W3C communications Team,
The W3C WG Home pages have greatly improved in the last few years.
Congratulations.
There is a possible source of frustration for common users of W3C Web sites,
specifically in time where the information is broadcasted to communities
lightly related to W3C core participants.
I was reaching the "Points of Interest (POI) Working Group" home page [1] with
a browser without any cookies and W3C account set this morning.
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1. Click on "participants" link [2]
2. A modal window is popping-up with login/access
3. If click "Cancel", we receive a page with the following information
"Sorry, Password Required
An account (with a password) is required to view the page that you
requested.
If you don't have one, request a new account.
If you have an account but forgot your password, recover your password.
In case of trouble with any W3C Web account, please send an email to
[email protected].
If you still have a question, please consult the Webmaster FAQ or to
find the information you are looking for please start on the W3C Home page or
the W3C search page."
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This page is a bit dry in terms of design and doesn't really address the issue.
Requesting an account will not necessary give access to a Member confidential
page.
# Suggestions: different types of UX scenario (not all inclusive)
* Remove the display of Participants from people who do not have the
credentials for viewing it.
* Show the Participants link but with [Member only] when you do not have
Members/Staff credentials. (It will imply a cookie) and just the link when you
have the right credentials
* Create a better design of the error page. Maybe something which is custom
depending on the type of interactions you got. We know people are coming from a
specific URI containing "dbwg". It is then possible to explain why you need an
account and who can get an account for accessing participants information.
[1] http://www.w3.org/2010/POI/
[2] http://www.w3.org/2000/09/dbwg/details?group=45386
Thanks :)
ps: not urgent.
--
Karl Dubost
Montréal, QC, Canada
http://www.la-grange.net/karl/
