Fifty-three percent said poor display and layout reduce the time users spend search, and 42 percent have difficulties with the classification of information. The survey also shows 57 percent of the users preferred reading from a Chinese Web for information but disliked having to enter English information in a Chinese environment. Richard Ihuel, managing director of Icon Medialab commented on the results, saying Hong Kong Web sites are going through the same learning curve as their European and U.S. counterparts. Otter added the importance of usability is becoming a critical issue, as company Web sites are no longer only an online catalog or brochure, but a platform for transactions. Ihuel said the HCI study is the first of its kind in Asia.
Icon plans to conduct similar research in Singapore and other Asian countries.