New Look for the Forum?

Posted , 12 users are following.

A little off topic, but.....Does the Patient Forum have a new look or is my computer freaking out?

0 likes, 57 replies

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  • Posted

    Thanks to everyone who's provided feedback on the new design so far and we ask for you to bear with us while we figure out some teething issues with the new look.

    We've looked over the points that you've raised and agree there are areas we can improve the look and feel of the forums.

    We're currently compiling a list of changes based on your feedback and will try to get fixes out as soon as possible.

    Currently the main complaints appear to be;

    * The indentation of replies - particularly on mobile

    * The colours are too much

    * The forums in general is too bright

    We've created a thread in General to compile feedback in one place, so if you have any other feedback, please leave it for us here: https://patient.info/forums/discuss/patient-s-new-look-feedback-604108

  • Posted

    its a new look.

    I usually give such changes a few days while I get used to them before commenting if I feel necessary.

    So far struggling. I use a small 6 year old netbook with limited screen size and contrast with mouse/keyboard. I'm struggling to distinguish the two levels of posts. The cues I use when scrolling (and I have to scroll a lot) have moved or are lost. The important bits of text overwhelmed by oversize overcoloured buttons. Things like the name of the poster and when posted have shrunk and are (for me) lost in the noise.

    I already find myself reluctant to look at topics with more than about 20 posts. So far I see cosmetic change that's added to my reluctance...

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

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

    • Posted

      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.

  • Posted

    No. You are correct. I thought like you then realised it is new.
  • Posted

    I, too, find it very hard on the eyes and am using a computer I can't dim the screen brightness on as it's not mine.  Also, have they changed the way the posts show up or am I imagining it - that it's all one long incomprehensible stream now, sorted chronologically, but not logically?  Makes Health Unlocked look a whole lot better now!

  • Posted

    Hi Jean, Like you I thought my computer had been 'got at' so it is reassuring that we are all having the same thought.  Maybe it will be clearer to look at when we are working late into the night.

    • Posted

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

    jean39702, they gave us a new forum

    the format is terrible on a cellphone

    which is what I use and no better

    on my tablet. I do not know what they

    are doing. Not HAPPY NOW!

    They broke it!

  • Posted

    I see also that we now have a line break problem with textareas (where we type to post). There are extra spaces between lines in some posts since the change. Not seen previously.
    • Posted

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

  • Posted

    No Jean - not you. Them. Isn't it hideous? It cluncks and grinds and is unbelievably slow for me. I have to see the bright garish enormous buttons for far too long before the important stuff I want is loaded. 

    It isn't a single long stream - if you look there is a stupid blue line down the left side. The rest of an internal nest (r whatever they call it) has a second blue line joining the replies. A second outside line starts with the next internal nest.

    I've fought with the HealthUnlocked format for the last 4 years and hated it the entire time. This is similar but even worse. I don't need to see the buttons n oversize - doesn't make it any easier to use. I don't need to see a generic avatar - I want to see the NAME of the poster and the person to whom they are replying. These have been minimised. What does that tell me about the site? The USERS are not important. Like Julian I'm having to scroll a LOT - it is taking me double the time (at least) to check each post. And with 30 or more a day - that is a lot of my time down the drain.

    If anyone wants a sane, logical conversation - come over to the NE forum where we fought tooth and nail to keep it the same for the benefit of the (often) elderly patients with poorer vision. After all - this is for GCA patients.

    I realise other forums here have younger users - but a medical forum by definition will have a majority of older and less able users. It would have been nice if they had trialled this with the sort of people who use the forum a lot. You know - like us...

    • Posted

      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.

       

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

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

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

      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..................

       

    • Posted

      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.  sad
    • Posted

      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.
    • Posted

      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?

    • Posted

      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???

    • Posted

      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!!!!!!

    • Posted

      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?
    • Posted

      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 ..... smile

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

    • Posted

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

    • Posted

      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?

    • Posted

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

    • Posted

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

      What is it you like about the new look?
    • Posted

      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!!!twisted

    • Posted

      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.  
    • Posted

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

      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.
    • Posted

      Hi Eileen

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

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

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

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

    • Posted

      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.eek
    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

      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...

    • Posted

      Retirement!! NO!!!😲

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

    • Posted

      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.
    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

      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....

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

      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.
    • Posted

      Eileen

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

      rolleyes  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..................question  Maybe we need a co-ordinated attack...........winkwink

    • Posted

      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!!!!!
    • Posted

      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..............

    • Posted

      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...

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

      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.

    • Posted

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

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