Website User Rights

[web-designer]

Website User Rights

The customer is always right.

There was a time when the very people who designed websites were the only ones to use them. For such highly skilled developers, the complex systems they developed were not a problem; in fact, they were preferred. But, times have changed. Today, website designers and developers are greatly outnumbered by a new and growing category of website user - the novice. These users may be highly trained professionals, but relatively new to computing.

• Perspective: The user is always right. If there is a problem with the use of the system, the system is the problem, not the user.
  
• Instruction: The user has the right to easy-to-use instructions (user guides, online or contextual help, error messages) for understanding and utilizing a system to achieve desired goals and recover efficiently and gracefully from problem situations.
  
• Control: The user has the right to be in control of the system and to be able to get the system to respond to a request for attention.
  
• Feedback: The user has the right to a system that provides clear, understandable, and accurate information regarding the task it is performing and the progress toward completion.
  
• Dependencies: The user has the right to be clearly informed about all systems requirements for successfully using software or hardware.
  
• Assistance: The user has the right to communicate with the technology provider and receive a thoughtful and helpful response when raising concerns.
  
• Usability: The user should be the master of software and hardware technology, not vice-versa. Products should be natural and intuitive to use.