Klare's Useful Information

There are certain articles that state the obvious. This is one such article. The criticism may be hasty if the author of the ideas outlined within this article is the primary source of my belief that these principles are obvious. George Klare suggested two central tenets for writing: 1) readability of the material, 2) The purpose of the writer.

These assertations of Klare's were applied by Kristin Zibell to web design.
Readability could be defined as:
legibility
Ease of use
Ease of understanding

"Readability" regarding the web is now often referred to as "Usability."

(Zibell quoting Nielsen, 2000) "The only path to success on the internet is to design for the users: making sites trivially easy to use and focused on supplying the exact information and services users want. Fast."

It is essential for the web designer, or the author of written text, to keep the targeted audience in mind. Many thoughts and ideas that may be interesting for some must be removed when they deviate from the core message and identified audience. The beauty of the Web is the ability to provide access to that peripheral interesting information without demanding that the core user audience pay close attention.

"On the web everything seems to be voluntary: A web designer needs to design an experience with the idea that users are one click away from visiting another web site." The nature of web use is inherently random and disloyal. To lose the attention of a web user for a few seconds likely results in a dismissal of your on line efforts. This either follows or promotes this same attitude in the larger off line society.

For the web designer, "the goal is provide for the needs of all of your potential users, adapting Web technology to their expectations, and never requiring the reader to simply conform to an interface that puts unnecessary obstacles in their path (Horton and Lynch, 1997)." This goal is lofty and honestly unreasonable. Providing for the needs of all your potential users is a utopian plan. This statement reinforces American selfishness (more or less evident universally around the world) by promoting a hyper individualism. MEET MY NEEDS. This approach leads to a growing sense of entitlement and "world revolving around me" mentality. While I believe it is humanly impossible to turn back the level of expectation we are now accustomed to, to state this as a goal approaches the absurd.

Boiling down the message, making it readable, removing obstacles, knowing your audience are axioms of web design. If Klare led the way to their inclusion in our thoughts about writing and design he deserves a place of honor. If he is simply one more voice stating the obvious my time, and yours, would be well spent elsewhere.