USER TASK
Most of the time when I open Netflix, it’s to watch a movie. I deconstructed this task to have a better understanding of how I use the web page and how it can be modified to better my experience.
When I open the web page, a large banner is spread across the window that is meant to attract new users. Instead of a simple “Sign Up” prompt, users are encouraged to “Start Your Free Month.” I thought this was a smart way to get more people to sign up, as there is no immediate financial commitment. Now, since I already have Netflix, I would click on the “Sign In” button on the top right. It’s a little hidden, but luckily Netflix automatically logs me in.
After logging in, Netflix immediately takes me to a window asking who's watching. I think this feature is beneficial because each family member is able to view personalized suggestions based on their activity. It’s also a good idea to have separate profiles for privacy (no one needs to know how much reality TV I watch.)
The Home Page appears after selecting the profile. This is where I can see my customized suggestions. The majority of the window consists of the “Spotlight” suggestions. Movies and tv-shows featured in this section range from titles trending on Netflix, or similar to things I’ve watched before. It brings a nice brightness and dynamic quality, but the suggestions can seem abstract or irrelevant at times. Not today, Mean Girls.
There is an extensive list of categories on the home page that I can look through as I scroll. There’s a list of titles that I started and can continue watching from where I left off. I can also see titles that are trending on Netflix, as well as suggestions based on what I’ve watched before.
The titles on the Home Page look good, but I want to see all of my options. I can hover over the Browse tab on the top bar of the home page, and look at a comprehensive list of all the genres that Netflix has. Bolded and segregated to the left are “Home”, “My List”, “New Arrivals”, and “Ways to Watch.” These are great links to have, but I’m still overwhelmed by the amount of choice I have.
Maybe I’m in the mood to watch something specific. Netflix has a great search engine that can produce results for several keywords.
A Chick Flick might be fun to watch. And it’s great that Netflix knows what I’m talking about. Netflix can also give me results for Actors and Directors.
And while Netflix has an impressive library of movies and tv-shows, they can’t have everything. So what can I do when my favourite Winona Ryder movie isn’t available? Netflix has a few suggestions.
But now it’s time to make a decision. A good feature that Netflix demonstrates is how easy it is to get a quick look at a title without having to enter a new page. When I hover over a thumbnail, I’m shown a simple overview of the movie or tv show with key information like it’s rating, release date, duration, and reviews received by other users.
I’m not a huge fan of Mark Harmon, I think I’ll keep looking. I’ll return to the search box and see what Netflix has to offer from one of my favourite directors.
The Grand Budapest Hotel, one of my favourites. I think I’ll go with this one. I can view the film by clicking the play button on the thumbnail. This takes me to the viewing window, in which the window space is utilized entirely to show the picture. When I move my cursor, I’m shown basic controls that let me pause and play the movie, as well as control the sound and subtitles. I can also click the back arrow button to return to the browsing page.
I'm taken to the viewing window, in which the window space is utilized entirely to show the picture. When I move my cursor, I’m shown basic controls that let me pause and play the movie, as well as control the sound and subtitles. I can also click the back arrow button to return to the browsing page.
When I pause the film, A simple overview of the movie is shown. This is nice, but doesn’t seem necessary. And if I’m trying to look at a still frame, it can be disruptive.
A nice feature when trying to skip through the movie or see what’s ahead is a small thumbnail that appears. This pops up when I hover my cursor over the time bar. It’s a feature that I enjoy, but it can block the view of the picture.
It’s a good movie, but I have work to do so I’ll pause it for now. Something that I found slightly frustrating is the fact that I can’t pause the film by clicking on the picture. I have to navigate my cursor to the pause button.
So I go and do my own thing, but of course I’m back on Netflix in no time. Luckily I’m reminded of what I was watching before as soon as I log onto my home page.
When I continue playing, the movie starts a few seconds before when I left off. This is a great way to provide me with a quick recap of what was happening so I’m caught up by the time the movie reaches the time point in which I paused it.
So, I finish the movie. When the credits start rolling, the picture shrinks into the corner and offers me the option to rate it. Another title appears as a suggestion of something to watch next. The suggestion, however, isn’t very similar to what I just watched. Maybe I’ll pass this time, but the feature’s got potential.