Visibility

   One of the major principles of interface design success begins with making things visible. There is an age-old phrase “out of sight, out of mind” and this perfectly illustrates the concept that you don't think about something when you can’t see it.

   Whether it is the two month old potato chip dip in that mysterious back corner of your refrigerator or an important hyperlink on a web page, visibility is essential towards informing the individual of possible actions, opportunities and consequences.

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 Case Study 1: Amazon keeps you informed
   Amazon does a great job of letting you know where you are on the website. In the picture to the right it is clear that you are in the international section under the main welcome area.

Norman would say: Things are visible. This type of visibility helps users create a mental map of the site layout and eliminates overal confusion. The possible actions are visible, if ther user forgets them the links serve as a reminder. Systems are more usable when they clearly indicate their status, the possible actions that can be performed, and the consequences of the actions once performed.