20 November, 2016

COMPARISON OF
USABILITY
OF IMAGE HOSTING WEBSITES
An analysis of Imgur and Tinypic by [redacted]

ENGL317 Technical Writing | University of Idaho

Table of Contents
Title page......................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
Methods........................................................................................................................................4
Equipment and Environment...........................................................................................4
Tasks................................................................................................................................4
Test Metrics......................................................................................................................5
Evaluation........................................................................................................................5
Results..........................................................................................................................................6
Task 1...............................................................................................................................6
Task 2...............................................................................................................................8
Task 3...............................................................................................................................9
Task 4...............................................................................................................................10
Task 5...............................................................................................................................12
Task 6...............................................................................................................................13
Task 7...............................................................................................................................14
Task 8...............................................................................................................................16
Task 9...............................................................................................................................18
Task 10.............................................................................................................................19
Conclusion and Recommendation...............................................................................................21
Bibliography................................................................................................................................22
Appendix......................................................................................................................................23
Raw data from tasks.........................................................................................................23
Numerical summary of data.............................................................................................33

Introduction
This document analyzes the usability of two image hosting and sharing websites:
imgur.com and tinypic.com. Image sharing websites are popular choices for people of all ages
and from all areas of life, and thus should be simple enough that even the most inexperienced
users can use them. The tests performed on the two sites mentioned, and documented here, aim
to describe and evaluate the basic usability of each. Tests for usability of these sites should
demonstrate ease of use, usefulness of functions, and consistent performance. Following
extensive evaluation, this document concludes with a recommendation of which to used based on
how well they satisfied the test metrics.
Image hosting sites are important because they give users convenience. When sharing
image links, it is much better to have a short link (<~60 characters) than a long (>150),
convoluted link that disrupts the flow of an email or text post. They allow users to collect all of
their photos in one place online specifically made for keeping track of pictures, instead of having
them spread out across various online media. Finally, image hosting sites allow their users to
access photos uploaded by different users, which means that an image the first user may want to
use just one time will not clog up their own folders (on their device or on their website account)
with irrelevant images or files.

Methods
Equipment and Environment
The equipment used was a desktop running Windows 7 using the Google Chrome
Internet browser without AdBlock. Because most users of image-sharing sites do so in social
settings, whether at home or in public workspaces, the tests were conducted in a library with a
quiet buzz of noise.
Tasks
Ten tasks were designed to test the usability of imgur.com and tinypic.com. The tasks
evaluated were:
1. Uploading an image
2. Sharing a direct image link
3. Searching for relevant images using keywords
4. Embedding an image
5. Viewing public images according to category
6. Interacting with other users on images within the host site
7. Saving uploaded images to an account
8. Grouping similar images into albums
9. Saving public images to an account
10. Converting the filetype of an image (.jpg, .png, .gif, etc.)

Test Metrics
Five metrics were used to evaluate each task. The metrics used were:
1. Effective: I was able to complete the task.
2. Efficient: I was able to do the task using few clicks.
3. Engaging: The appearance of the website was appealing and helped to complete the task.

4. Error-tolerant: Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly disrupt the
task.
5. Easy to learn: The task was easy to learn how to do.

Evaluation: Likert Scale

To quantitatively evaluate how each task fulfilled each metric, a Likert scale was used. A
Likert scale uses numerical values to represent how strongly a participant agrees or disagrees
with a test metric statement. The scale used for scoring is below.
1
Strongly

2
Somewhat

3
Neither agree

4
Somewhat

5
Strongly

disagree

disagree

nor disagree

agree

agree

Results
Task 1: Uploading an image
This task is the most basic feature of an image-hosting site: the ability to upload an image
through various means.
Imgur: Imgur provides a bright green button at the top of the screen to allow uploading.
The homepage is shown below. Users unfamiliar with Internet websites may be confused at
seeing New post when they are looking for an Upload button, but otherwise the layout is
fairly intuitive.
Clicking the New
post button leads to
the screen shown at
the bottom of this
page. You can paste
an image copied to your clipboard, drag and drop an image, paste a direct link to an image, or
browse your computer for image files. The options along the bottom row are geared towards
image creation, rather than uploading, and were disregarded. Regardless of the way an image is
selected, the browser immediately redirects to a new screen displaying the image uploaded,
alongside several menus with links for
sharing the image. Images can be uploaded
in as few as two clicks: one to open the
upload screen, and one to paste in an image
or link.

Tinypic: Tinypics home page, displayed below, immediately shows universallyrecognizable options for image uploading. The website design is not overly showy and contains
disruptive ads, but the initial upload is straightforward. Images can be uploaded by browsing
your computer image files or by pasting a direct image link, if the Url box is ticked. The
UPLOAD NOW! button clearly indicates the next step to the most inexperienced of users.
Before viewing the upload, an advertisement captcha had to be passed, and a pop-up
advertisement window blocked the screen. While these are not strictly features of the website,
they certainly added to the effective number of clicks it took to upload. Once uploaded, the
screen displays several different sharing links alongside the image thumbnail, with an option to
view the full-size image, as seen in the bottom right corner of this page.

Task 2: Sharing a direct image link

This task evaluates how readily an uploaded image can be shared. Image hosting
websites should be designed to allow users to share the image across many platforms.
Imgur: Imgur immediately displays a host-site image link after uploading. There is a
labeled option to display an embedding link. In order to find direct or BBCode links, the mouse
must be moved over the image to highlight a drop-down arrow, and then option Get share links
must be selected. Alternatively, the image can be right-clicked to use the copy image address
or copy image options as with any normal image online. Both the host-site and direct image
link lead to the full-size image.
Tinypic: Tinypic provides four separate image links upon uploading an image. In my
tests, the image links did not consistently work. Direct (.jpg) links and host-site links both
redirected to a blank page that only displayed the four original image links about 90% of the
time. If the image was used somewhere online, such as pasting the BBCode link into a thirdparty forum, then the direct and host-site links correctly showed the image about 85% of the
time. This was tested using six different images on three different devices, all with similar
results, with no apparent support solution. When the links worked, they worked perfectly, which
is how the site should work.

Task 3: Searching for relevant images using keywords

Searching pre-uploaded images is an important feature of an image hosting website. It
allows users to find photos for specific uses from a more narrow, user-defined pool than from a
query on a major search engine.
Imgur: Imgurs search bar is at the top of the screen. Clicking the magnifying glass
brings up a short menu of commands to help narrow the search down, if desired, as seen in the
following screenshot. Default searching brings up public images and image albums that contain
the terms searched for, that can be organized by time or popularity among users. As you type,
the site suggests tags and users that fit the search term that can be clicked on. Images displayed
as results can be previewed by rolling the mouse over them. Clicking on any image brings up
the public post, and the image
can be linked to like any upload.

Tinypic: Tinypics search bar is displayed along the top right of the screen like a typical
website search bar. Search terms can be typed in the text box and searched. The results consist
of any image tagged with the exact search terms. The images are displayed as thumbnails that
can be clicked to bring up the full image with the four image links mentioned in Task 2. The
results are organized by time of upload.

Task 4: Embedding an image

Embedding images is a requirement for website-building and webpage structuring.
While it is less useful to casual users, it is a necessary feature for anyone using an image hosting
website for professional purposes.
Imgur: Imgur shows an option to copy an embed link while viewing the uploaded image
(Embed post on the right-hand side of the screenshot). When used, the embedded image
displays a source and links back to the original image, which makes it very useful for discreetly
citing an image on a third-party website. The screenshot here shows the post-upload screen, with
associated options minus the drop-down arrow from panning over the image.

10

Tinypic: Tinypic displays an embed link as one of its four main options. The embed
displays the raw image and links back to the source. The screenshot here displays the postupload screen with the associated link options.

11

Task 5: Viewing public images according to category

Along with viewing their own images, a user may prefer to look at pre-uploaded images
according to a general category. This is useful when a user is trying to find a certain type of
image, but is not sure exactly what they want.
Imgur: Imgurs home page is led by the text The Most Viral images on the Internet,
sorted by popularity followed by a grid display of popular images, as seen in Task 1. Either set
of underlined text can be clicked on, and is prompted by a pulsing green arrow. Clicking on the
first text displays a drop-down menu of many broad categories, which lead to relevant posts.
Clicking on the second allows you to sort either by user-determined popularity or time uploaded.
Alternatively, clicking on the small clock icon as seen in the screenshot in Task 1 allows the user
to select any date and view popular images from that day.
Tinypic: Community images can be accessed on Tinypic by clicking either the Images
or Categories tab on the home page toolbar, as seen in Task 1. Selecting Categories displays a
page with a featured category at the top, followed by a series of Top categories. Within each
major category, a series of subcategories are displayed. Clicking on a major category opens a
screen containing previews of each subcategory, and clicking on a subcategory displays a grid of
images within that category. Alternatively, the user can click on a subcategory on the Top
categories page and skip directly to the grid display.

12

Task 6: Interacting with other users on images within the host site
For any user using their account to store images to share with others (e.g. sharing family
photos), the ability to interact with images on the host website is valuable and convenient. It is
also useful for finding out information on a given image from other users.
Imgur: Images can only be interacted with on-site and with an account. Account creation
was a matter of choosing a username and password, giving an email, and passing a brief captcha.
Account users can comment, with a 140-character limit, on any public post (single image or
album), that can be viewed by anyone and replied to by other users. They can also vote up or
down on a post, contributing to a posts popularity.
Tinypic: Creating an account involved choosing a password, inputting an email and date
of birth, and passing a brief captcha. After creating an account, the only additional option is to
save site images to it. There is no way to comment on or annotate an image, or find the authors
profile, or otherwise interact with images for feedback.

13

Task 7: Saving uploaded images to an account

An image upload link is useless if it is lost, so any uploaded images need to be linked
with an account. Users of image hosting websites must be able to access all of their images in
one place.
Imgur: With an account, Imgur automatically saves every upload onto your profile,
whether is it made public or kept private. They can be accessed by panning over the account
drop-down menu in the top right corner of the website, then selecting images, the top option in
the screenshot shown below. Images are displayed in a grid, and any image can be opened to
show sharing links (more than on the post-upload screen) and editing options.

Tinypic: Images uploaded automatically save to the account logged in. Images can be
accessed by clicking the Your Home or Your Stuff tabs at the top of the screen. Images are
displayed in a grid and sorted into pages, depending on how many images are saved to the
account. The screenshot shows the Your Home page.

14

15

Task 8: Grouping similar images into albums

A collection of single images quickly grows too messy to organize. Like a computer, a
host website must be able to store images in albums or folders is required to keep them organized
and in a proper place.
Imgur: Additional images can easily be added on the post-upload screen. An image on
the clipboard can be pasted anywhere on the page, or selecting Add more images brings up the
upload screen, allowing any regular method of uploading to work. Images are added to the end
of the album, but can be reorganized by clicking the Rearrange images button on the righthand side of the screenshot and then dragging and dropping the thumbnails into place.
Individual photos can be given titles and descriptions that are viewed while scrolling through the
album, which is ideal for photo sharing. The album itself can also be given a title and
description.

16

Tinypic: Images can be added into any album, or no album, as a part of the upload
process, as seen in the screenshot below. Once uploaded, an image can only be added to an
album by reuploading it, though the on-site link can be used. Images within an album can be
viewed by clicking next or prev while displaying one image. An album must be named and
created before uploading any images to it. Album images can be sorted by ascending or
descending time of when the image was added to the album.

17

Task 9: Saving public images to an account

Uploading a new photo is unnecessary if the image already exists on the website.
Allowing users to save public images to their account saves users the time it would take to
manually upload that public image to their account.
Imgur: Any image, public or unlisted, can be saved to an accounts Favorites folder by
clicking a heart icon at the bottom of a post. This folder can be accessed by scrolling over the
account drop-down menu and selecting favorites, or by opening the full profile and clicking
the Gallery favorites tab. Favorites can be sorted by ascending or descending time of upload
and are displayed in the sites usual grid format and displays previews when moused over.
Tinypic: Any image can be saved to an accounts Favorites folder by clicking a button
that reads Add to favorites on the left-hand side of the page. This folder can be accessed by
clicking the Your Home button or the Favorites tab along the toolbar. Favorites can be
sorted by ascending or descending time of upload.

18

Task 10: Converting the filetype of an image

Many tools and some websites only accept images in a certain file format. While filetype
converters exist, it is simpler to download an image in the correct filetype in the first place.
Imugr: Imgur allows anyone to view any image as any standard browser filetype. The
process is not directly supported on-site, but can easily be done with a direct image link open. If
a raw image opens in a tab as a .jpg, as shown in the first screenshot, simply replacing .jpg
with .png in the URL will result in the exact same image, but it is now a .png filetype and can
be saved or otherwise used as such. This allows a user to convert easily among .jpg, .png,
.gif, .webp, .webm, and other filetypes.

19

Tinypic: Tinypic converts every still image upload into a .jpg file. There is no way to
change the filetype or to use a hosted image as a different filetype, short of downloading the
image and using a third-party converter (i.e. no way to convert on-site). Any videos are hosted
on the site itself, and cannot be linked to otherwise.

