http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Resources/Usability A listing of the most recently indexed works about Resources and Usability in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Resources/Usability http://tc.eserver.org/33369.html http://tc.eserver.org/33369.html UI and us is a place for discussing and questioning the computer software and hardware UI’s and experiences that we take for granted. The good, the bad and the ugly as well as some history and some news. http://tc.eserver.org/33345.html http://tc.eserver.org/33345.html The Software Usability Measurement Inventory is a rigorously tested and proven method of measuring software quality from the end user's point of view. SUMI is a consistent method for assessing the quality of use of a software product or prototype, and can assist with the detection of usability flaws before a product is shipped. It is backed by an extensive reference database embedded in an effective analysis and report generation tool. http://tc.eserver.org/32461.html http://tc.eserver.org/32461.html A collection of videos that show how people with various disabilities use assistive technology with their computers, which may help developers understand the diverse accessibility needs that should be met by their projects. http://tc.eserver.org/31001.html http://tc.eserver.org/31001.html Tools of the UX Trade searches the Web for software, books, services, and other resources for user experience practitioners. http://tc.eserver.org/30550.html http://tc.eserver.org/30550.html Catalyze is a member-driven community for all professionals involved in defining business systems, designing software applications and creating websites. If you are a business analyst, usability professional, UI designer, information architect, interaction designer, product manager, project manager or anyone else involved in the definition process of software applications, this community is for you and will be worth your time. http://tc.eserver.org/30300.html http://tc.eserver.org/30300.html This site features general advice, tips, guidelines, articles and tutorials on subjects related to usability and technical communication. The content is aimed at students and professionals who are looking for quick, easy-to-follow guideance about better usability and technical communication. http://tc.eserver.org/28346.html http://tc.eserver.org/28346.html A bibliography of books and articles about usability and user-centered design in the web design process. http://tc.eserver.org/28291.html http://tc.eserver.org/28291.html This website is meant to provide insights into various multi-disciplinary aspects of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It looks at this subject particularly from Indian perspective. HCI Vistas publishes at least two original articles every month. It offers latest research papers as downloads. It also presents Comptoons and survey reports. The website is meant to provoke new thinking in the HCI domain. http://tc.eserver.org/27937.html http://tc.eserver.org/27937.html Articles and findings by Dinesh Gajbhiye in the areas of Web Usability, Human-Computer Interaction, Search Engine Optimization (SEO). http://tc.eserver.org/27493.html http://tc.eserver.org/27493.html A blog on the Usability, HCI, and customer experience industry by an Indian User Experience professional with a decade of providing customer centric solutions and a pragmatic approach to business problems. http://tc.eserver.org/27148.html http://tc.eserver.org/27148.html This is a searchable online glossary of usability terms. http://tc.eserver.org/26946.html http://tc.eserver.org/26946.html A compilation of usability, usability testing, and user-centered design resources by Usernomics. http://tc.eserver.org/26835.html http://tc.eserver.org/26835.html The contextual inquiry is a specific type of interview for gathering field data from users. It is usually done by one interviewer speaking to one interviewee (person being interviewed) at a time. The aim is to gather as much data as possible from the interviews for later analysis. http://tc.eserver.org/26839.html http://tc.eserver.org/26839.html Heuristic evaluation is a form of usability inspection where usability specialists judge whether each element of a user interface follows a list of established usability heuristics. Expert evaluation is similar, but does not use specific heuristics. Usually two to three analysts evaluate the system with reference to established guidelines or principles, noting down their observations and often ranking them in order of severity. The analysts are usually experts in human factors or HCI, but others, less experienced have also been shown to report valid problems. A heuristic or expert evaluation can be conducted at various stages of the development lifecycle, although it is preferable to have already performed