Introduction
Globally, IBM is among the leading firms in technology. It operates in more than 170 countries and deals with the invention, development, and integration of computer software and hardware provisions. Additionally, its services seek to improve the efficiency of various organizations for enhanced competitiveness and growth. IBM’s products have transformed many organizations in Australia for nearly 80 years.
In the Australian market, it promotes digital connectivity, the development of sustainable cities, and the use of novel resources. It also invests in the Australian community and offers diverse employment opportunities to many Australians (IBM 2012). This paper provides an overview and description of IBM’s website. Concurrently, it considers features of the website, discerns both positive and negative aspects of the website, captures opinions of other parties regarding the usability of the website, and provides appropriate recommendations relevant in this context. It gives an in-depth evaluation of IBM’s website to determine its suitability for public use.
Additionally, it examines the features of the website about computer-human interaction. IBM uses its website to communicate its activities to the general public. Due to the diverse nature of its activities, it is recommendable for the mentioned website to exhibit all its activities and also show its technological advancements (Lopuck 2012, p. 77).
Main Features
The main features of the website incorporate the provision of key words (for navigation) and appropriate links to other areas. This enables clients to access important information with ease. The words that have been made bold and clear on the homepage include IBM, Solutions, Services, Product & Support, and Download. These make it easier for IBM and its website users to interact considerably. The other key feature is the use of large pictures on the website. This has the effect of creating curiosity. Pictures and appropriate color codes can attract the attention of users. Appealing visualizations are also informative and easy to understand (Cards, Mackinlay & Schneiderman 1999, p.562).
Another vital feature is the presence and use of links at the bottom of the website. These links allow viewers to access more information regarding IBM. They link users to information about the firm, business executives, key news, and how clients may shop. These provisions are user friendly. Additionally, the website contains slide shows containing different information. Finally, the website has incorporated links to social sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
This enables clients to connect with the firm and access its products and services online (Hansen, Schneiderman & Smith 2010, p.28). Precisely, the use of appropriate colors, links, texts, and animations has revitalized IBM’s website and user interface.
Positive and Negative Aspects of the Website
Positively, the ability of IBM to display vital information through a well-orchestrated website is crucial. The firm has numerous products and services. Besides, it is involved in many other activities, a fact that renders its website viable. Its user interface is comprehensive and viably created. The use of bold and clear texts also eases the usage of the website. It makes it easy for users to access IBM’s products and services online.
Additionally, users can seek assistance from IBM representatives. The website’s linkage to social sites increases the interaction between IBM and its clients. This is mutually beneficial (Lopuck 2012, p. 77). The links to social sites increase the public knowledge of IBM and increase traffic to IBM’s website. Similarly, social sites increase the favorable perception of the firm and its products, enable easy marketing, aid monitoring of conversations about IBM, and improve insights in the targeted markets (Hansen, Schneiderman & Smith 2010, p.28). Additionally, incorporated slide shows make the usage of the website easy as slides are faster and comprehensible. The mentioned slides make it easy for users to navigate the website. Consequently, they can easily find the required information.
The pages of the website’s interface are similar. There is an easy reversal of actions. This makes the use of the website easier compared to others. Even though the display of various texts on the website is a positive aspect, it has the potential of confusing viewers. The display of these texts on the website necessitates the use of small fonts. This is strenuous to some users of the website thus a negative aspect. Additionally, the other negative aspect of the website is that the multiple paths in the interface confuse some of the users of the site (Sears & Jacko 2009, p.193). The other negative aspect of the website is the use of dark colors, mainly black and dark blue.
The Views of Other People
It is important to know how other people perceive IBM’s website in the realms of its usability and viability. The two respondents engaged (interviewed) to extract this information were my uncle who is a banker and my brother who is a student. My uncle’s views about the website mainly focused on the content of the webpage. He said that the website was appropriate for IBM. It contained detailed information about IBM as a company, its products and services, and other relevant content. He noted that the boldness of key texts such as the ‘Products and Services’ made it easy to use the website (Smith-Atakan 2006, p. 31).
