require the user to scroll down). The type of page and information will most likely dicate the most effective design. At times a backbutton may not be used at all. If the user normally uses the browsers back button to cycle through pages, this will be of no consequence. However, if the user does not have access to the backbutton on their browser, this may cause complications, espically with "timeout" errors with some computers. |
| <-- notice paralell sentence structure |
| <-- the "back" button is usually located in the upper left corner of your computer screen on most webbrowsers. It can also be accessed using a methodical approach: File > back or View > back. |
| For Further Readings read on the topic: User Centered Design |