Shaping Web Usability : Interaction Design in Context by Albert Badre

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"Al Badre's book is about an everlasting truth--a truth that many people, many companies, many organizations have learned the hard way. That is, when designing technological systems for people to use, one must take into account the characteristics of the users, and the nature of the task, and the knowledge, experience, biases, strengths, and weaknesses that the users bring to the task. In the case at hand, the task is using the World Wide Web.""

--James D. Foley, coauthor of "Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice"

All successful computer applications have one thing in common: They are designed with the user in mind. Author Al Badre has for years contributed to the ideas and methods needed to make any computer application fully usable. In "Shaping Web Usability," he adapts and applies this firmly rooted knowledge and practice specifically to the Web.

Badre recognizes that Web sites comprise a unique application, where designers face a host of complex issues, including dynamic content, a broad and diverse audience, multiple entry points, intolerance of steep learning curves, and one-click abandonment. And with the arrival of handheld devices, Web designers confront additional difficult issues. Offering a structured approach to Web usability, "Shaping Web Usability" describes several contexts in which each site must be viewed, from the genre to which it belongs to the individual page. The book then provides a concrete methodology for designing a site effectively for the convenience, practicality, and pleasure of its users.

Inside, Web designers will find useful information on such topics as: Links, buttons, site maps, and indexes for smooth site navigationKeywords and site search enginesEffective design of home, content, and transaction pagesAchieving a balance between Web usability and impressive graphicsRetrofitting Web pages for small-screen and mobile devicesAddressing users' information-processing limitsDesigning Web sites for older adultsAddressing the international cultural context of the WebSpecific guidelines to support design excellenceUsing an iterative design process with continuous testing to maximize Web usabilityConstructing storyboards and interactive prototypesConducting task analysis to discover the sequence of events visitors use to reach their goals

Numerous real-world examples illustrate the book's concepts, techniques, and guidelines. This one book puts decades of knowledge and experience into the hands of every Web designer.
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