Information architecture of mobile phone-side reading products

Information architecture is the communication bridge between product and user cognition, and it is an important standard to evaluate a design product. This article on the mobile phone-side reading products as an example to talk about the information structure of understanding and understanding.

What is an information architecture?

Information architecture is the combination structure that affects system organization, navigation and classification label in information environment, and it is the carrier of information visual expression.

Information architecture affects the availability and accessibility of information. In other words, the core task of information architecture is to establish proper navigation, and to present organized and orderly information to target users for easy access and management.

second, the influence factor of the information architecture of the handset end

Handset-side products have their own characteristics, such as the size of the mobile phone screen limits, the limitations of operating methods, as well as the convenience of mobile phone anytime, and so on. The design of information architecture must conform to the characteristics of mobile phone, play its advantages, do unique design, and not simply for the PC-side web page migration. The information architecture of mobile phone has many influential factors and is in drastic change, but the most profound and stable two factors are user environment and display space.

1. Complex user Environment

A good information architecture is built around the user environment of the product, so it is necessary to have a simple understanding of the various user environments of the mobile phone-side reading products. For comprehensive consideration, the user environment is divided into three parts: User group, media environment and physical environment.

according to the research of some mainstream market research organization, the user group of the handset-side reading product mainly is: 1. White-collar and student; 2. Urban "grassroots"; 3. The high-end crowd of fashion. The device used to access the network is called the media environment, mainly for smartphones. The platform is numerous, the model is complex, the terminal is fragmented characteristic. A touchscreen phone with a large screen is best suited for mobile reading. The location where the user accesses the network is called the physical environment, which determines how the information is accessed. Mobile phone reading products of the physical environment mainly for the bus, queuing and other debris time, in addition to include some leisure time, the main purpose is to pass the time. 2. Limited display space

Compared to the PC side, the display space of mobile screen is undoubtedly the bottleneck of information display. PC-side web pages can carry rich information content and can maintain a good display effect, while the mobile phone display space is extremely valuable. See the comparison diagram:

The user environment and display space mentioned above are the important restricting factors that affect the information architecture of mobile phone-side reading products, which determines the basic characteristics of "narrow and shallow". This almost belongs to all mobile phone end product information architecture commonality. However, what kind of information architecture strategy should be adopted for reading products?

third, mobile phone-side reading product information architecture strategy

Donna Spencer four ways to provide user search information. The user accesses the reading product, it is the process of the typical search information obtaining information, and how to guide the user to reach the target information smoothly and efficiently is the responsibility of the information architecture design. In the dimension of the four kinds of search information of Donna Spencer, the author simply sums up the corresponding information architecture strategy of mobile phone-side reading products.

1, known-item known project

In a known project search, the user

know what they want, how to describe the information they want, and where to start.

To address such requirements, the most typical information architecture strategy is to provide a search box. Users enter a specific keyword, one click to find the information needed. This is known as Project search the quickest way to navigate, the major mobile phone reading site Almost all set up a search box:

2, exploratory exploration

In exploratory information search, users have an understanding of the information they need, but do not know what words to describe it accurately. And users do not know where to start, even if they find a more consistent content, do not know whether the content is sufficient.

In this scenario, the user needs a learning process, which reduces the gap between the inherent cognition and the target information. Therefore, the information architecture design must allow users to try and explore to obtain a general understanding of the overall site. Navigation (navigation) is a typical architectural strategy for addressing this part of the requirement. Because the mobile phone information display space limit, it is difficult to inherit the PC side of the page tab navigation mode. More commonly used in the industry navigation methods are: information plate in the site refining, navigation multi-level settings, the provision of hot frequency links, and so on, as shown in the following figure:

3, Don ' t know what your need to know no specific target

Sometimes users go to the reading site "hang out" in order to pass the boring time of the bus or the trip. They don't know what they need, in other words, it doesn't matter what they read, just find something to do for themselves.

The most typical information architecture strategy to address this need is to provide a list of lists. People have empathy, and the most highly rated films are generally not bad where to go; Similarly, the most-clicked novels are also more exciting. So, without a goal, the list is the best recommended guide for users to read. This list form has been widely used by various reading websites.

4, re-finding return search

Users may return to the Web site to continue their last reading, but remember that the last time you read the 130th or 132th chapter is really hard. Using a mobile browser to add bookmarks can solve the problem, but need frequent operation, quite tired. The architecture strategy can be considered is to provide users with the last reading chapter "Memory" link to reduce the user's operating burden and memory burden, so that users fully feel the product's intelligence and warmth.

Iv. information architecture to be experienced three realms:

To do a good job of mobile phone reading information architecture can not be achieved overnight, product improvement needs a step-by-step, continuous optimization process. Based on the research and personal understanding of related products, the information architecture of mobile-side reading products generally needs to go through three kinds of realms:

First Realm: "Oblique month deep hidden sea fog, Jie Shi Xiaoxiang infinite Road." ”

The organization of information architecture is not clear, the navigation is ambiguous, the classification is not appropriate, which leads to the disorder of information. Getting users into a maze is a difficult search. For example, a user login to a reading site, just enter the page of the first screen is submerged in a large area of advertising, loss of information sense of direction, the next content information in the limited display space hidden too deep, need to point open layer link to reach the body page, plus some title Wenqi full, each step of operation will cause users to think, Such a lengthy operation process is a big taboo for mobile phone web design.

the second realm: "The ape on both sides of the Strait cannot cry, the canoe has been mountains"

The organization of information structure is more clear, navigation is brief and convenient, content classification is at a glance. The user can quickly understand and obtain the target information by the guidance of the organized organization structure. This requires the mobile phone-side reading products navigation narrow and shallow, to achieve the width and depth of the appropriate, complement each other. In addition, the navigation title semantics should have strong exclusivity, not with other headings have semantic overlapping areas, that is, the typical semantics. Thus, the user's operating process can be shortened, thinking time can be reduced.

Third Realm: "Near water to know fish sex, near the mountain to understand birds sound." ”

Search personalization is the future development trend, if applied properly, can obviously improve the mobile phone reading products user experience. For example, automatic recognition of user interest and location of the self-push function, more suitable for mobile phone-side reading products. First, the user's interest in reading is very stable, followed by a limited number of users searching for information in the time of the mobile site and debris, and the need for a more convenient access to information. When users visit the site each time, you can receive a high degree of matching content recommended, the warmth of the confidant can be compared with old friends: