In the background, we’re working on upgrading the forum (new version + new styling to more closely match the upgraded main website) and I’d like to invite anyone interested to take a look and let me know what criticisms you may have of the styling, layout, etc?
I’m going to make a white-background version as well, and considering activating it for all existing users by default, but wanted to get people’s feel for the cream colored background first.
PS. One thing I’m excited to add is the ability to edit your audiogram without leaving the forum. We’re also going to simplify the sign up / login process so you do that all within the forum. Unfortunately, when we flip the switch, we’ll have to ask you all to reset your passwords as we can’t migrate your encrypted passwords from the other server.
Looks good! I do have some thoughts regarding the double nav bar though each of them has a logo and its own CTA button (Compare Hearing Aids & Log In) could be confusing to some.
Other than that all is good, even the faded white background hopefully that can included as a theme or something.
Yes, 100% agree about the double nav bar / logo / menu icon. As it turns out there really aren’t too many places where you can put custom links in the forum platform we use, and we need some way for people to get to our main site, mainly so Google sees the linkage between the two sites (subdomains are treated as separate websites). My preference would be to simply place links in the forum’s dropdown menu, but unfortunately Google cannot see those for web crawling purposes. I might possibly ditch the top nav and replace with only a footer, but one drawback to that is the footer never renders on the home page due to infinite scroll, and this is quite possibly the most important place for a nav bar. The other thing about the nav bar is it ties the two sites together visually. Anyway, well done spotting this issue. It’s been very frustrating trying to find a solution these last few days.
TBH I’m a seasoned internet forum user and I find the original forum very confusing to navigate. I don’t know where I am a lot of the time and feel I must be missing something. I think you should take this opportunity to do some user testing,
The newer design is great! However I recommend easier possibility to enter audiograms, maybe by request of entering treshold during registration? Another idea is placing “My audiogram” button on the top (over the “Message” button:
possibility to inserting WRS with CI using (left, right ear separately and binaural with possibility to informing is it bimodal or with “standalone ear”)
possibility to optionally inserting another tests results (QuickSIN, AzBio, etc.) with appearing explanation of their definition e.g. in hyperlink or sliding over their names.
Appreciate the efforts but already used to the site as it is and found my way through. So for me it is good enough as it is and more confusing as it’ll change (aged 70+).
In addition maybe it could be interesting if one could add bone conduction in the audiogram too.
Looks the same I guess that’s good. Can’t go into too much detail due to not being logged in. Did anyone run the look and feel past visually impaired people? Color contrasts can be a challenge for some of them. There might be some correlation between hearing impaired and visually impaired hint: has to do with number of spins around the sun.
I like the larger bolder text. Not sure about the lighter grey when read. Same with this version.
As with this version, does there need to be such a gap between thread lists?
Maybe the logos could be placed side by side? For example, the forum logo could be slightly smaller and positioned next to the HearingTracker main logo?
I think you might have a color problem on your monitor
We’ll provide easy instructions to change your theme to white bg. The contrast is definitely a consideration for many…
Upgrading the forum won’t change it drastically as it’s the same underlying forum system. We do need to upgrade it from time to time to stay current with security best practices as the threats / exploits are ever evolving.
There is actually a “compact” theme or something for this version of the forum. Remind me to recreate that in the new theme. I’ll also eventually make a dark theme.
I really like this new version of the forum, even the color, it’s relaxing.
One thing I really appreciated, the possibility of being able to see the audiogram of another user without having to switch from the automatic translation of google to the original language of the forum.
Sometimes some buttons don’t work, like replying to a discussion, but I think you already know that
The new password email might have a problem. Or it was done that way intentionally. The link text of the link goes to hearingtracker but the href link goes to some .it domain name. My email client then gave me a choice of either. I chose hearingtracker. I still got to the new password page and did that and I’m logged in now.
Same here, I use some kind of tracking links blocker and I got the prompt shown in the screenshot below. I don’t get that often from email links even though it is quite standard-y nowadays for emails to track clicks but this particular .it domain was not allowed.
I guess that’s good. Can’t go into too much detail due to not being logged in. Did anyone run the look and feel past visually impaired people? Color contrasts can be a challenge for some of them. There might be some correlation between hearing impaired and visually impaired 