20

Conclusion and Recommendation

Imgur performed well on every task assigned. Tinypic performed well on most tasks, but
lacked several important features. Tinypic is a simple image sharer designed to be used mainly
as a host site, to link back to from other sites where a user needs to use images. Imgur has
excellent image hosting to use on other sites, but also orients itself as a community website in
and of itself. For everyday needs like sharing pictures with family, Imgur makes it easy to add
captions and collect images all in one place. For routine Internet needs like uploading an image
to use a hosted direct link to, Tinypic offers quicker uploading and more ready access to relevant
links.
Overall, Imgur performed much better than Tinypic (ref: Appendix, Numerical summary
of tasks), and had more varied, useful features. For most image sharing needs, this paper
strongly suggests Imgur as a host site. Imgur more reliably displays target images, offers better
organizational features, and allows for easier image uploading in that it allows the user to drag an
image in or paste an actual image. These two upload options mean that a user does not have to
have a desired image downloaded, or bother opening the image itself in a tab to copy the link,
which saves time during intense image sessions.

21

Bibliography
https://imgur.com
https://tinypic.com

22

Appendix
Raw data from tasks.
Task 1:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 1

Uploading an image

Uploading an image

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

An image can be uploaded in as few as two clicks (one to

Images take few clicks to upload, but the fir

l Notes

pull up the submit image menu, one click to paste the

every other image require filling in a captch

image, automatically processes it). Uploads could be done

ads. Advertisements disrupted the sites ap

from pasting a direct image, pasting a link to an image,

often covered up the screen, which could m

drag-and-drop, browsing your computer files, or creating

your work difficult. Uploads can be done by

one using site resources (ordered in ascending number of

to an image or browsing your computer files

clicks required). Upload image button was brightly colored

The home page displays a menu that gives

to stand out, but was named New Post.

begin browsing your computer, or you can s

23

option to open a text box to paste a link in.

24

Task 2:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 2

Sharing a direct image link

Sharing a direct image link

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Neutral
3

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Agree

Agree
5

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Agree

Agree
5

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Agree

Agree
5

Disagree

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

A link to the image on-site was immediately displayed. To

Immediately after uploading, a direct image

l Notes

find direct image links, you must move the mouse over the

displayed, alongside a link to the image on t

image, press a drop-down arrow, and select Get share

Neither link works immediately, they both re

links. Alternatively, you can right-click on the image and

blank host webpage that displays the image

select Copy image address like on any digital image.

The only way I could consistently get either

image link or the host-site link to work was t

[img] link in a third-party forum, which then

made pasting the direct links work about 85

Without going through that step, opening ei

worked successfully <10% of the time. This

25

but I repeated it with six different images. I

links to consistently work.

26

Task 3:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 3

Searching for relevant images using keywords

Searching for relevant images using ke

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

The search is entire based on collective user input. The

Image thumbnails tagged containing the en

l Notes

default search displays all public image thumbnails that

keyword/phrase are displayed. If a two-word

contain the search keyword in their title, or you can click on

searched, any image tags must match the e

tag and username suggestions as you type. It displays

Example: potato and harpies both bring

syntax options for prefixing your search with things such as

their own, but potato harpies bring up non

title: and user: to search only within those categories.

search syntax commands are not followed (i

Images would preview title/information when panned over

enclosing exact terms in quotation marks).

with the mouse.

27

28

Task 4:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 4

Embedding an image

Embedding an image

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

Upon uploading an image, there is a menu option of

Upon uploading an image, there is a copyab

l Notes

Embed post that displays a copyable link.

that contains the embedding link.

29

Task 5:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 5

Viewing public images according to category

Viewing public images according to cat

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Agree

Agree
5

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

The home page titular text reads The Most Viral images on

A tab at the top of the page reads Categori

l Notes

the Internet, sorted by Popularity, with Most Viral and

leads you to a page displaying a variety of

Popularity underlined in green with a pulsing arrow.

Categories. Each of these displays a few su

Clicking on the former displays many broad categories,

or you can click on the main category to see

which change the homepage to display those images

subcategories. Selecting a subcategory from

instead when you click on one. Clicking on Popularity

brings up all images tagged with that subca

allows you to sort by time, popularity, or score (as

Alternatively, you can select the Images ta

determined by users).

page heading, and browse by newest, most

Alternatively, you can press a button on the homepage that

random images.

displays random images, or another button that allows you

30

to select a day from the past and view popular uploads

from that day.

