> Selden Deemer wrote that "Our users would probably be better served if we
> got rid of all choices save keyword, author, and title."
>
> But I am a member of that group of users that knows how to use all the
> other features besides keyword, author, and title effectively.
>
> Am I better served if you reduced my range of options, especially in those
> cases, which for me is often, when keyword, author, and title prove to be
> insufficient? How many times should users search by subject or series
No need to actually eliminate choices -- it's much better to just not
force people to make them. Certain fields like author, ISBN, and most
types of control numbers have a syntax that simply doesn't overlap
with other fields, so it's easy enough to detect an implied fielded
search. Even when the vocab is not exclusive as is the case with
keywords, subjects, and series, there are ways to present results that
reveal how the info can be explored at search time. Alternatively (or
in addition) just have an advanced search syntax for power users.
There is no reason for a clean and simple interface to be less
functional than a complex one.
kyle
Received on Tue Feb 05 2008 - 11:34:08 EST