some form of context analysis to help the experts focus on the circumstances of actual or intended product usage. http://tc.eserver.org/26838.html http://tc.eserver.org/26838.html Performance testing is a rigorous usability evaluation of a working system under realistic conditions to identify usability problems and to compare measures such as success rate, task time and user satisfaction with requirements. http://tc.eserver.org/26833.html http://tc.eserver.org/26833.html User and usability requirements should be well-defined and integrated into relevant product requirements specification. The purposes of usability methods at this stage are to collect information about the user interface, users, tasks and environments, and to agree what aspects should be formalised as requirements. http://tc.eserver.org/26834.html http://tc.eserver.org/26834.html User surveys are a means of finding out how the software or web site is likely to be used by a specific set of users, and who these users are likely to be. The answers user surveys provide must be relevant to the issues that are important to the design team. User surveys are traditionally carried out by post, but increasingly, the internet is used for this purpose. http://tc.eserver.org/26652.html http://tc.eserver.org/26652.html Critical incident technique is a method of gathering facts (incidents) from domain experts or less experienced users of the existing system to gain knowledge of how to improve the performance of the individuals involved. http://tc.eserver.org/26653.html http://tc.eserver.org/26653.html A focus group is a focused discussion where a moderator leads a group of participants through a set of questions on a particular topic. Focus groups are often used in the early stages of product planning and requirements gathering to obtain feedback about users, products, concepts, prototypes, tasks, strategies, and environments. Focus groups can also be used to obtain consensus about specific issues. http://tc.eserver.org/26654.html http://tc.eserver.org/26654.html A usability evaluation method in which one or more reviewers, preferably experts, compare a software, documentation, or hardware product to a list of design principles and list where the product does not follow those principles. http://tc.eserver.org/26659.html http://tc.eserver.org/26659.html Internationalization is the process of designing and developing software or Web applications so that they can be easily adapted to various linguistic and cultural environments without additional programming or engineering. Central to internationalization is the separation of language and cultural data from the source code. http://tc.eserver.org/26655.html http://tc.eserver.org/26655.html A semi-structured or structured interview that is conducted over a phone or Internet audio line. Phone interviews can supplement other HCI methods and allow HCI specialists to follow users over an extended time. http://tc.eserver.org/26656.html http://tc.eserver.org/26656.html A usability test method employed to generate early design evaluation by assigning a group of users a series of paper-based tasks that represent the proposed product interface and including participation from developers of that interface. http://tc.eserver.org/26663.html http://tc.eserver.org/26663.html Continued learning and professional training are essential for continual growth in the evolving field of usability. To address this need, the BoK will provide a listing of courses that are relevant to both students and professionals looking to enhance their knowledge of this growing field. http://tc.eserver.org/26657.html http://tc.eserver.org/26657.html The creation of low-cost representations of the user interface to a system as a method of brainstorming, creating, testing and communicating ideas about the system being developed. http://tc.eserver.org/26664.html http://tc.eserver.org/26664.html A short glossary of terms used in the field of usability. http://tc.eserver.org/26119.html http://tc.eserver.org/26119.html Collection of principles that can also form a process for editing web content to make it usable. http://tc.eserver.org/26036.html http://tc.eserver.org/26036.html A collection of categorized links to usability, accessibility, and information design online resources. http://tc.eserver.org/25874.html http://tc.eserver.org/25874.html The main aim of this group is to interact with all the technical writers working in India. This is a forum to support for the cause of writing for different mediums and exploring various genres of writing. http://tc.eserver.org/25804.html http://tc.eserver.org/25804.html The personal weblog of Jeffrey Veen, a founding partner of Adaptive Path, a user experience consultancy focusing on the impact of design on business. http://tc.eserver.org/25744.html http://tc.eserver.org/25744.html Usability, user