SIGIA-L Mail Archives: Re: SIGIA-L: tabs within tabs
Re: SIGIA-L: tabs within tabs
From: Rebecca Davis (rebeccalynnedavis_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Oct 12 2001 - 11:45:50 EDT
I think Amazon's tabs-within-tabs works except for the first tab called
"Product Info" because the product info is really the section above the
secondary tabs, and the info they're putting in the product info is just a
smaller selection of content on the other tabs (buy it used and reviews).
I think they could do a better job resolving this issue - perhaps just to
get rid of that first Product Info tab altogether, or call it "Summary" and
include snippets from all the tabs - a tally of the review ratings, the
cheapest used price, and perhaps two or three "Similar Products" (though I
think that tab is mislabled too - just because users shopped or bought
certain books when buying/shopping for the featured selection doesn't mean
those items are in any way similar.)
More importantly than any of these issues, however, is whether users feel
lost when navigating in these dual-layered tab scheme. I'm personally fine
with it but I think the physical separation and visual distinction (color,
shape, etc) of the two tab layers helps with that tremendously.
Perhaps another consideration would be whether the secondary tab layer is an
action layer or an information layer. The first tab level is clearly for
information - what section of Amazon you're going to. The second level mixes
the two, with information-type areas like "reviews", "See inside!" etc but
"Buy It Used" is an action.
I have a little trouble with the whole “Buy It Used” architecture because,
as a shopper, I still feel like I should be taking this action from my cart,
not from the product information area. I'd rather have the Buy It Used
section be a popup or something that I navigate to from the list price
itself, since I mentally group pricing together.
I'm not so interested in the act of "buying it used" as I am in negotiating
the listed price. I understand that I can't technically purchase used
products from my cart since the cart is an aggregation of what I'm Amazon is
“directly” selling me, not what other sellers are selling me, but it seems
like there could be a UI solution that makes the process appear more
seamless to the user. An ideal solution wouldn’t break up the interface
based on from whom a user is buying, while retaining the distinction on a
functional level.
I’m glad Christina called this to our attention. I must say that before
she’d pointed it out, in my recent Amazon browsings, I was simply just happy
to see more information all in one easily accessible place. And that was
that.
Rebecca Davis
Interaction Designer, i2 Technologies
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