We do!

 

I know that. I was responding to vololiberista-'s post.

From a UI designers perspective, I would suggest a few improvements. The 2-column approach of the news is confusing for the user because they eyes have to wander not only up and down, but left and right, which makes it very hard to follow for the average user that reads top to bottom. If a newspaper approach is desired, then the full width should be used. The content on the site now has only approx. only 50% of the available width, which is way too little. The headlines should also stick out more, but can't, because they are a lighter color on a white background. There are too many pictures and adverts (visual distraction) in either side column. Some blocks are duplicated in functionality, like the search function and the main header doesn't provide the user any info instead of an empty blue bar and a lower darker blue section where the AVSIM logo doesn't blend in at all. The categories block should be moved closer to the top - the ads can be blocks between news articles and maybe be on on sidebar, but not both. Imagine a newspaper where all the content is surrounded by ads - the user will automatically blend out the areas on the side, which is not good to steer the users inadvertently attention to the ads.

 

Lastly, on an iPad the layout is displayed poorly and doesn't resemble the look and feel of the "full browser" version and is very confusing to navigate.

 

Hope this helps,

Kind regards,

Pat

Logging in is a nightmare. My old password is suddenly "not recognised".

++1 Ditto

I just find that the pages are WAY to slow loading. So slow that I usually go to another site and not visiting Avsim at all. Used to be my first choice.

From the front end or the back it’s got capacity, and is malleable in ways that were not available to Staff previously, far more participation is possible, and is happening 24/7 because of these features.

 

There had been no means of Avsims Staff or readership of accessing the front page to deliver content or feedback, the front page was not integrated with the forum and the forums UI in any way, all additions to the front page were done by a very small team and needed to use HTML code to function, a fairly convoluted process that could be derailed with a missing " or space in the wrong place.

 

Now all members and staff can contribute, any forum post has the potential to become “News " , images and fuller details in any front page article can be included because the front page is able to format the presentation automatically, that allows more people to add content without a working knowledge of HTML.

 

Where we are now is from my standpoint a fun place to be for a number of reasons, far more contributors can participate and as we are all learning what the system can do the process is ongoing, each day something new will be available to investigate and that is a good place to be, moving along, learning and doing at the same time keeps this old dog perky as a puppy.

 

I must admit I was initially unimpressed with the new layout ....... but after a few days. I've found it loads faster and is easier to navigate.

 

So my initial pondering thumb, becomes an unambiguous; thumbs up!

Good for you Pat. My thoughts exactly. The old single column linear style suited me much better. You could view the new files in a linear manner and either choose to read the rest, or not. Bob.