Progressive Disclosure

Displaying information progressively is how the Ningaloo Destination Model was designed to achieve. To use the program and to then understand the data that was going to be presented to the user is a lot of information to handle. So it was designed to minimize confusion by progressively disclosing information.

For example the very frst screen introduced to the user only has the Scenario Options available to them to choose from. Looking back on this assignment however, this means that there are blank boxes surrounding the Scenario options. Coming into the program for the first time, this may be confusing as I have not labelled or explained why these boxes are left blank there. Users may try and click on the boxes etc. The idea was for them to realize that the blank sections were not workable yet until they had clicked on a Scenario, but this expectation is not clear. However it does generally follow atleast a basic understanding of progressive disclosure, by initially showinng step-by-step how the user is to use the program.

This general assumption from me that the user will 'pick-up' quite easily how they will navigate through the model does pose an unresolved design issue. It would be best to create a 'help' or 'beginners' section at the start to remove confusion and atleast give the user that option.

Progressive Disclosure is mainly used here in the intial opening of the model. Once in and being used, the operational elements are straight-forward and controlled by the user.

Bread-crumbs below each model chosen is an excellent way of showing where the user has been to derive that model run.

Visibility

The principal of Visibility is used in the Ningaloo Destination model using symbolic conventions that we assume the viewer already knows about. The basic aspects of being computer literate is knowing what areas are 'clickable' or what areas when clicked on will take you to a corresponding screen/page. Clickable areas are commonly known to be 'buttons' which cause the arrow mouse cursor to change to a hand.

To enhance this, is the use of 'rollovers' or 'hovers' or in other words changing the colour or size of the button when the cursor is rolled on top of it. Thus, the first obvious step in using excellent Visibility in the model is being able to clearly know what areas are clickable and what areas are not. The next obvious consideration is using appropriate icons and labels. After navigating past the initial "Splash" Page it is not entirely clear what the user is required to do next. This screen is a bad example of visibility. There clickable areas were supposed to help the user navigate from step to step but opening this again after some time shows me that the random boxes are not defined clearly enough.

Once the user is within the program and using it how it should be, visibility is used well. Everything is within one screen and ordered strategically so that only what is necessary is shown- thus removing clutter and things that may confuse the user. Once in the program the user is able to choose a scenario, subregion and model runs all within the same page. Only the icons necessary to be shown for certain scenarios is shown. The page also emphasizes the key aspects of the model, this being the model runs. The icons are much larger than any other link and has colour. The space for the model runs to occur takes up 80% of the screen, this shows that more important things are made more visible while lesser important aspects are smaller. Such as the info button which is hidden neatly in the logo and fades in and out slowly. Other un-necessary ones are hidden.

The Ningaloo Destination Model overall presents a good understanding of the idea of Visibility.The system was design around making the data more clear and thus eliminating what did not need to be shown all at the same time. This was to create better usability and easy learning experience.