Web usability : user-centered design approach

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Title:

Personal Author:

Lazar, Jonathan

Publication Information:

Boston, MA : Addison Wesley, 2006

ISBN:

9780321321350

Subject Term:

Web sites -- Design

User interfaces (Computer systems)

Available:*

Library	Item Barcode	Call Number	Material Type	Item Category 1	Status
Searching... PSZ JB	30000004720276	TK5105.888 L394 2006	Open Access Book	Book	Searching... Unknown

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) / PlayFoo 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/computin

Chapter 1 Introduction to Web Usability	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Why Focus on the User?	p. 3
Greater Profits	p. 3
Reduce User Frustration	p. 4
How Is the Web Different from Traditional Information Systems?	p. 5
No User Training	p. 6
Predictability Means Easy Use	p. 7
Traditional Development of Information Systems	p. 8
New Challenges in Web Development Projects	p. 8
The Role of Users	p. 9
Types of Web Sites	p. 10
Defining the User Population	p. 12
Defining the User Tasks	p. 13
The User-Centered Web Development Life Cycle	p. 16
Stage 1 Define the Mission of Your Web Site and Its Target User Population	p. 17
Stage 2 Collect the User Requirements for Your Web Site	p. 18
Stage 3 Create and Modify the Conceptual Design of Your Web Site	p. 19
Stage 4 Create and Modify the Physical Design	p. 19
Stage 5 Perform Web Site Usability Testing	p. 19
Stage 6 Implement and Market Your Web Site	p. 19
Stage 7 Evaluate and Improve Your Web Site	p. 20
Cost Justifying User Involvement in Development	p. 20
Project Management Techniques	p. 22
Clear Objectives	p. 23
Specific Responsibilities	p. 23
Documentation	p. 23
Progress Reports	p. 23
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 24
Discussion Questions	p. 24
Design Exercise	p. 24
Suggested Reading	p. 25
Chapter 2 Defining the Mission and Target User Population	p. 29
Introduction	p. 29
Mission of the Web Site	p. 30
Typical Organizational Goals of Different Web Sites	p. 30
Process of Determining the Site Mission	p. 31
Writing a Mission Statement	p. 33
What If There Isn't a Mission?	p. 34
Targeted User Population	p. 36
Advantages of Knowing a Targeted Population	p. 37
Targeting Different User Groups	p. 38
Developing User Profiles and Audience Splitting: Implications for the Development Process	p. 38
Diverse User Populations	p. 41
Additional Considerations for Web Site Redesign	p. 43
Web Site Logs: Tracking Where Users Have Been	p. 44
Research Prior Relationships	p. 45
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 46
Discussion Questions	p. 46
Design Exercise	p. 47
Suggested Reading	p. 47
Chapter 3 Requirements Gathering-What Information Is Needed?	p. 51
Introduction	p. 51
General User Demographic Information	p. 52
Domain Knowledge	p. 53
User Computing Experience	p. 56
Using Interface Metaphors	p. 59
Adapting to Past Experiences	p. 59
User Computing Environment	p. 61
Task Analysis and Content	p. 63
Determining Content Preferences	p. 64
Assessing Existing Content	p. 66
Responsibility for Developing Content	p. 66
Benchmarking	p. 67
Additional Considerations for Web Site Redesign	p. 69
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 70
Design Exercise	p. 70
Discussion Questions	p. 70
Suggested Reading	p. 71
Chapter 4 Methods for Requirements Gathering	p. 75
Introduction	p. 75
Determining Access to Users	p. 76
Guidelines for Choosing Access Techniques	p. 77
Introducing Surveys	p. 78
Paper Surveys	p. 80
Electronic Surveys	p. 81
E-Mail Surveys	p. 82
Web-Based Surveys	p. 83
Informing Users about the Electronic Survey	p. 85
Interviews	p. 87
