Users judge websites in less than blink of an eye

[Martin W]

TORONTO (Reuters) – Internet users can give Web sites a thumbs up or thumbs down in less than the blink of an eye, according to a study by Canadian researchers. In just a brief one-twentieth of a second — less than half the time it takes to blink — people make aesthetic judgments that influence the rest of their experience with an Internet site. The study was published in the latest issue of the Behavior and Information Technology journal. The author said the findings had powerful implications for the field of Web site design. "It really is just a physiological response," Gitte Lindgaard told Reuters on Tuesday. "So Web designers have to make sure they’re not offending users visually. "If the first impression is negative, you’ll probably drive people off."

Internet users judge Web sites in less than a blink

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