Behind The Google Interface
Posted by nullbit on September 27, 2005, 10:22 am
(Although this is article is quite old, it's interesting enough that it deserves a mention for the sake of anyone who hasn't read it) Alan Williamson shares some interesting facts behind the user-experience methodologies that drive Google, taken from a lecture with Google's Marissa Mayer. A few of the most interesting highlights:
- The prime reason the Google home page is so bare is due to the fact that the founders didn't know HTML and just wanted a quick interface. Infact it was noted that the submit button was a long time coming and hitting the RETURN key was the only way to burst Google into life.
- Due to the sparseness of the homepage, in early user tests they noted people just sitting looking at the screen. After a minute of nothingness, the tester intervened and asked 'Whats up?' to which they replied "We are waiting for the rest of it". To solve that particular problem the Google Copyright message was inserted to act as a crude end of page marker.
- The infamous "I feel lucky" is nearly never used. However, in trials it was found that removing it would somehow reduce the Google experience. Users wanted it kept. It was a comfort button.
- They use the 20% / 5% rules. If at least 20% of people use a feature, then it will be included. At least 5% of people need to use a particular search preference before it will make it into the 'Advanced Preferences'.
- The name 'Google' was an accident. A spelling mistake made by the original founders who thought they were going for 'Googol'
See the article for the full list.
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