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Web Usability: A User-Centered Design Approach
User Interface Design/Human Computer Interaction
Web Usability: A User-Centered Design Approach Jonathan Lazar, Towson University
ISBN 0-321-32135-9
DESIGN WITH THE USER IN MIND
A Web site design that does not consider its user is a Web site that is destined to be a disappointing
experience for the user. This new book by Jonathan Lazar provides readers with the concepts and tools needed to develop Web sites that maximize the user experience. It takes readers through the entire User-Centered Development Life Cycle, demonstrating practical skills and techniques that will help them for years to come.
THE USER-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE
The User-Centered Development Life Cycle ensures that the needs of a Web site’s users are the focus of the Web site’s design, from its inception through its implementation and management. Keeping this focus–while collecting requirements, designing pages, and performing usability testing–results in a more effective design and more satisfied users.
Real-world applications are highlighted in four Case Studies, which demonstrate how both commercial and noncommercial organizations designed user-centered Web sites:
• kodak.com (Eastman Kodak)
• PlayFootball.com (National Football League site for children)
• CancerNet.gov (National Cancer Institute)
• asha.org (American Speech-Language Hearing Association)
“Jonathan Lazar’s unique combination of expertise–teaching, research, and practice of HCI, informatics, IT, and accessibility–is what really sets him apart from the other ‘Web experts’ publishing today. His text reflects the diversity that successful Web design requires by balancing user-centeredness with a solid understanding of technical and business issues.”
—ARNIE LUND, Director of Design and Usability,Microsoft Corporation
“This text is magic; it packs experience between the covers of a book. Lazar’s energetic style is filled with examples, focused lists, and Case Studies that walk readers through the Web design process and give them the confidence to do it themselves. He makes user-centered design seem easy by making sure that people matter. If every designer trained from this book, the World Wide Web would be a better place.”
—BEN SHNEIDERMAN, Professor of Computer Science, University of Maryland
For more information about Addison-Wesley Computing books visit aw.com/computing
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Web Usability
Why focus on the user?
Information systems
Traditional Development of Information Systems
New challenges in Web development projects
The role of users
The User-Centered Web Development Life Cycle
Cost-justifying user involvement in development
Project management techniques
Chapter 2 - Defining the Mission and Target User Population
Mission of the Web site
Targeted user population
Diverse user populations
Considerations for Web site re-design
Chapter 3 - Requirements gathering-What Information is Needed?
General user demographic information
Domain knowledge
User computing experience
User computing environment
Task analysis and content
Benchmarking
Additional considerations for Web site re-design
Chapter 4 - Requirements gathering with Users-How to do it?
Determining the access to users
Surveys
Interviews
Focus Groups
Participatory design
Summary of advantages and disadvantages of each method
Other user involvement activities for structuring information
Final thoughts
Chapter 5 - Information Architecture and Site Navigation
Web site content objects
Information architecture
Web navigation
Organizing and labeling navigation choices
Breadcrumbs navigation
Search engines for navigation
Location of navigation
Technical requirements for navigation
Chapter 6 - Page Design
Technical considerations
Layout considerations
Content considerations
Chapter 7 - Designing for Universal Usability
User diversity
Browser diversity
Chapter 8 - Physical Design
Coding by hand using a text editor
Web development applications
How to code navigation
Gathering content for pages
Functionality Testing: Does the code work?
Chapter 9 - Usability Testing
Expert-based reviews
User-based testing
Automated usability testing
Incorporating testing feedback
Chapter 10 - Implementation and Marketing
Housing the Web site
Bringing users to your Web site: Marketing
Using a search engine
Considerations for site re-design
Chapter 11 - Maintaining and Evaluating Web Sites
Maintenance
Evaluation
When to re-design a Web site
Case study: The Eastman Kodak Company
Case study: The National Cancer Institute Cancernet web site
Case study: National Football League web site for children
Case study: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
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