When we’re designing interfaces for browsing data-driven sites, it’s valuable to be able to create navigation elements that are also visualization tools. We can keep the user informed as they explore, so they can make better decisions about what they’re looking at and what they’re clicking on.
Example of a library using Pinterest for book lists. Very visually appealing. They linked the cover images to the catalog in some cases although it's inconsistent.
This is not a ground-breaking site but there are a handful of things they're doing well that demonstrate how much simpler/better our design could be:
1. It's a visually interesting and attractive site without resorting to images sprinkled randomly throughout content. Each images has a home and a purpose. (We've got to move away from treating the web like a print layout where we allow our content folks to intersperse text with images)
2. The text on pages is structured well and utilizes nicely-styled headings and bulleted lists to make it easy to scan/digest lots of content.
I also like how the B/W Feature images on the homepage become full color on hover. A nice touch. Also, nice use of white space to avoid overwhelming.
Super cool visual look at book vending machines since their creation in 1937, including one at a modern library that dispenses books on the swipe of a valid library card.
An inspiring use of graphic repetition. Some of my bookmarks may not immediately "make sense" as to their significance. The design process though, is not a logical one; and inspiration passes through our own filters.
Another issue with AJAX is how the application interface is updated. When updates to the interface occur, it may not be visually apparent that a change has occurred. The problem is even more troublesome for screen reader users. Screen readers typically read in a linear fashion. When changes happen in the interface, the screen reader user may not be aware of the change and the new content will likely not be read.
In short, to allow dynamic interface changes to be accessible, the application must alert the user that a change has occurred, allow direct access to the new content, and then allow continued functionality of the web application. This process, while difficult to achieve, especially for screen reader users, is possible to achieve in many AJAX applications.