An interview with the people working on usability and user experience in Opera
Published June 5th, 2007 12:04 PM EDT By Daniel GoldmanA much talked about subject when it comes to the Opera browser is its usability and user experience, particularly for the non tech-savvy user base. Since the default layout and settings of Opera are sometimes drastically different than that of Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox, Opera is perceived by some as difficult to learn and use.
Opera started out in the late 90’s as a browser for techies and the computer-savvy. It needed to accommodate the needs of its niche market, and therefore added many features and different default settings than the other browsers in the market. Though the usability and user experience was important then, it was generally measured against the tech-savvy crowd.
Fast forward to today. Opera is trying to grow its market share by reaching out to novice users as well. The usability requirements have changed somewhat with the new audience Opera is now attracting. Many of the default settings have been modified over the past years to make it easier for novice computer users.
The layout and user interface (UI) got a complete makeover. Most of the rarely-used buttons previously on the main toolbar are gone, the Preferences window revamped, and the additional toolbar shopping search fields are no more.
There is still much Opera is doing to further simplify the browser and enhance its usability. Opera recently assembled a team of usability and user experience experts who are actively working on proposing changes to the user interface, modifying processes, and making the browser simpler to use for the mass market. Much of their work will be seen in the next major updates to the browser.
It’s not a simple task making the browser powerful enough to be highly customizable for the more advanced users, and yet remain simple for the less advanced.
Another important factor that is taken into consideration is Opera’s current user base. As seen in the comments on this blog, the Opera Forums and elsewhere, Opera users have strong opinions about what they want and don’t want in the browser. Users are at times very outspoken to changes. The core user base is instrumental to Opera’s success, and Opera recognizes that.
As for myself, I would like to see single-key shortcuts disabled by default. How many times has the following scenario happened to you? You think you’re typing into an input field on the page, but you’re not. Then all sorts of weird things happen: the page jumps to another location, the address bar rolls down (the ‘H’ key), etc. This is a complaint I hear all the time from novice users.
Eddie did an interview with the Opera team working on usability and user experience for his ‘User Centered’ blog. It gives a bit of insight into the issues they’re facing and how they’re going about improving the usability and user experience in Opera.
Read: Usability interview with Opera
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using
good read. On a side note I also find that having the address bar beneath the tabs to be more logical.
And yes Daniel you’re absolutely right about those 1-button shortcuts! Even some 2-button shortcuts can be annoying (I remember I use to have an issue with Shift+P).
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Rhonnysparks, that’s right. Although many complain about the URL bar being below the tabs in Opera, I think it’s the correct place. Like Yenny mentioned in the interview “Because the address bar belongs to the specific tab so it makes more sense to have it there.”
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Personally I like 1-button shortcuts. But I always say that it will be very useful if Opera includes couple predefined setups (i.e. for old Opera users, for migrated from IE, for people with disabilities, etc). Why I need to redefine all my shortcuts (Ctrl+T, Ctrl+N…) to old Opera behaviour everytime I reinstall Opera?
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FataL, I use some of the 1-button shortcuts (i.e. ‘6′, ‘9′ and ‘0′), however, I don’t think they should be available to first time users. Users, like you and me who wish to use it, should have to manually enable it.
Btw, in the begining I too couldn’t stand the CTRL+T, CTRL+N changes, but I’ve gotten used to it by now. It didn’t take long.
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Out of habit, I prefer my address bar to be at the right of my buttons (and I use a lot of buttons).
The reason I don’t like having my address bar lower down is because I use side panels a lot, and I don’t like how opening panels causes my buttons to move. I like being able to push my mouse cursor way up to the upper left hand corner of my screen where my Back button always is (and yes, I also use mouse and rocker gestures).
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Daniel, I know I can get used to changes like Ctrl+T and Ctrl+N, but who knows that Opera 10 will not change some old-standing in Opera shortcuts again? My wife even didn’t want to upgrade to Opera 9 because of shortcut changes. And for people like she there is no easy way to get back old behaviour after new installation (upgrading left old shortcuts unchanged).
