On Sep 16, 2008, at 11:21 AM, Brett Lutchman wrote:
Having conducted multiple studies and tests on this very process,
the 'Next' button must be on the left side while the 'Previous'
button needs to be on the right.
Don't you have this reversed? Next on the right, Previous on the left?
(We work primarily on transaction/application based systems. We also
run regular usability tests. The suggestions below are based on our
experience. As always, there are cases where this doesn't apply).
Mouse-based users tend to scan to the bottom right corner with their
mouse. It's easy and predictable to target since it's a corner and
since the scrollbar is at the right, they're used to moving to this
side of the screen.
Keyboard savvy users tend to tab through forms and use the enter key
to submit a form.
Making the most desired action first in the list only works for
keyboard savvy users, which is the minority. Having it in the most
predictable place, at the right, works for the majority.
To make it work for both, you put it at the bottom right and use
standard HTML to make the desired action, which is at the right, a
"submit" button, while making the less desired action something else
(e.g. link, button). If it's a "submit" button, a real HTML submit
button, the form will be executed w/the Enter key, satisfying both
minority and majority audiences.
Cheers!
Todd Zaki Warfel
President, Design Researcher
Messagefirst | Designing Information. Beautifully.
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