|
An invisible link is a hyperlink that is invisible to users except when the mouse cursor is positioned over it. At that time, the visual appearance of the linked area changes, making it obvious to the user that it is a link. Invisible links play a key role in the navigation, and thus in the usability, of LINMO-compatible web sites. Usability refers to the convenience, efficiency, comfort, safety and satisfaction with which a product (e.g., a web site) can be used by a variety of people under various circumstances. Each page in a LINMO-compatible web site contains a single invisible link in the upper left-hand corner, just to the right of the link to the home page, that points to the main index. That link facilitates navigation because of the central role of the main index page in LINMO-compatible sites, including allowing any page on the site to be accessible from any other page with a maximum of two mouse clicks. The link is invisible until the mouse cursor is placed over it in order to avoid visually cluttering the page. This is consistent with the LINMO goal of maximum simplicity of design and the avoidance of unnecessary clutter, just as is the case with typical hard copy (i.e., printed on paper) books. It could be argued that making the link invisible has a negative effect on usability, because some users might not notice it. However, it should also be pointed out that (1) navigation on LINMO-compatible sites is already very easy even for users who might not be aware of this feature, (2) invisibility is a worthy trade-off for avoiding clutter and visual redundancy and (3) many or most users of the site will likely soon discovery and appreciate this feature. The link to the home page at the very upper left of each page is not made invisible because it has a second important role in addition to facilitating navigation. That role is to immediately identify the site to users who have entered it from a link on some external site. This identification is accomplished by using a distinct, descriptive term for the site, such as LINMO in the case of this site. The name should also be a single word and kept as short as possible in order to minimize visual clutter. The term hidden link should not be used in this context. That term is usually used to refer to links which are likewise not obvious but which are designed for such purposes as directing unsuspecting users to commercial web sites in order to increase advertising revenue or to increase ratings of commercial web sites by search engines. Created June 26, 2006. |