New Look for the Forum?

I have a surface pro 4 and have to agree with your critique Julian.  My first impression iis this new look is way too 'busy' for me.  I know it takes time to adjust, but this is definitely harder on the eyes for me.

I have to agree with you but thought I'd give it time.

I'm with you on this Julian, it somehow feels as if the screen is shouting at you.  I guess we just have to give it a try.  Perhaps it might grow on us but I won't hold my breath.

I suspect it will be significantly more headache and eyestrain inducing.  I find this change on a health related site bizarre.

PS looks like a mobile device problem where textarea doesn't wrap.

by coincidence I'm a member of a couple of fora that use PHPBB (NE forum). Mostly full of retirees.

It looks odd to me going back to an old version.

Don't be afraid of an upgrade. The look and feel don't change. More (sensible) functions.

 

I'm sure there are Julian - but at present it is taking me more than twice as long to "do" this forum just waiting for the stuff to load - and the amount I "do", it is VERY  offputting. The old version was slow at times but this is horrendous.

PS you would like "unread posts". All taken care of automatically. "mark all read" still there if feeling lazy.

As opposed to "Notifications" you mean?

In the past I have had terrible problems with notifications by email and found it more reliable to use the side bar Notifications bit. But it has required fr more scrolling over the last couple of months - something other commented about too and now it is far far worse.

OK Julian, I am not afraid of change, how could I be...........born in 1938 and still dealing with change.

BUT, there is sensible change and change for the sake of.........................

If they had bothered to check with the RNIB they would have been given advice on colours and size which works for both sighted and partially sighted people, those with glasses, lenses et al.  They are so willing to help.   We contacted them for our website and they also advised us to put a box where you could enable large print...................it is not rocket science, just common sense. 

Now the one thing we have been asking for repeatedly is an EDIT button...............so simple a request..................

 

After several days of using the new look site I have yet to find any functions that are an improvement, or even a change, over what we had before.  All I can see is a change in the colour scheme to something which leaves me dazzled after a while.  This is not getting better for me.  

Agree Anhaga, Another issue I have is when I click on the link from email the screen bounces up and down on the discussion page. When it settles, the link I want is below my screen so I have to scroll down. The white background, and boucing around is enough to frazzle anyone.

Yes - me too. The scrolling has been bad for a while - it is even worse now.

Is it my imagination or is the background marginally darker now? Needs another tone or five though.

And if they think this is fresh and vibrant - what world do they live in?

Eileen, some of the posts come up with a light blue/grey background. I can't quite figure out why some show that way and others don't. Perhaps it's after they've been read???

I THINK it is the first of a nest is lighter than the responses to it. But don't take that as gospel. I only know I detest it!!!!!!

Interestingly, I had flashing lights and a mild headache last Tuesday. New site?? I can almost count on one hand the number of times this has happened to me. Coincidence?

unfortunately the background hasn't changed. Technically its #F7F7F9. Same as its always been since change. Just that now you know its there it becomes more noticeable (a bit like "getting your eye in" while fossil hunting - its easy once the first one has been seen.

One of the reasons people who make changes to computer systems reckon that "the fuss dies down after a week or so".

But if I don't say its still terrible "they" may never know .....

The background blue in the right panel is darker. Technically #ECEEEF.

I must be the only person on here that really LIKES this new look.  Am I 'odd' or are all of you?😀😀😀

Not being rude - but I suspect to some extent it depends on how much time you spend on it.

You would think that because I'm on here every day and for at least a couple of hours it would grow on me faster - but it doesn't. It is still too bright and uncomfortable to be liked. Plus, this isn't the only forum I use.

The boxes aren't quite the same as the HealthUnlocked forum but the overall colouring is similar and using the two for 4 or 5 hours a day in total is VERY tiring because of the brightness. The HU forum is easier to cope with because I don't HAVE to look at every single post - short posts appear in their entirety in my email notification. If I know I have already seen them while reading another post I can safely not bother going to them. That isn't an option here - and getting to read every single post here is becoming very annoying with the jiggling as you move around the page. 

Sorry Constance - still horrible to use for more than a few minutes.

Does it ever occur to them that the fuss dies down because longer term users like us say stuff it and vote with their feet?

I'm with you on this constance so definitely not odd, but I admit I don't spend hours on the forum

Constance, please tell me what you liike about the new look.  I need something positive to focus on. 

What is it you like about the new look?

Background blue?  I only see white in the side panels and a very soft nearly not there grey in the centre where the posts are.  It's the glare off the sides which is so uncomfortable I think.  Mabe I should rig up little stage curtains on either side!!!

Oh, wait, you must be referring to the box where the notifications are listed?  Yes, I think that may be a bit darker, easier to look at.  

