Lightview 2

at 23:00 on 21 February 2008, Scott wrote:

Nice work, great effects... but why do all "Lightbox" javascript developers continuously forget that 99% of users click the browser's "Back Button", therefore returning them to the page visited before the lightbox code was implemented?

at 00:33 on 22 February 2008, Nick wrote:

@Scott: 99%? The people you've asked must have impaired vision. Did you noticed there is a close button?

If the new content was opened in a new window, then yes, users would go for the back button. But for something that is considered a modal window this is not the case. Almost every users out there, except those who are not familiar with Operating systems, will look for a close button, as they expect such a thing on a modal window.

at 05:08 on 22 February 2008, Scott wrote:

I was merely making a point of how often users click the Back button and how "Lightbox" scripts don't cater for this - whether users see the close button or not.

In my experience, I find that the majority of internet users:

- do not have our level of web experience,

- have no idea what a "modal window" is,

- assume that clicking on a link takes them to a new page, and

- overlook the close button because using the back button is ingrained in their browsing habits and they want to return to the previous view.

It's not an attack on your script (which I recall mentioning was great) - it is merely an observation of a possible way of improving it.

at 14:42 on 22 February 2008, Nick Stakenburg wrote:

Users might not not know what the term "modal window" means, but they are certainly familiar with it.

Most users expect modal window behaviour from a lightbox, because it is almost os-window/tooltip like. The transparent overlay, showing the actual page underneath, adds to this. It shows the user that he has not left the website and therefore has no reason to click the back button.

This is the reason that no lightbox overwrites default back-button behaviour, it would present users with unexpected results.

Thanks for the feedback.

at 08:17 on 23 February 2008, David Blanchet wrote:

this is why you should not promote your own stuff here like the rules say ;)

at 12:51 on 25 February 2008, Ashfield wrote:

for all those people who think they have any idea what their users do I suggest they read the book "dont make me think" ;)

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