Why just not get advantage of multiple setups and include Opera 8, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari in addition to Opera Standard? I remember CorelDraw, InDesign, QuarkXPress, WorldPerfect, Microsoft Word and many other applications have special keyboard setups for migrated or upgraded users. For example, as an old QuarkXPress user I always change keyboard shortcuts in InDesign after new installation and I can do it in two clicks in Preferences.
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I use +, - 6 all the time, particularly on YouTube (since using their fullscreen video feature breaks on my computer).
Period and comma are also nice to have. Make sure to keep the F1-F8 keys 1-button shortcuts.
There should be two keyboard shortcut files in Opera, simultaneously installed. One is keyboard_basic.ini, the other is keyboard_advanced.ini. The basic file will contain all of the essential keyboard shortcuts. The advanced file would contain 1-button shortcuts and “power user” shortcuts. When a user first installs Opera and uses a 1-button mouse gesture, it will ask if the user wants to enable Advanced Mouse Gestures. If the user says Yes, then enable both keyboard ini files. Otherwise, only the basic ini file will be loaded.
It’s better to install all necessary parts for both advanced and basic users when installing Opera. Otherwise you end up with a Firefox situation: if you’re a power user, you’ll be making several trips to the internet to install everything.
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I love one key shortcuts! I’m continually frustrated that other browsers don’t use z+x for back/forward. I’ll admit that this is probably due to my Alt key not working half the time and recognise that it’s probably not that friendly for new users. But once you *do* get used to it, you’ll never want to go back!
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I never really did like the URL Bar below the tabs in Opera. Regardless what anyone thinks, it looks awkward and feels the same. So its the first thing that I change.
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I, and many Opera users over here, love one button shortcut very much. For most of the input text, we use IME, so don’t meet many accidents you described.
But recently I advice some to delete Ctrl+Q assignment, to prevent accidental termination
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I’m not suggesting that the 1-shortcuts are not useful. I’m referring to those who accidently press on the shortcut buttons, and end up triggering various events while having no idea how it happened.
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Yes, having easier setups for the novice users is a must. However, always let the advanced users have their tweaking.
It’s always interesting reading about how varied Opera users have made their browsing interface.
Personally, the only 1-button shortcuts that get me are “1″ and “2″ which makes for a brief oh-no moment until I realize what just happened.
As for the address bar, it’s gone in my setup. Tab bar moved to bottom and address field moved to status bar. I find it aesthetically refreshing to have the content flush to the title bar.
using
I cannot help it, but I think the key shortcuts in Opera are almost perfect. The only things I change are:
Ctrl+W: Close page & Switch to next page
Alt+LeftArrow: Switch to previous page
Alt+RightArrow: Switch to next page
As much as I don’t want Opera to change the default key shortcuts, I know by experience that incuding several key mappings is never a good thing in the long run.
Confront the real problem instead: Make it more obvious whether the address field or the page has focus. Maybe change the color of the address field when it’s focused, or put a colored frame around it.
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I would definitely NOT want single-key shortcuts off by default. This is one of the biggest selling points I have when trying to convince someone to use Opera.
“Look how easy it is to go back/foward - just hit ‘z’ and ‘x.’”
A better way to handle it would be for the default first screen after installation to actually have helpful tips on it from the get-go. I know it links to some things, but why not hit the hotspots right then and there? You could also include a checkbox that says, “Show this page each time you start Opera” so that the helpful hints don’t disappear after they close the browser the first time.
People have to learn sometime. Better to give them a nudge.
They downloaded Opera. This is Opera.
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Not only let us tweak, but also provide predefined advanced setup(s). Not all advanced users love tweaking.
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there is no point in opinion, that opera devs respect users input about user experience - tab user experience is still far inferior to competition [ff/ie7], because there is STILL no option to ‘middle-click-on-the-tab and-go-to-the-left-tab’. there is no trick to mimick it. i dont care about kb shortcuts, i want it work the way everything else works. it is standard. doing against the stream isnt doing opera any good. i know people that trashed opera due to that single reason. and there are more of them, than people that stick with opera due to the speed dial.
and dont point me to that, that opera way is better - it might be, but provide me with option to do it the way all world does it.
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“This is a complaint I hear all the time from novice users.”
Novice users should pay attention instead of complaining.
