The success of human-computer interaction depends on the degree of the technical functionality of interface design whose main purpose is to facilitate this interaction. While analyzing the web design, the focus should be made on the features promoting interaction, analysis of potential uses applying to the web interface, as well as main elements of writing and presentation in IT with regard to the established formats and standards. Lowes.com and homdepot.com are websites that have been chosen for the analysis with regard to the above-presented parameters. Both sides demonstrate household articles and other appliances that can add up to the comfortableness of the house.
The main idea of both sites is to develop an application that would demonstrate the benefits of buying different household articles. In this respect, lowe.com represents a list of products and outlines advantageous terms for buying these products (Lowe’s, 2012). The site demonstrates various product prices for a user to contrast and compare, as well as find additional services to benefit from.
For instance, potential users are able to compare prices and look at the tutorials of making up specific articles for improving the comfortableness of their houses. In contrast, homedepot.com applies to a narrow-focused approach and provides only the products for sale. Despite the presence of the basic elements and purpose of the online application, the websites fail to meet the users’ needs in terms of presenting a variety of products of sale, which does not relate to specific conception and, therefore, the site can be less attractive for the users (App Design Strategies, 2012).
Similar concerns are applicable to the second site because some of the purposes presented on the website page are not congruent with each other. Specifically, there is no connection between ‘green’ policies and selling building materials made of artificial substances contaminating the environment.
While evaluating the web interface designs from the viewpoint of human-computer interaction, specific attention should be made to the analysis of potential users visiting this site, as well as how it correlates with the actual purposes of interface design (Hoekman, 2008). At this point, lowes.com fails to introduce a list of elements that would allow users to navigate the application and provide the optimal functionality of the software (Lowe’s, 2012).
Specifically, the interface does not have channels of interaction because it does not provide a full range of capabilities in terms of exploring the site. The user visiting this site will have difficulties in identifying the actual purpose of the web design because no information is provided. In contrast, homepot.com provides a wider range of options for exploring the online application. Both vertical and horizontal introduction of information on the pages of the website is presented.
While analyzing the information presented on the site, both interface designs provide an attractive invitation to view their products. At the same time, homedepot.com present an excessive amount of links on the website interface that distract the attention from the main statement of application (The Home Depot, 2011). In addition, lowes.com also presents some inappropriate features that can create a negative impression on the users. As per the logos, both sites have successfully managed to represent a succinct interpretation of their purposes.
In conclusion, it should be stressed that both sites have relevant online applications that create a link between software mechanisms and users. However, some purposes were not clearly identified because of incomplete analysis of potential users who will visit the site. In particular, some of the advertisements located on the site do not relate to the actual purpose of interface design and, therefore, significantly distracts the users’ attention. Overall, both website interface designs correspond to the established formats and guidelines.
References
App Design Strategies (2012). iOS Developer Library. Web.
Hoekman, R. (2008). Designing the Moment: Web Interface Design Concept in Action. US: Peachit Press.
Lowe’s (2012). Lowe’s. Web.
Scott, B., & Neil. T. (2009). Designing Web Interfaces: Principles and Patterns for Rich Interactions. US: O’Reilly Media.
The Home Depot (2011). Homer TLC. Web.