Im talking about the mini-slideshow many websites have on their front pages, where the slides change automatically, but the user can navigate by clicking on small circles below the slide.
Problems with this design:
- You are in the middle of reading and the slide auto changes = annoying
- If the user actually uses the circles to check out next slide/previous slide should the script still auto play? Seems to me once the user takes the wheel he should be in control
- No auto playing at all may defeat the purpose of the whole slide thing. Will an indication on when the slide will change make the experience better or make the user feel uncomfortable?
Such a time indicator can be found on sap.com.
So what to do? Auto play slides? Time indicator? No slides at all? Is the idea to stop autoplaying once the user clicks a circle a good idea or are there potential drawbacks?
Pls share your wisdom on this topic.
Answer
I feel your pain! I say just don't use one :)
This article explains why sliders are a bad idea with great details and examples.
Basically:
- Their movement distracts users away from your content
- People glaze over things that look like banners
- They have terrible usability--as you mention, they always seem to move just as you're trying to read something!
More highlights...
Q: "What do we suggest in that place? Carousels are everywhere!"
A: "I suggest replacing it with all the content users are actually coming to the site for that gets pushed down by the carousel."
and
"Rotating banners are absolutely evil and should be removed immediately."
Jakon Nielsen and Luke Wroblweski don't like them, either, apparently.
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