An interesting observation that he made regarding the interface is the choice of dark colors. His views were that the black and dark-blue colors were appropriate since IBM is a globalized organization. The combination of these two colors indicated the productivity and prospected prosperity of IBM. He specifically said the two have been used to influence the perceptions of individuals who visit the site.
Concurrently, the views of my brother mainly focused on the usability of the site and the linkages of the site to social sites. He felt that the use of slide shows made it easy to find information quickly. Additionally, the multiple links applied in this context were modern. He also said that the inclusion of social site links enables the firm to popularize its products and services since the sites have become more popular in recent years.
He added that the website has visualizations that are easy to understand and are highly informative (Chen 2001 p.135). The views of the two were similar to mine with minor disparities. I held the same views that my uncle had. The boldness of the key texts is important and much information is also necessary to be included. I also held similar views of my brother especially the inclusion of the links to social sites and the use of slide shows. It is crucial to agree that various opinions regarding the structure and use of this website can discern the aspects of its usability and other considerable provisions.
Recommendations on Necessary Improvements of the Websites
Generally, IBM Australia’s website has good features and enables easy interaction and usage. However, it is crucial to front viable recommendations on improvements that may be made to advance the usability and interaction of its interface. The first recommendable change is the increase in the sizes of fonts used on the site. This would make it less strenuous for users who are not able to see small fonts. Secondly, an improvement that the IBM team may make on the website to improve its interaction with humans and its usability is the incorporation of audio assistance to the users (Shneiderman 1998, p. 84).
These may include directions to the users on how to log in or on how to shop and so on. Lastly, I recommend that more links to social sites be added since social behaviors are a fundamental part of human operations and have many positive benefits to the business. The inclusion of the links will improve the interactions of humans with computers and will make the experience pleasurable. Colors used on the website should be enhanced to augment visual appeals. It is crucial to consider these provisions to enhance the usability of this website. Its interaction with the public can determine the fates of IBM in the realms of international business.
Conclusion
It is important to consider the viability and usability of any given website. Contextually, IBM is a large organization handling numerous technological commodities. It is involved in many other activities such as research, innovation, and invention. Therefore, the company needs a website that can display as much information as possible to the public. In this context, IBM’s website needs to be interactive and easy to use.
This paper took an in-depth analysis of the website of IBM in Australia with the main focus being on its interactive features and usability. One of the main features of the website is the use of bold and large fonts in the display of key texts. They enhance the usability of the concerned interface. The other feature is the use of large pictures that arouse the curiosity of users and also pass a lot of information. Additionally, the inclusion of links to social network sites such as Twitter and Facebook in IBM’s website increases the human-computer interaction. Additionally, the slideshows and the list of links at the bottom of the webpage increase the usability of the website.
The website has various positive and negative aspects. These relate to its ability to interact with humans. The display of so much information on the website and the use of bold and conspicuous texts are positive aspects of the website. They make it easy for people to access considerable information. The other positive aspect of the website is the inclusion of links to social sites and the use of slide shows to display different information.
A negative aspect of the site is that numerous texts used in this have the potential of confusing users. In addition to this, there are multiple paths in the interface. This makes the use of the interface difficult for some people. Generally, the website has good features and enables easy interaction and usability. It is recommendable that the inclusion of audio assistance and an increase in the fonts used can make the website more interactive and easier to use.
List of References
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Chen, Q 2001, Human-computer interaction: issues and challenges, Idea Group Publishers, Hershey, PA.
Hansen, D., Schneiderman, B & Smith, M 2010, Analyzing social media networks with NodeXL insights from a connected world, Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, CA.
IBM 2012, IBM website. Web.
Lopuck, L 2012, Web design for dummies, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
Sears, A & Jacko, J 2009, Human-computer interaction. Designing for diverse users and domains, CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Shneiderman, B 1998, Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer-interaction, Addison Wesley Longman, Reading, MA.
Smith-Atakan, S 2006, Human-computer interaction, Thomson, London.