Bad websites cause 'mouse rage'

The web can be bad for your health, according to a report published this week by the Social Issues Research Centre.

A study commissioned by Rackspace Managed Hosting identified five key IT flaws in the way websites are designed and hosted that may lead to harmful health effects.

The study combined data from a YouGov poll of 2,500 people with physiological tests on a separate sample of internet users who were asked to find information from a number of different websites.

The tests measured the physical and physiological reactions to website experiences, looking at brainwaves, heart-rate fluctuations, muscle tension and skin conductivity.

Results indicated that badly designed and hosted websites cause stress and anger, causing what the researchers referred to as 'Mouse Rage Syndrome'.

The top five website failures are slow to load pages, confusing or difficult to navigate layouts, excessive pop-ups, unnecessary advertising and site unavailability.

Ultimately it appears that internet users want all websites to have the same speed, function and accuracy as Google.

The Social Issues Research Centre report stated: "When the test participants came to the 'problem' sites that we had deliberately chosen as comparisons for the 'Perfect Website' evaluation exercise [a prior study], responses changed quite dramatically in most, but not all, cases.

"While a few users managed to stay calm and simply 'rise above' the problems presented by crazy graphics and slow-loading pages, others showed very distinct signs of stress and anxiety.

"Some changes in muscle tension were quite dramatic. While this was happening, the participant's faces also tensed visibly, with the teeth clenched together and the muscles around the mouth becoming taught.

"These are physically uncomfortable situations that reduce concentration and increase feelings of anger."

The study warned that the first signs of 'Mouse Rage' include quickening heart rate, increased sweating, furious clicking of the mouse, simultaneous clicking and cursing the screen, and "bashing the mouse".