It was a few months ago when I first saw continuous scrolling template on Yahoo’s UI Design patterns library. It is also called infinite scrolling or infinite page, but no matter how fancy the name they try, the rating on the library alone was explaining what a user-enemy navigation method it is. At that moment, page gave me an instant feeling like a random guy posted a page without inner sense and taste because; that behaviour was absolutely not expected and against common user experience practices. Unfortunately I was wrong! A few weeks ago, I came across a Live Search feature showcase on Channel 9 discusses the new infinite scrolling on the image search. Wow! Totally without prejudice, was curious and wanted to experience. (Comforting me with an in-mind quote: Anyways, who’s using Live Search? Give the guys freedom to try things.)
I searched “Jef Raskin”. A set contains more than 40 pictures I suppose. Therefore, initial scene was very crowded already and before I hit the bottom another 40ish loaded. Everything was starting to be a little bit confusing and page was looking messy. There were no layers or separators between and it was making it harder to scroll back to an image I previously favoured. After 5-6 loads, it became impossible to navigate between older images and the newly loaded sets. As an advantage, human brain is more sensitive to image data. Hashtags are using the same approach and in free form text, it is absolutely more scary.
Additionally, how am I going to navigate friends to the right page, what about sharing?
Me: Hey, look, your old pictures are popping out on a totally irreverent topic. Type in [phrase here], scroll down 3 times, then scroll up approximately 200 pixels, stop, no sorry, scroll down a little bit, scan the heap. There you are. (Instead of sending 4th page’s link.)
My friend: Okeeeeeyyyyyyy.
Finally I’m coming to the point. It doesn’t mean you have to mess up like this, if there is nothing new you can find to improve user experience in navigation. I have seen 4-5 other examples lately, is this becoming the new trend? NO!! I want the good old paging back :’) What’s your feedback?
Edit: I saw the 8px font above informs you about the range, what a tricky improvement, huh? Plus, images stopped to come after hitting 1000. Did the guys think nobody can scroll down that much insistently?
Burcu Dogan 