experience, technology, ethnography, design, the workplace, e-government and public policy, from a UK perspective. http://tc.eserver.org/25772.html http://tc.eserver.org/25772.html Usefo probes the rapidly expanding world of usability design, current web design issues, and interesting aspects of information technology. http://tc.eserver.org/25689.html http://tc.eserver.org/25689.html On this site you'll find information, resources, and the latest news on web site usability and accessibility issues, with a healthy dose of web standards advocacy thrown in for good measure. http://tc.eserver.org/25145.html http://tc.eserver.org/25145.html A blog from Bangalore based on everything related to the user experience and interaction. http://tc.eserver.org/24756.html http://tc.eserver.org/24756.html You may find these crosswords useful for your training courses, to raise awareness of usability in your team, or just for something to do over coffee. You are free to use them for any purpose, so long as the copyright remains intact. http://tc.eserver.org/24757.html http://tc.eserver.org/24757.html Most people use Microsoft Excel to analyse the results of usability tests, but did you know you can use it to collect the data too? This spreadsheet allows you to measure task completion rates, analyse questionnaire data, and summarise participant comments. It even includes a timer so you can measure time-on-task. http://tc.eserver.org/24512.html http://tc.eserver.org/24512.html Secrets of web usability and web credibility enhancement. Web content writing. Blogs as marketing tools. Using internet forums as virtual advisory staff. Professional email composition. http://tc.eserver.org/24175.html http://tc.eserver.org/24175.html W3 Compliant Sites is a collection of web sites that were created by designers that conform with the W3C standards. It provides the opportunity for them to display their work and ideas in a community that shares common interests. http://tc.eserver.org/24114.html http://tc.eserver.org/24114.html This Indian usability blog attempts to bridge the gap between user requirements research and UI design. http://tc.eserver.org/24115.html http://tc.eserver.org/24115.html A blog on user experience, HCI, and usability in India. http://tc.eserver.org/23875.html http://tc.eserver.org/23875.html Anyone who knows Ben Shneiderman and the activities of the Human Computer Interface Lab (HCIL) would expect he would produce a book like Leonardo's Laptop. Twenty years ago as founding director of HCIL, Shneiderman was in the avant-garde of bringing together experts in computer science, engineering, psychology, and education to develop computers and their interfaces to better serve human needs. http://tc.eserver.org/23729.html http://tc.eserver.org/23729.html Resources relating to Web usability. http://tc.eserver.org/23300.html http://tc.eserver.org/23300.html Blog on all aspects of HCI, technology, design, usability, and its impact of society, users, ethics and life. http://tc.eserver.org/23256.html http://tc.eserver.org/23256.html L'usabilité n'est pas usinable. Les règles dominant l'ergonomie des sites Internet sont en mouvement. Seule une veille permanente, d'analyse et de réflexion permet de dégager les principes de conception de pages Web attractives et cohérentes, aptes à favoriser la transformation visiteur/client. http://tc.eserver.org/23230.html http://tc.eserver.org/23230.html ウェブユーザビリティに関するヤコブ・ニールセン博士の人気コラム『Alert Box』の日本語版。最新号は英語版発行（通常は隔週月曜日）後2日～3日で翻訳・公開。 http://tc.eserver.org/23228.html http://tc.eserver.org/23228.html 樽本徹也（イード）によるユーザー中心設計、ユーザービリティ、ユーザーインターフェース設計にまつわるユーザビリティエンジニアの専門的視点からの考察コラム。 http://tc.eserver.org/23127.html http://tc.eserver.org/23127.html FucinaWeb è un sito indipendente di risorse e articoli per sviluppatori e designer web che volge un occhio di riguardo alle problematiche di usabilità e accessibilità. http://tc.eserver.org/23034.html http://tc.eserver.org/23034.html Findability refers to the quality of being locatable or navigable. At the item level, we can evaluate to what degree a particular object is easy to discover or locate. At the system level, we can analyze how well a physical or digital environment supports navigation and retrieval. This website is a selective, seriously incomplete, and perpetually evolving collection of links to people, software, organizations, and content related to findability. http://tc.eserver.org/22368.html http://tc.eserver.org/22368.html Bazzmann|Mag si occupa di design molecolare, accessibilità, usabilità, web e UI design, standard W3C, semantic web e architettura dell'informazione. http://tc.eserver.org/22337.html http://tc.eserver.org/22337.html Unregelmäßig erscheinende Artikel über die aktuellen Problemen in Bereich Ergonomie/Usability und die mögliche Lösungen. http://tc.eserver.org/21811.html http://tc.eserver.org/21811.html The following