A Different Opinion of a Blog!

Originally a Blog, short for Weblog, was to "log the web", giving links and commentaries about them. On some sites, it has evolved into a diary kept online, a sort of running commentary on life. In early 1999 the first "weblogs" became popular. Weblogs provided a series of annotated links to items such as news stories, and often included personal rants. They were maintained by one person, most commonly someone who was involved in Web design or some other tech-related field. Weblogs are usually updated on a daily basis and always reflect the style and attitude of the author. In 2004 "Weblogs" or "blogs" as they are better known became a "hot item". Business week April 27 2005 did a cover story on Blogs and in June 2005 Microsoft announced that RSS (a means of publishing Blogs) would be part of their new operating system; "Longhorn".

As a follow up Catalyst Group Design (www.catalystgroupdesign.com) did a "usability study" of Blogs and concluded "Even assuming mainstream interest, current blog design standards – at least in terms of navigation, nomenclature and taxonomy – are a barrier to consumer acceptance. In fact, the design of most Blogs can incite "net rage" (in the words of one test participant)." Catalyst Group Design July 2005.

A very small test group was selected but based on this sample some tentative conclusions were made:
1) the participants did not recognize the blog as such but thought instead that they were reading a magazine. 2) Most of the elements; e-mail, URL and comment field were recognizable to the reader but they were reluctant to make submissions as they were uncertain if their comments would be published.
2) None of the participants recognized that they could "subscribe" to the blog through RSS feed nor could any of them understand what an RSS feed was.
3) There was confusion as to how to find other related posts and follow the "thread" of the main idea.
4) The participants would frequently "get lost" as to the structure and the direction of blog navigation.
5) All participants commented on a lack of obvious assistance or instruction as to how to use and benefit from the Blog.

In conclusion, the heated interest in Blogs will die down and a blog will become just another form of tradition media presentation. Readers will begin to note they are spending more time with the blog and getting less from it.