Yes - the degree of colour in the notifications box would be about right elsewhere!

The small brilliant white bar to the left of the notifications bar and the briliant white column taking 1/3 of right hand side of my screen are blinding.

Hi Eileen

Is there anyway that we can convince them to change back. Rith the exception of 1 we all hate it.

They've already said they won't go back to green. No doubt they think they have a good reason but it escapes me! It is slightly better than it was a week ago - but still blinding and very uncomfortable.

I agree it is rather bright but, you'll never guess, it cheers me up!!'😀 (I always was a bit 'odd'.

 I suppose the very light grey elsewhere would have been better.  I don't think many would have disagreed with that.

Constance, I think I understand.  On the other hand I think most of us would have been happier with an updated green, perhaps.  Happened to be looking at another medical site the other day and they had light spring green borders: such a relief compared with what I see here where the borders are white.  If there is a tint it is simply not enough to reduce the glare for me.

Quote (Eileen)  ... "Does it ever occur to them that the fuss dies down because longer term users like us say stuff it and vote with their feet?"

its an interesting model where the content providers (us) are independent of the forum designers (them) modified by the role of consumer (us) and advertisers (the revenue stream). A very fine balance which is easily upset.

It gets worse. The economics of providing custome forum software (this layout is unique to patient) doesn't stack up. So limited functionality and limited support. Much easier with package software that has withstood robust debate and development over a long time.

I've been mentally debating with myself whether all the work arounds I have for navigating this forum are worth the effort. Given the low numbers of posts and posters I suspect many take one look and don't start.

The HealthUnlocked forum has similarities, is the most user-unfriendly thing I have ever come up against but is absolutely humming. And of course that spreads because when they google PMRGCA that is the forum they find. What on earth made Patient choose to go more in their direction is a mystery to me.

Retirement is sometimes very tempting...

You WOULDN'T!!!😏

Retirement!! NO!!!😲

It's selfish I know, but so many would be lost without you.👀

I think it is a lot easier to read for me.  The print seems really clear and as you say, where the posts are is an off white - difficult to define as my screen has gone into night mode now which softens the colours a bit.

Yes, I think after the initial tweaks the main problem I have is with two very white wide borders.  Perhaps this is device dependent?  I'm using my husband's computer at the moment so can't fiddle with the display at all, and I'd say nearly half of the screen altogether is bright white wasted space.

Maybe tomorrow I will try wearing my sunglasses?  Trouble is I didn't bother to get graduated lenses as I wsn't expecting to be using them for reading....

I wouldn't say HealthUnlocked is the most user unfriendly thing ever.  The little yahoo groups which were attempted in Canada and the US were hopeless.

On my computer the entire screen is very light and glaring - a total of nearly a third on either side is empty. But there is barely if any difference between that and the background of the text boxes. Just the light yellow of the most uninteresting info about other groups - I can look for them if I want them - which ALWAYS seems to be there. While finding the notifications box takes a lot of scrolling if I have just read a new post in the middle of a thread.

Eileen

Do you use Firefox, if so Firelux has worked for me, lovely pale coffee colour.

  I tried it in desparation as I just knew the 'changers' would just go their own way and patients do need this site.

Mind I have wondered if it is only this thread that is shouting..................  Maybe we need a co-ordinated attack...........

No, we have never used Firefox as far as I know. The brightness is horrible - but the poor usability is irritating me much more. I dislike HU but it is far easier to use than this has become. I never thought I would say that!!!!!

After using this site for nearly 10 years  (I used to post as mrsK, but had to change it once) I never thought that I would ever stop using it.............without Firefox, I would have.

Be in touch soon............need your Skype..............

Lodger, Patient started a thread for feedback, although I don't know how that is found unless they posted it on all the groups which seems extremely unlikely.  Moreover as of yesterday they'd only replied a couple of times at the beginning so I don't know if it's now just an echo chamber for us or whether they are reading the comments day by day.

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/patient-s-new-look-feedback-604108?page=0#2792952

I've been reporting any posts I think particulalrly relevant for feedback to the moderator. Though I doubt they'll will listen. We are just patients...

Need my dinner - too many typos! 

I told DAvid about the "fresh and vibrant" - he immediately said "Patients don't want "fresh and vibrant", they need and want something that is easy for them to read" 

That's the opinion of a former consultant grade healthcare professional. So there.

Eileen, there is a free program called f.lux which I had on my defunct laptop.  It does reduce blue glare.The firefox program is probably similar, just for that browser, but I think f.lux works on the whole computer.  If I ever get my new computer one of the first things I'll do is see how this site looks with f.lux.  I'm so far behind in my reading now I've no idea how any of the functionality has changed, but then I never used it the way you did.

EileenH, David is correct we have enough challenges we do not need another. Make it simple and easy!