Phone Interviews	p. 88
Focus Groups	p. 88
The Moderator's Role	p. 90
Challenges of Working with Focus Groups	p. 90
Electronic Focus Groups	p. 91
Participatory Design	p. 92
Other User Involvement Activities for Structuring Information	p. 93
Card Sorting	p. 94
Scenarios	p. 95
Paper Prototyping	p. 95
Final Thoughts	p. 96
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 98
Discussion Questions	p. 98
Design Exercise	p. 99
Suggested Reading	p. 99
Chapter 5 Information Architecture and Site Navigation	p. 103
Introduction	p. 103
Web Site Content Objects	p. 104
Determining the Web Content Objects	p. 105
Organizing Web Content Objects	p. 106
Information Architecture	p. 107
Theoretical Foundations/Relationship to Menu Design	p. 108
Web Navigation	p. 112
Knowing Where Users Have Been	p. 112
Knowing Where Users Are	p. 113
Knowing Where Users Can Go	p. 113
Organizing and Labeling Navigation Choices	p. 120
Client Feedback	p. 122
Breadcrumbs Navigation	p. 123
Search Engines for Navigation	p. 124
Location of Navigation	p. 127
Technical Requirements for Navigation	p. 128
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 131
Design Exercise	p. 131
Discussion Questions	p. 131
Suggested Reading	p. 132
Chapter 6 Page Design	p. 135
Introduction	p. 135
Technical Considerations	p. 136
Download Speed	p. 136
Plug-Ins	p. 139
Animation	p. 140
Screen Resolution	p. 142
Layout Considerations	p. 142
Cluttered Design	p. 142
Background Patterns	p. 144
Grids and Layouts	p. 145
Font Color	p. 146
Font Size and Face	p. 148
Text Spacing	p. 149
Content Considerations	p. 150
Identification	p. 150
Credibility	p. 151
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 154
Design Exercise	p. 154
Discussion Questions	p. 154
Suggested Readings	p. 155
Chapter 7 Designing for Universal Usability	p. 159
Introduction	p. 159
User Diversity	p. 160
Older Users	p. 160
Younger Users	p. 162
Users with Disabilities	p. 164
Browser Diversity	p. 170
Browser Usage Data	p. 173
Common Browser Incompatibility Problems	p. 173
Solutions for Multiple-Browser Design	p. 180
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 182
Design Exercise	p. 182
Discussion Questions	p. 182
Suggested Reading	p. 183
Chapter 8 Physical Design	p. 187
Introduction	p. 187
Coding by Hand Using a Text Editor	p. 188
Web Development Applications	p. 191
Macromedia Dreamweaver	p. 191
Microsoft FrontPage	p. 192
How to Code Navigation	p. 194
Table-Based Navigation	p. 194
Frame-Based Navigation	p. 197
Gathering Content for Web Pages	p. 201
Functionality Testing: Does the Code Work?	p. 202
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 203
Design Exercise	p. 203
Discussion Questions	p. 203
Suggested Reading	p. 204
Chapter 9 Usability Testing	p. 205
Introduction	p. 205
Expert-Based Reviews	p. 207
Heuristic Review	p. 209
Guidelines Review	p. 210
Consistency Inspection	p. 212
User-Based Testing	p. 213
1 Select Representative Users	p. 214
2 Select the Setting	p. 215
3 Decide What Tasks Users Should Perform	p. 219
4 Decide What Type of Data to Collect	p. 220
5 Before the Test Session	p. 224
6 During the Test Session	p. 225
7 Debriefing After the Session	p. 225
Automated Usability Testing	p. 225
Incorporating Testing Feedback	p. 229
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 231
Design Exercise	p. 231
Discussion Questions	p. 231
Suggested Reading	p. 232
Chapter 10 Implementation and Marketing	p. 235
Introduction	p. 235
Housing the Web Site	p. 236
Domain Name	p. 236
The Contract for Web Hosting	p. 237
Final Acceptance Tests on the Web Server	p. 238
Marketing: Bringing Users to Your Web Site	p. 238
Guessing a URL	p. 239
Being Given the URL	p. 240
Linking to a URL	p. 242
Using a Search Engine	p. 244