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For changes in keyboard-shortcuts between versions I think it’s easy to provide a setup file. This also works for advanced or special setups (I remember Moose and Rijk provide special keyboard setups).
There already is a place to deliver keyboard files in the Opera setups area.
But I think it has advantages the way it works right now: an Opera user discoveres a lot of features (also the one key shortcuts) just by chance or because he reads or hears about a tip somewhere. If this happenes he doesn’t want to tweak settings before trying whether he really likes it (or she of course).
Regarding the demand for easier transferring settings and customizations Jon already announced some new feature in future versions. This would be really great.
And here are the 1-key-shortcuts I use (number is probably still increasing, from time to time even I find a new functionality that I like):
Search in page: .
Zoom: + - 6 8
Tabs: 1 2 4
F-keys: F2 F3 F4 F5 F11 F12
Email: g h y r f space
Page navigation: space
I’d probably use z+x for history navigation but I haven’t yet customized it to z+y for my German keyboard layout (qwertz).
For nearly all of this functions I also use mouse via (custom) buttons, gestures and customized extra mouse buttons.
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Not sure I get your point, sid.
Because some strange option that you personally demand is missing, Opera doesn’t listen to its users?
Strange logic…
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“Because some strange option that you personally demand is missing, Opera doesn’t listen to its users?”
it is in fact an option that was mentioned on wish list so many times, that people got bored and dont notice it anymore.
it is also an option that is most asked upon ‘bug’ on general disscusion forums “how can i close tab and go to the next instead of previously visited?”
dissing it because you dont see a point in it (however all other apps that matter, do) isnt the wisest logic out there
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Simply use the power of Opera’s MDI (Multi Document Interface): Minimize all tabs before you start to open new tabs in background. Then you can minimize (”4″) or close one tab and the next newly opened automatically appears (FIFO=First in First out). Again close or minimize this tab and so on.
I have a custom button for Minimize all, or Menu: Windows - Minimize all, or Rightclick on Tab - Arrange - Minimize all, or CTRL+SHIF+F4.
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You are claiming that it is the “most discussed”, something we both know is false.
Not that it’s relevant to the point of my comment, which is that claiming that Opera ignores its users because [insert some feature or option] isn’t added right away is illogical.
I never claimed that the option wasn’t needed either. I simply pointed out that the argument that “Opera doesn’t listen to its users because this specific feature hasn’t been added” is a fallacy.
Try again.
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That’s one of the issues I wanted to address. I’ve very interested in your notion/use of the word “standard.” …as a follow up to the interview, I’d like you to add to what the team said.
To me, standards are *very* important for the web, but not so important for the client (browser)… in fact, I think at times, it hinders innovation. The only value is see for standard is for winning over users from other browsers. That’s important for sure (considering the current market), but at a fundamental level, I think simply “creating the best product” that makes the most sense and is the most intuitive to use to accomplish user’s tasks (effeciently browsing/using the internet) is much more important than being consistent with other browsers.
After all, if *everything* was consistent, then what would be the point ot switching browsers at all? Then it becomes a measure of which is fastest, which uses less memory,etc… metrics. But that ignores innovation and user centered design.. different approaches to different ideas. I like that Opera does things “different” than other browsers. I like having a choice that actually means something in regards to my user experience.
Anyway- those are the types of issues I’m interested in, and the reason I posed that question in the interview.
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..ugh, posting from IE…sorry about that everyone.
…anyway, I wanted to make the distinction again about standards:
Web standards: Crucial
Browser Standards: I could do without them altogether.
If Opera decided they have a different notion of “bookmark/favorite” and decided to work a whole new mental model on “sites I might want to visit again in the future.” I would be interested in the approach. I wouldn’t decry them saying “use bookmarks! It’s standard, everyone does it!”
At the same time… I recognize the importance of “inviting” people and allowing them to transition into a product and not be innundated by new/foreign concepts and interfaces…. but the point is, lets just not knee-jerk one way or the other. Lets allow for innovation and risk when it comes to UI.
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I personally use many of the one-key shortcuts. I would not be opposed to having them disabled by default, as long as it were simple to re-enable them. When I make a new installation of Opera, there is a series of customizations that I usually make. What’s one more?
Anyway, I can’t wait for the next version!