glossary lists and explains usability terms, which are relevant for the SAP software world. The information was taken from several sources and adapted to the needs of this glossary. Among the sources are: www.whatis.com, the book authored by Larry Constantine and Lucy Lockwood 'Software for use: a practical guide to models and methods of usage-centered design', the book authored by JoAnn Hackos and Janice Reddish 'User and Task Analysis for Interface Design', information contained in articles and guidelines in the SAP Design Guild, own contributions (a.o. photos and graphics). http://tc.eserver.org/21113.html http://tc.eserver.org/21113.html In October of 1997, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated an effort to increase the visibility of software usability. Cooperating in the IUSR project are prominent suppliers of software and representatives from large consumer organizations. http://tc.eserver.org/21114.html http://tc.eserver.org/21114.html This document is an overview of the Industry USability Report (IUSR)) Project. The IUSR Project is designed to help potential purchasers of software obtain information about the usability of supplier products. http://tc.eserver.org/21085.html http://tc.eserver.org/21085.html The purpose of this paper is to briefly review and discuss three books related to systems design. The first book is Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering (Petroski, 1994), the second book is The Mythical Man-Month, Anniversary Edition: Essays on Software Engineering (Brooks, 1995), and the third book is Notes on the Synthesis of Form (Alexander, 1964). In this paper, an emphasis is placed on describing the core ideas of the books. Brief discussions of structure, context, failure, and usability engineering are included to highlight several themes found throughout the trio of books. http://tc.eserver.org/21070.html http://tc.eserver.org/21070.html Below is a list of my favorite usability, human factors, and web design books. If I did not own these books, I would buy them. I find myself going back to these books again and again. A couple of them have been replaced because I've worn them out. These are the books that I recommend to other people all of the time. Simply put, if I did not have them available to reference and read, I would feel like my library was not complete. http://tc.eserver.org/20788.html http://tc.eserver.org/20788.html Creating usable systems that people intuitively understand is not just a technical issue. It is about understanding how people engage with each other, and how we can support this through clear, simple, comprehensible interface design. http://tc.eserver.org/20702.html http://tc.eserver.org/20702.html Examining documentation and help systems for software and consumer products. http://tc.eserver.org/20641.html http://tc.eserver.org/20641.html Provides usability guidelines and quick fix checklists for designing usable Web sites. http://tc.eserver.org/20640.html http://tc.eserver.org/20640.html Examples and case studies from Web sites/applications that have been through the usability engineering process. Lessons Learned is a compilation of real-world examples of what works on Web sites/applications that have been through the usability engineering process. Each example has its own special problems and may target different audiences, but many of the points we have learned apply to Web sites/applications in general. These lessons provide a practical solution to real-world problems about collecting user data and designing, testing, and improving your Web site/applications. http://tc.eserver.org/20644.html http://tc.eserver.org/20644.html Provides a basic overview of and general information about usability. http://tc.eserver.org/20587.html http://tc.eserver.org/20587.html Welcome to the UCD Decision Matrix Website. This is a tool that provides information about how user-centered design practitioners around the world have had success and failure integrating their processes into the product development lifecycle. http://tc.eserver.org/20167.html http://tc.eserver.org/20167.html A collection of over 6,000 articles about usability, accessibility and user interface design in general. http://tc.eserver.org/20044.html http://tc.eserver.org/20044.html An interactive tutorial about usable website design. http://tc.eserver.org/20042.html http://tc.eserver.org/20042.html In het boek zijn vanaf pagina 375 in appendix A een aantal checklists opgenomen die kunnen dienen als controle bij het ontwerp van uw eigen gebruikersvriendelijke pagina's. U kunt deze checklists hier downloaden. http://tc.eserver.org/20043.html http://tc.eserver.org/20043.html A web portal for usability resources, in Dutch. http://tc.eserver.org/19936.html http://tc.eserver.org/19936.html This website provides information and resources for key issues related to usability