Considerations for Site Redesign	p. 247
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 249
Design Exercise	p. 249
Discussion Questions	p. 249
Suggested Reading	p. 250
Chapter 11 Maintaining and Evaluating Web Sites	p. 251
Introduction	p. 251
Maintenance of Web Sites	p. 252
Evaluation of Web Sites	p. 252
Using Surveys for Evaluation	p. 254
Reaching Nonusers: Interviews and Focus Groups	p. 260
Web Usage Data	p. 260
When to Redesign a Web Site	p. 265
Chapter Wrap-Up	p. 267
Design Exercise	p. 267
Discussion Questions	p. 267
Suggested Reading	p. 268
Case Study A kodak.com	p. 271
Background	p. 271
Mission of the Web Site	p. 272
Target User Population	p. 275
Plan for Requirements Gathering	p. 276
Web Server Logs	p. 276
Search Logs	p. 278
Interviews with Kodak Business Units	p. 280
Focus Groups	p. 280
Usability Testing	p. 283
Guest Book Messages from Visitors	p. 287
User Surveys	p. 287
Requirements Collection and Site Design	p. 288
Business Unit Interviews	p. 288
Consumer Focus Groups	p. 288
Dealer Focus Groups	p. 289
Synthesizing Requirements	p. 290
Conceptual Design	p. 291
Information Architecture	p. 292
Iterative Design with Usability Testing	p. 293
Usability Testing, Round One	p. 293
Page Layout	p. 297
Introduction	p. 297
Focus on Text	p. 298
The Look of the New Pages	p. 298
Physical Design	p. 299
Developing Web Pages	p. 299
Usability Testing	p. 300
Introduction	p. 300
Computer-Based Usability Testing (Usability Testing, Round Two)	p. 301
Implementation and Marketing	p. 301
Previewing the New Design with Users	p. 301
A Sampling of the Best	p. 305
A Sampling of the Worst	p. 306
Marketing	p. 307
After the Launch	p. 307
Ongoing Maintenance	p. 308
Case Study B asha.org	p. 309
Defining the Mission and Target User Population	p. 309
The ASHA Web Site When the Usability Engineering Process Started	p. 310
Usability Presentation	p. 312
Requirements Gathering with Users	p. 312
Interviews at National Headquarters	p. 313
Ethnography in the Action Center	p. 314
Users' Feedback	p. 314
Analysis of Web Logs	p. 315
Review of Other Professional Studies	p. 315
Web Survey	p. 316
User Groups	p. 316
Outcomes	p. 319
Usability Testing: Expert Review	p. 319
Expert Review Findings	p. 320
The ASHA Community: Building and Connecting	p. 321
Site Information Architecture	p. 321
Site Navigation	p. 322
Graphics	p. 323
Special Needs	p. 324
Outcomes	p. 325
Requirements Gathering with Users: Focus Groups	p. 325
Focus Groups Findings	p. 326
Outcomes	p. 329
Prototype Design and Building	p. 329
Usability Testing: User Observations	p. 330
Finding Information on Stuttering for a Parent	p. 331
Observing Users' Working with the Prototype	p. 332
User Survey	p. 332
Interviews	p. 333
User Success	p. 334
User Satisfaction	p. 335
Outcomes	p. 336
Conclusions	p. 338
Case Study C CancerNet	p. 339
Overview	p. 340
The Communication Technologies Branch-Why Is a Cancer Organization Involved in Usability Engineering?	p. 340
Defining the Mission and the Target User Population	p. 343
Requirements Gathering with Users: Learning What Users Want	p. 343
Information Architecture and Site Navigation	p. 346
Usability Testing	p. 346
Launching the Site	p. 350
Lessons Learned Overall	p. 350
Case Study D PlayFootball.com	p. 359
Introduction	p. 359
Defining the Mission and Target User Population	p. 360
Requirements Gathering	p. 360
Findings from the Observational Play Groups	p. 361
Toward a Homepage: Site Navigation	p. 364
Focus Group Findings	p. 366
Comments on the Homepage Design	p. 367
Finalizing the Homepage	p. 369
Page Design	p. 370
Usability Testing	p. 371
Summary and Conclusions	p. 372
Index	p. 375
Credits	p. 393

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