31

Task 6:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 6

Interacting with other users on images within the

Interacting with other users on images

Efficient

host site
I was able to complete the task.

host site
I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

I began by creating a user account. Registration requires

I began by creating a user account. Registra

l Notes

an email address, and you select a screenname and

an email address and date of birth, and you

password. Email verification is not required for basic

password. A simple captcha completes the

activities. A simple captcha completed my account

creation.

creation.

Upon opening images, only the image itself

After logging in and opening any public image, I could post

are displayed. Author information is not dis

140char comments and vote up or down to influence a

there is no way to comment or otherwise int

posts popularity. Clicking on another commenters name

image post. There is no apparent way to fin

or searching for a username in the search bar brings up

profiles.

their profile, with a prominent send message button to

32

communicate with them. Private messages are saved in a

host-site inbox and have no character limit. Also displayed
are all of a users posts, comments, and saved images.

33

Task 7:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 7

Saving uploaded images to an account

Saving uploaded images to an account

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

Any image uploaded is automatically saved to your account

Any image uploaded is automatically saved

l Notes

profile. They can all be found by clicking images in the

account profile. They can all be found in the

account drop-down menu.

tab.

34

Task 8:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 8

Grouping similar images into albums

Grouping similar images into albums

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

After uploading an image (creating a post), more images

From the home page, there is no upload to a

l Notes

can be added by either clicking the Add more images

but after uploading an image it displays the

button, which brings up the initial pop-up menu as noted in

assortment of image links, and also the opti

Task 1, or you can copy the desired image to the system

an image, but this time with an upload to al

clipboard and then paste anywhere on the window. Images

The image link can be copied and pasted wi

add automatically to the end of the current post. Image

to [album name] option selected. This scre

order can be rearranged by clicking the Rearrange

brought up by clicking the Your Home tab,

images button and then dragging them into position.

all account images and albums, which short

Each album is displayed on your user profile and can be

slightly. Upon opening an album, the same

opened. There is an option to give each individual image a

present, and all album images are displayed

35

title and description, alongside the album title and

description.

36

must be selected and uploaded separately.

Task 9:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 9

Saving public images to an account

Saving public images to an account

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

Any public or unlisted site image can be favorited by

Any site image can be favorited by clickin

l Notes

clicking a prominent heart-shaped button and are saved

Add to favorites button with a star next to

into a Favorites folder on your profile. Favorites can be

saved into a Favorites folder on your profil

accessed by panning the mouse over the account drop-

can be accessed by selecting the Your Hom

down in the upper right corner, and selecting favorites, or

upper left corner or the Favorites tab on th

by opening your main profile and selecting the Gallery

The home tab displays your uploaded image

favorites tab. Favorites can be displayed in ascending or

and your favorites at the bottom. The favor

descending time of upload.

displays all favorites and can be sorted by im

Unless separately uploaded to your account and placed

and by time of upload.

into an album, there is no way of sorting your favorites

Unless separately uploaded to your account

37

except by time.

into an album, there is no way of sorting you

except by time.

38

Task 10:
Tasks

Imgur.com

Tinypics.com

Task 10

Converting the filetype of an image

Converting the filetype of an image

Efficient

I was able to complete the task.

I was able to complete the task.

Effective

Engaging

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree

Disagree
2

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Somew

Agre
4

I was able to do the task using few clicks.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

The appearance of the website was appealing and helped

The appearance of the website was appealin

to complete the task.

to complete the task.

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree
5

Disagree

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Error

Any errors were simple to correct and did not significantly

Any errors were simple to correct and did no

Tolerant

disrupt the task.

disrupt the task.

Easy to

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

Agree
4

Agree

Disagree
1

Disagree
2

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Somew

Agre
4

The task was easy to learn how to do.

Learn
Strongly

Somewhat

Disagree
1

Disagree

Neutral

Somewhat

Strongly

Strongly

Somewhat

Neutral

Agree
4

Agree
5

Disagree

Disagree
2

Somew

Agre
4

Additiona

While there is no in-site option to convert among filetypes,

There is no function to convert among filety

l Notes

any image can be converted if the direct link is opened.

main site. All images are converted and sto

With just the .jpg/.png/.gif/.webp/.webm/etc. image open in

and all videos are hosted on-site.

a tab, the image can be converted between those by

typing in the filetype you need. If I needed a .jpg instead
of a .png, I could upload the image, open it in a new tab,
and retype jpg in place of png and view and save the
exact same image.

39

Numerical summary of tasks

Task
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total

Imgur total score

25
22
25
25
25
24
25
25
25
20
241/250

Tinypic total score

21
11
25
25
23
11
25
24
25
11
201/250

40