Comments on: Precise to a Fault http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/ A blog about search, user experience, and development. Mon, 10 May 2010 12:14:33 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tyler Tate http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Tyler Tate Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:05:22 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-21 Jon brings up a really good point. I completely agree that it's a significant problem that, in this case, 24K looks smaller than 9.3K. Ideally larger numbers would always appear visually larger than small numbers. While there isn't a straightforward method of doing decimal-aligning in HTML, we are working on turning the grey capsules surrounding the numbers into a sort of bar chart, where we programmatically manipulate the width of each capsule. This way, there will always be a visual indicator that instantly communicates the proportionality of one item to another. Thanks Jon for the thoughtful feedback! Jon brings up a really good point. I completely agree that it’s a significant problem that, in this case, 24K looks smaller than 9.3K. Ideally larger numbers would always appear visually larger than small numbers. While there isn’t a straightforward method of doing decimal-aligning in HTML, we are working on turning the grey capsules surrounding the numbers into a sort of bar chart, where we programmatically manipulate the width of each capsule. This way, there will always be a visual indicator that instantly communicates the proportionality of one item to another.

Thanks Jon for the thoughtful feedback!

]]> By: Jon Gunnar Wold http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Jon Gunnar Wold Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:15:30 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-20 ALIGN, not aling of course. Shame on me ALIGN, not aling of course. Shame on me

]]> By: Jon Gunnar Wold http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Jon Gunnar Wold Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:14:47 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-19 I don't agree. When I look at that list of numbers, I actually have to read them to see which number is greater. Looking at 324,768 I will not read the number, just compare it's physical size to 23,745 and 100. In your example, 24K looks smaller than 9.3K. You should also decimal-aling the numbers to facilitate scanning and comparison. "9.3K" is user-hostile tech-speak, shame on you. I don’t agree. When I look at that list of numbers, I actually have to read them to see which number is greater. Looking at 324,768 I will not read the number, just compare it’s physical size to 23,745 and 100. In your example, 24K looks smaller than 9.3K. You should also decimal-aling the numbers to facilitate scanning and comparison. “9.3K” is user-hostile tech-speak, shame on you.

]]> By: Morris http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Morris Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:59:36 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-9 :D, I have to say this whole site and idea is really good, beautiful design. I haven't really seen anyone out their try and simplify search in terms of deployment and UI like the way you guys have. I'm definitely betting you guys to be leaders within this space :) :D, I have to say this whole site and idea is really good, beautiful design. I haven’t really seen anyone out their try and simplify search in terms of deployment and UI like the way you guys have. I’m definitely betting you guys to be leaders within this space :)

]]> By: stefan http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-8 stefan Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:28:09 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-8 Good idea Morris, I think shading could help - we're also experimenting with turning the capsule around the count into a bar chart of sorts (where the capsules have proportional width according to frequencies). Good idea Morris, I think shading could help – we’re also experimenting with turning the capsule around the count into a bar chart of sorts (where the capsules have proportional width according to frequencies).

]]> By: Morris http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Morris Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:08:02 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-7 Nice blog, perhaps the unit could be styled with different shade/color as it stills takes time to digest. Nice blog, perhaps the unit could be styled with different shade/color as it stills takes time to digest.

]]> By: Andy Shaw http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Andy Shaw Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:53:58 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-5 Well said Tyler, will use this method in the future for large numbers. Maybe could add the actual result number as a title tag over the number too. Well said Tyler, will use this method in the future for large numbers. Maybe could add the actual result number as a title tag over the number too.

]]> By: Mike http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Mike Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:51:24 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-4 I love your site I love your site

]]> By: Cennydd http://blog.twigkit.com/precise-to-a-fault/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Cennydd Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:43:07 +0000 http://blog.twigkit.com/?p=6#comment-3 Agreed. I did a bit of usability consultancy for the recent JustGiving redesign (http://www.justgiving.com). One thing that I thought was quite important was the precision of the numbers at the top: "Over 8 million of you have helped raise £550m for 8,382 charities." Classic social proof, but the original wireframes had these numbers in full. We put forward the idea of rounding them to aid quick comprehension & recall, and to save some layout space. I think the results work well, although of course I'd need to usability test it to know for sure. Agreed. I did a bit of usability consultancy for the recent JustGiving redesign (http://www.justgiving.com). One thing that I thought was quite important was the precision of the numbers at the top: “Over 8 million of you have helped raise £550m for 8,382 charities.” Classic social proof, but the original wireframes had these numbers in full. We put forward the idea of rounding them to aid quick comprehension & recall, and to save some layout space. I think the results work well, although of course I’d need to usability test it to know for sure.

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