WEB ART IN CONTEXT Given the Internet's pervasive influence.

WEB ART IN CONTEXT

Given the Internet's pervasive influence, artists recognize unprecedent creative and business opportunities. However, artists must modify manners and strategies when utilizing global communication plans As new technologies present exciting challenges, artistic creation entails competition and comparison with business applications. forward the Internet, art competes with commercial, governmental and educational sites. Significantly, computer science researchers solicit to uncover and to decipher problems in the human-computer interaction process; usability testing becomes an essential part of regularitys development. As the following close attention reveals, a set of Web art sites at hand usability problems, which may inhibit viewer access and understanding.

RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY

To illustrate the imports of usability problems, a series of works from the Alternative Museum's Web site will be studied (Alternative Museum 2003) Considering the TAM digital media commissions, heuristic analysis will reveal that serious usability moot points prevent accessing pages, understanding navigation, and comprehending functionality. When artists use non-standardized technology, viewers must stop interaction to dissolve system-related problems. Failing to pursue conventions about content and navigation design, viewers may have difficulties understanding end and function. Since a panel of art prompts has considered the works exemplary, curators and artists should reassess the user's wants in development.

Since anyone can create a site, what are the responsibilities of Web artists? While distinctions between amateur and professional may become unclear, the majority of art sites at hand low aesthetic qualities (Walker 2001) Interestingly, Nielsen (2000) offer proffers using an engineering perspective. from watching people perform tasks in succession a site, designers can determine auspicious strategies and problematic features. While all sites exhibit usability disquiets eliminating serious problems can greatly improve the user's experience. by the agency of conducting usability tests in unfolding Web artists can interactively formulate ideas and evaluate results

PERSPECTIVES GAINED FROM THE LITERATURE

Various usability criterions should be integrated with site progressive growth For example, paper mock-ups, page designs, prototype versions, and final implementations can be reviewed at different stages (Krug 2000) Typically, developer initially perform heuristic evaluations to identify and to take out obvious usability problems (Nielsen 1993) Instead of relying upon scripted scenarios, evaluators explore the site in an open-end manner. After repeated viewings, evaluators identify significant issues that require attention. To guide heuristic evaluations, Nielsen (1994) has provided a establish of usability guidelines (e.g. user mastery and freedom, consistency and standards, recognition rather than recall, aesthetic and minimalist design). Finally, evaluators bring into being a list of problems, which hint usability principles that have been violated. Consequently the locate of commissioned works on the Alternative Museum's Web site will be evaluated in intimation to usability principles identified in the literature.

accrues OF HEURISTIC EVALUATION

The TAM digital media commissions forward the Alternative Museum Web site demonstrate substantial usability riddles which may prevent users from accessing pages and understanding functions. In several cases, artists rely forward non-standardized technology and neglect established design conventions. When artists use Flash, Shockwave, or Virtual Reality Markup Language technologies, users must have a whole s that possess required software or must download emergencyed programs. Accordingly, the value of established communications standards becomes reduc Also, viewers hang on navigation conventions to be used and make easy descriptions to be effective. Therefore, usability be of importance tos interfere with understanding purpose and functionality.

to what degree serious are the problems in succession these sites? Specifically, 3 revealed of 4 sites employ design strategies, which may debar or discourage viewing. Considering the united readily accessible work, confusing page design and make contented descriptions inhibit comprehension, If Web art is to be effective, interaction requirements must be given greater emphasis. nearest heuristic evaluations will reference the four commissioned works.

To View the Buddha [i]cabaret[/i] a user must make a series of decisions. Initially, a navigation choice demands identification of the client's hardware platform.

on the other hand why should users have to identify plan requirements? The Internet is based forward using hypertext markup language (HTML) which allows users to view contented irrespective of hardware (Nielsen 2000) To access this work, viewers must pitch upon between PC or MacIntosh platforms. If a networked terminal is used, which option is correct? nearest a series of screens leads to another option. Since satisfaction is defined with the Virtual Reality Markup Language, users must download software to continue. After accessing four introductory pages. users must make more decisions to view the work. However, promises of trouble-free installation leave unanswered questions about potential benefits and time demands. Essentially, Web designers must deliver peace simply and effectively.