Re: [IUG] webopac design question

["Leo Papa" <papal at cantonpl dot org>]

Good summary of the issues.  I sensed from your prior post that you were
quite sensitive to the needs of users.   You make a good case for taking
this into account before changing all stations (or any to a) permanent
high resolution.

Because the stations I am thinking about are terminals devoted primarilly
to the WebPAC, I am going to think more about our design, default font
sizes, etc., before making a permanent change.

I'll ask our system adminstrator to summarize what he did to create the
options to change screen resolution on our computers, and forward it to
you offline.  It is a nice solution.

Leo

-- 
Technology Department Head
Canton Public Library
(734) 397-0999 x1207


Bill Forgette wrote:
> Leo -
>
> First, As for choice of resolutions, I really like that idea and would
> love it if you could send me how you did that off list. I would like to
> add that option to our public stations!
>
> Next - my soup box on screen resolutions.
>
> This is strictly my opinion of course... keep in mind - I LOVE higher
> resolutions, I know that we need to use higher resolutions, I know that
> is what vendors design for now (hardware and software).
>
> .... however I have to be honest with myself and think of the population
> we serve.
>
> Lets look at the different age groups:
>
> 1. the little tikes!  Their eyes may be able to handle it, but some have
> better motor skills than others to click in the right place
> 2. the tween/teens. No problems generally for a higher resolution. They
> want to see more of their myspace or runescape on the screen! And
> hopefully the opac.
> 3. the large clutch of ages from 20-whatever (our largest service area).
> As we progress upwards in age, we know what happens to our eyesight...
> and the older we get, the harder it is to read on the higher
> resolutions.
>
> Of course there are things that may help with the move to higher
> resolutions. Such as larger monitors and a better laid out opac station
> where the patron can move closer to the monitor if they need to. But,
> these things cost money and we have to plan for them in our budgets.
>
> Then there are the staff members. I don't know what your staffing is
> like, but we have a mix of ages. Our adult services staff tend to be
> younger, and they have no problem with the higher resolutions. Our circ
> staff tends to be older, and just making the move from 800*600 to
> 1024*768, I met with great resistance and eventually had to put it back
> to 800*600.
>
> While I want to move every monitor in this library to 1024*768 (or even
> higher), I know that realistically I cannot. It does not serve the
> majority of the patrons and the staff, and that is what I am here for.
> Even if everything online, including our opac looks better at the higher
> resolution. Looks don't matter if they can't read it.
>
> And yes, browsers have the functionality to increase the text size, but
> again then you have to allow for the patron to know they can do that, or
> educate them on how. While you would be empowering the patron, there
> could be also resistance to this in that we are making it harder for
> them by the perception of "I can't see this, now you're making me take
> extra steps, I just want a book..." when we have to constantly wage the
> battle to keep circ numbers up. Additionally, in some environments the
> browser may be secured.
>
> What about home users? What is the default resolution when they take
> their pc out of the box? Used to b 800*600, now it is 1024*768. How many
> of them change their resolution? Let's be honest, they are not like the
> majority of us on this list. Think of your parents or relatives that
> call you for help with their pcs, you go over and see their screens,
> they tend to be the default res.
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Bill
> ---
> Bill Forgette
> Automation Services Manager
> Glenside Public Library District
> v) 630-260-1550
> f) 630-260-1433
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org
> [mailto:innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org] On Behalf Of Leo Papa
> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:56 PM
> To: IUG INNOPAC List
> Subject: Re: [IUG] webopac design question
>
> Bill,
>
> You wrote: ... most end users viewing the opac will be at 800x600, or
> 1024x768.
>
> We've set up icons, on about 75 public computers, that allow patrons to
> easilly switch between these resolutions.
>
> But we've had a difficult time implementing this on about 30 WebPAC
> (Citrix) terminals, so we have stuck with 800x600 resolution on them.
>
> We are being pressed to move to a higher resolution on all stations, so
> that users can view many sites that are not well-designed for 800x600.
>
> Do you think it would be a diservice to our users, to go to a higher
> resolution on our terminals, even if we can't offer the option for a
> lower
> resolution?  The browsers on the terminals do permit changing the size
> of
> text.
>
> Leo Papa
> Canton Public Library
>
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