in website and software design. We believe that helping people do their work in an effective and enjoyable way should be the top priority in design because if a product is not usable, people will not use it. http://tc.eserver.org/19938.html http://tc.eserver.org/19938.html The Usability Links listed below provide a selection of some of the most useful pages we've found on the Web pertaining to usability. http://tc.eserver.org/19608.html http://tc.eserver.org/19608.html Join the mailing list to receive a monthly newsletter. The newsletter will also keep you informed of updates to User Focus reports and white papers. http://tc.eserver.org/19597.html http://tc.eserver.org/19597.html A directory of online resources in web usability. http://tc.eserver.org/19362.html http://tc.eserver.org/19362.html The following resources address issues pertaining to usability testing of web sites and other technological media. http://tc.eserver.org/19274.html http://tc.eserver.org/19274.html A collection of links to Turkish-language online resources in web design and web usability. http://tc.eserver.org/19216.html http://tc.eserver.org/19216.html A blog/forum website for discussions about current issues in usability. http://tc.eserver.org/19215.html http://tc.eserver.org/19215.html News for people who make things usable. http://tc.eserver.org/19247.html http://tc.eserver.org/19247.html A directory of links to online website usability resources. http://tc.eserver.org/19144.html http://tc.eserver.org/19144.html A blog (weblog) of usability news and information. http://tc.eserver.org/19050.html http://tc.eserver.org/19050.html Egger's research starts with a model of trust for e-commerce, then derives tools that designers can use to evaluate or design trustworthiness into e-commerce websites. http://tc.eserver.org/19026.html http://tc.eserver.org/19026.html A list of links to 588 authors' online works in usability. http://tc.eserver.org/18696.html http://tc.eserver.org/18696.html A bibliography of published books related to usability in website design. http://tc.eserver.org/18688.html http://tc.eserver.org/18688.html This list provides resources about web design, usability, and related topics. http://tc.eserver.org/18606.html http://tc.eserver.org/18606.html In trying to build accessible products, it is sometimes difficult to find key components. This is particularly true when building prototypes or coordinating small volume productions. This resource listing is provided to assist people in finding sources for key accessibility components such as accessible telephone handsets (for use on kiosks, etc.), voice technology products and other accessible components. It is maintained on an 'as we find it basis.' In other words, when we locate particular components or they are brought to our attention, we wll include them here. http://tc.eserver.org/18603.html http://tc.eserver.org/18603.html This section of Designing a More Usable World is dedicated to cooperative efforts linked toward creating more usable documents for all. A number of interrelated efforts and projects are listed below. http://tc.eserver.org/18604.html http://tc.eserver.org/18604.html This section of Designing a More Usable World is dedicated to cooperative efforts linked toward building a more usable Web for all. At the present time, there are a number of interlocking and interrelated efforts. http://tc.eserver.org/18602.html http://tc.eserver.org/18602.html A directory of laws and regulations to support accessibility in new media. http://tc.eserver.org/18608.html http://tc.eserver.org/18608.html A bibliography of writings about universal design. http://tc.eserver.org/18609.html http://tc.eserver.org/18609.html The following are lists of Web sites that Trace Center staff have found particularly useful. The resources listed in turn contain links to many other excellent sites. http://tc.eserver.org/18567.html http://tc.eserver.org/18567.html User-Centered Design is a well established process that has been widely adopted by many organizations to deliver products that meet users' expectations. IBM has regularly enhanced this process, which has now been consolidated within the broader framework of User Engineering. http://tc.eserver.org/18437.html http://tc.eserver.org/18437.html The goal of universal usability is to enable the widest range of users to benefit from web services. This website contains recommendations and information resources for web developers who wish to accommodate users with slow modems, small screens, text-only, and wireless devices. It deals with content design issues such as translation to other languages, plus access for novice, low educated and low motivated users, children and elders. The website also covers design guidance for blind, deaf, cognitively impaired, and physically disabled users. Each article has practical guidelines, web