PayPal and Human-Computer Interaction

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Standards of HCI
Recommendations
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Paypal is one of the largest, most profitable, and most prominent electronic wallet/online payment systems. It operates largely online, allowing people all over the world to connect their finances together for leisure, business, and family matters. Big, medium, and small organizations alike have embraced the use of PayPal as a trusted payment method, expanding their client base and becoming more flexible. One of the strong points of the PayPal brand is its capacity to use visual design in the process of creating new users. For the purposes of this work, some of the principles behind PayPals visual design will be discussed. The process covers the websites design, focus, approach to working with clients, and accessibility.

Standards of HCI

Visual Quality

Visually, the paypal.com website is considerably simplistic. It follows the first of the golden rules of HCI a drive for consistency. All of the text on the page uses uniform fonts and colors, and the color scheme of the brand is complemented and supported on various tabs. The design of the page changes depending on whether one has logged in to their account shaping the user experience depending on their past experience with the service. The ability of the Paypal website to transform answers to the need to enable universal utility. Those who are not clients of Paypal are greeted by big, bold banners of intent, translating the main goals of the service and its benefits to the consumer (Digital Wallets, Money Management, and More, n.d.). If a user scrolls down, they will be able to see a representation of the usual PayPal interface and be walked through the process of engaging with it step-by-step. In addition, the upper part of the page contains a ribbon shortcuts to other parts of the website are placed there, allowing various types of users to find what they need.

For existing users, the Paypal interface is much more robust. An individuals account is represented with a series of menus and utility ribbons, each of which opens up specific sections of the website (User interface bug: Wrong amount displayed as on hold, 2019). Transitioning between them gives an individual the ability to change settings, process payments, check their balance, and many other things. All of the buttons and menus present on the screen at one time use a large font and do not overload the viewer with information. This helps minimize the short-term memory load of the viewer. Speaking from a purely visual standpoint, the website is simplistic. It uses a two-color design, dominated by white and dark blue.

Functionality and Ease of Use

For an average user, PayPal is simple to navigate and straightforward. The main functionality of the website transferring money and making payments, is accessible from the upper menu. The user does not need to make more than a few clicks to reach any potential destination. All of the existing convenience options, coupled with the additional support menu, exist to give users access to basic important functionality quickly. At any point a user can come back to a previous page or reverse their actions, encouraging exploration and increasing trust in the website. Similarly, only options that are available for use, such as send/receive money are open to the end user. Any pathways to making errors are closed off, notifying the user that they cannot perform a certain operation. The naming conventions make it easier to understand where one needs to look to find what they need. For example, if one wanted to check their transaction history, they could examine the upper corner of the website, and find both the summary and activity tabs to be fit for their need. In this case, both of these options would also be correct, as they display some amount of information about payments.

Social, Cognitive, and Environmental Factors

Paypal is an international service, therefore, it works in multiple languages and in different parts of the world. Therefore, it is possible for people of different cultural backgrounds to use it. Much of the functionality the site presents comes at an intersection of personal finance and digital platforms, which can come with a steep learning curve. An individual may not understand how to add a payment method or issue a refund.

Accessibility

While the company is committed to promoting accessibility, the core parts of its website may be difficult for some people to work within. A commitment to accessibility can be seen on the organizations webpage, but not within the service itself (Accessibility statement, n.d.). The white color scheme and smaller text are a problem for people with impaired vision, and the option to change the sites visual composition is absent.

Recommendations

Implementing Changes

Paypal needs to make changes that would allow its userbase to more smoothly integrate within the applications ecosystem. This includes making the design more flexible and allowing for a certain level of customization or accessibility changes. As of now, the color scheme and placement conventions Paypal follows may create difficulty for some people. In addition, it is also not fully consistent throughout the website, using different types of vertical and horizontal design, and closing off sections that are open in different parts of the site, among other things. It is necessary to create a more uniform interface. In addition, it may be necessary to follow the 4th rule of interface design and offer users more feedback. Actions on a page must have consequences, and those who make them must be aware of what they are doing, especially in conversations concerning finance. Because of this, the organization must commit to focusing on the user experience and building a stronger connection with its user base.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PayPal is a successful and ambitious organization, working to make digital wallets a simple and accessible tool for the majority. The work of the organization has been able to incorporate digital payments into the regular landscape of today and secure the brand with many customers. Both individuals and entire businesses choose PayPal as their partner of choice. Visually and practically, the website of the company fulfills its purpose, delivering value to the consumer and directly providing access to money-transferring services. However, it lacks in accessibility and modification capacities a better website would have.

References

Accessibility statement. (n.d.). Digital Wallets, Money Management, and More | PayPal US. Web.

(n.d.). Digital Wallets, Money Management, and More. Web.

User interface bug: Wrong amount displayed as on hold. (2019). PayPal Community PayPal Community. Web.

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