NCI Announces New Web Design and Usability Web Site

National Cancer Institute
Wednesday, 13 December 2000

In an effort to substantially improve the usefulness and accessibility of federal government health information on the World Wide Web, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched a new Web site called Usability.gov (http://usability.gov) . The site will serve primarily as an online resource for those involved in Web site design and management at NCI, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies. However, anyone wishing to access the latest news, research-based guidelines, and methods on how to design and test the usability of Web sites is welcome to visit the site.

"This is the first time the entire Web design and usability package is presented on a single government site," said Susan Sieber, Ph.D., director of Communications at NCI. "While the site is specifically designed to help NCI staff improve the way we present cancer-related information to the American public and cancer researchers, we're enthusiastic about also helping others improve the way they communicate through the Web."

With more patients, researchers, and health care professionals seeking information online, it is critical that government Web sites be highly intuitive, easy-to-use and accessible, according to Sieber. Research has shown that nearly 60 percent of users can't find the information they are looking for even though they are viewing a site where the information exists. "When patients or family members are looking for health information online, they can't afford to waste precious time sifting through a poorly designed Web site," Sieber said. "Usability.gov offers Web site designers the information and tools they need to help ensure that users find information quickly and easily."

The Usability.gov site represents an A to Z guide to building a more effective Web site through usability engineering. Usability engineering is a discipline that involves several steps, including collecting data on users' needs and technical capabilities/constraints, developing and iteratively testing prototypes, evaluating design alternatives, and measuring success. Among the many features of Usability.gov are methods and strategies for designing usable Web sites, usability guidelines, accessibility information, and links to other usability resources.

Leading the development and management of Usability.gov is NCI's Web Design and Usability Branch (WDUB). The branch was established within the Office of Communications earlier this year to help the NCI improve the effectiveness of its Web sites and other communication technologies. "Our goal was to provide NCI with tools to develop more intuitive and responsive information products for cancer patients and health care professionals," said Janice Nall, WDUB chief. "Designers and Web site managers are now just one click away from a wealth of resources to help them create better and more efficient Web sites."

For more information, or to contact National Cancer Institute, see their website at: www.cancer.gov