site examples, links to organizations, and a bibliography. http://tc.eserver.org/18314.html http://tc.eserver.org/18314.html Сайт Ярослава Перевалова, посвященный юзабилити. Есть ссылки на работы по HCI, и форум для обсуждения вопросов эргономики. http://tc.eserver.org/18160.html http://tc.eserver.org/18160.html A collection of links to mailing lists on a variety of usability-related topics. http://tc.eserver.org/15077.html http://tc.eserver.org/15077.html A project funded by the European Union to promote usability and user-centered design. http://tc.eserver.org/15082.html http://tc.eserver.org/15082.html This is a method of summarising a large body of fairly short statements into a small statistical table in a report. The method described here presupposes a spreadsheet; you can find specialised computer programs for doing the same thing. http://tc.eserver.org/15079.html http://tc.eserver.org/15079.html Standards related to usability can be categorised as primarily concerned with: the use of the product (effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a particular context of use); the user interface and interaction; the process used to develop the product; the capability of an organisation to apply user centred design http://tc.eserver.org/15078.html http://tc.eserver.org/15078.html A table of usability methods based upon varying conditions (limited time/resources, no direct access to users, or limited skills/expertise) and categories (planning and feasibility, requirements, design, implementation, test and measure, post release). http://tc.eserver.org/15080.html http://tc.eserver.org/15080.html Questionnaires are the most frequently used tools for usability evaluation. This page is a list of usability questionnaire resources, extending the information presented on the questionnaires page of Usabilitynet. http://tc.eserver.org/15081.html http://tc.eserver.org/15081.html It is advantageous to use a standard format for writing up usability reports. The reasons for this include: your clients will be familiar with the layout of information in your reports; the structure acts as a checklist in case you've missed something out; reports from different labs are comparable; there is a common consensus as to what should appear in a report. http://tc.eserver.org/13966.html http://tc.eserver.org/13966.html Welcome to the Usability Methods Toolbox! I've attempted to compile information about almost all of the methods and techniques (well, ok, a lot of them) used in usability evaluation. I hope you find helpful information here, or at least a pointer to additional information that will help you find what you need. I'll be continually updating the site with new sources and info, so please send me feedback! http://tc.eserver.org/13790.html http://tc.eserver.org/13790.html Until 2002, Usable Web linked to sites about information architecture, human factors, user interface issues, and usable design specific to the World Wide Web. Now it's no longer maintained, but it's still a well-organized collection of (older) online resources. http://tc.eserver.org/13764.html http://tc.eserver.org/13764.html Many people interested in learning about usability testing have trouble finding an entry point into the literature of the field. This bibliography offers to help. http://tc.eserver.org/13515.html http://tc.eserver.org/13515.html Check out this new Documentation Testing Checklist, which offers categories and suggestions to use when testing documentation. http://tc.eserver.org/11918.html http://tc.eserver.org/11918.html When you are screening the participants for a study, notice how they respond to your questions. Decide on a strategy for engaging the participant before they arrive for the usability study. Be careful of the social dynamics you set up with the participant. http://tc.eserver.org/10638.html http://tc.eserver.org/10638.html This brochure expands upon why ease of use is critical to e-business. In e-business, success follows the path of least resistance. It depends on accessibility, reliability, security and usability of core applications. These applications must be easy to use the first time they are used or your customer may become someone else's customer. Nobody buys ease of use, but nobody buys products without it either. Read about IBM's User-Centered Design (UCD). See why IBM's Thinkpad Team and DB2 Universal database have been so successful. And read in detail about IBM's overall approach to make IT easy. http://tc.eserver.org/10610.html http://tc.eserver.org/10610.html A collection of more than a thousand links to usability articles; more complete than any other. http://tc.eserver.org/10015.html http://tc.eserver.org/10015.html Jakob Nielsen's useit.com website publishes material about the emerging field of 'information design': articles, essays and links to resources for usable online interfaces.