A set of specific formal tests is devised and conducted with a number of people chosen to reflect the site's cross-section of users. Feedback from these tests and questionnaires is collated and interpreted and the results are incorporated into the design. Design for use. The words surfing and browsing conjure up ideas of leisurely pastimes. In the early days of the Web, people would browse aimlessly, just to see what was out there.
Web users are more goal orientated now.
They have tasks to perform on line, and they want to do them quickly.