 | American Psychological Association | |
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 | Usability Professionals Association | |
 | Human Factors & Ergonomics Society | |
Web Site Design & Web Site Usability BooksThe books described here are relevant to Human Factors Design and are available from Amazon. Please let us know if you would like to suggest additional titles.
Our RoleUsernomics can assist your company in making your products easy to learn, easy to use, aesthetically pleasing, and marketable. Our User Interface Design and Usability Testing professionals design both hardware and software products. Their experience covers a wide range of products including web-based and application software, consumer products, communication systems, and vehicles such as automobiles and aircraft.
We can also assist your company to make your workplace safe, efficient, and in compliance. Our Ergonomics Engineers apply a rigorous and systematic technique to ensure a hazard-free and worker-safe environment. We evaluate, design, and train your people to create an ongoing active safety program in your company. Our experience covers a wide range of workplace environments including the office, manufacturing floor, warehouse, and vehicles.
Because of overlapping subject matter, some books may be represented more than once. The books listed here are roughly divided into the following categories:
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Titles Q to Z Web Site Design Books
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by Elfriede Dustin, Jeff Rashka, Douglas McDiarmid, Jakob Nielson (Foreword)
August 23, 2001
Quality Web Systems provides web developers and software test professionals with practical, experience-based guidance on web system engineering. Concise and straightforward, this book provides a framework for ensuring that key web system success criteria is addressed during the development of the web system. Detailed, technical guidance is provided for each success criteria, including testing strategies that allow for verification of a quality implementation. This book addresses the key success factors of quality web systems including: proper specification of system functionality, ease-of-use, compatibility with a variety of browsers, security, and system performance and scalability. Engineering these qualities into the system throughout the development life cycle, while performing relevant testing, prevents flaws that can later prove to be disastrous, and produces a product that is well-received by its customers. A case study is used throughout the book to illustrate practical applications of issues, approaches, strategies, and techniques.
by Sanjay J. Koyani, Robert W. Bailey, Janice R. Nall
August, 2004
These guidelines are available for free on the web at http://usability.gov/pdfs/guidelines.html. But, the best way to view then is on paper and not on your computer monitor. Do be warned if you try to print, you will need a color printer, as much of the information is lost in black and white. So, save yourself a big hassle and the cost of much toner/ink. The 187 peer-reviewed guidelines are each rated on a 1 to 5 scale to indicate the strength of evidence supporting its hypothesis. These are not ideas promoted by one organization to further its reputation or advance its agenda. This is the result of review and input from experts from government, academia, and the private sector. Your tax dollars were spent developing these unbiased guidelines. They provide a roadmap that should help designers and developers avoid problems and produce more effective websites.
by Albert N. Badre
January 23, 2002
There is no shortage of material on web site usability. Hot Text shines in its comprehensive coverage of online writing. One will find information on XML and writing for database-driven sites; creating FAQs, blogs and newsletters, and online r sum s; and becoming a web writer or editor. Although it does not break any new ground, Back to the User is a solid summary of current thought on the "user-centered" approach, covering both writing and design. It largely focuses on business sites, with additional information on e-commerce and branding. Both titles are appropriate for public libraries. Shaping Web Usability, while more academic, also addresses specific issues such as designing for older adults and handheld devices.
by Andrew B. King, Jakob Nielsen
January 14, 2003
There's a time bomb on the web: user patience. It starts ticking each time someone opens one of your pages. You only have a few seconds to get compelling content onto the screen. Fail, and you can kiss your customers and profits goodbye. You can't count on fast connections either. Most of your customers are still sucking content through a 56K straw. You have to serve up greased lightning or they'll bail. That's why you picked up this book. In it you'll learn how to cut file sizes in half. You'll trim (X)HTML, CSS, graphics, JavaScript, multimedia, and bandwidth costs. Real-world examples illustrate techniques with before and after code and percentage savings. After reading this book, you'll know how to make your pages literally "pop" onto the screen.
by June Cohen
May 23, 2003
The Unusually Useful Web Book is the only book you need to find out everything you need to know about web sites. In fact, it's 2 books in 1. You can skim the sidebars and checklists for tips and techniques you can use right away. Or you can follow along with the main text for a detailed discussion of planning, designing, building, and maintaining your web site. The Unusually Useful Web Book is jam-packed with do-it-yourself worksheets, lessons from the trenches, advice from experts, and jargon-free explanations. But don't just take our word for it. Read what others are saying about The Unusually Useful Web Book: "This book definitely stands out. Most books of this nature are stuffed with irrelevant and non-substantive information that only add confusion. This book delivers an overwhelming amount of information in a way that is both approachable and useful. There was a lot of information that I could immediately apply to current projects." Garo Green, Director of Publications, lynda.com "Anyone who has a passion for web design will enjoy this book. For the novice, it's an eye opener and the reader will probably be compelled to soak in all the material, cover to cover. For the professional, it's a strong reinforcement of things we often overlook and a great reference tool. I'm a professional and found it to be an up-to-date and refreshing read, and I plan on using it as a required textbook in the classroom!" Rosanna Yeung, Multimedia & Web Design Instructor, The Art Institute of California
by Jon James, Andy Beaumont, Jon Stephens, Chris Ullman
June 2002
Forms are an integral part of many web sites, whether they are registration forms, feedback forms, or order forms. However, forms are time consuming for the site user to fill out, and need to be implemented to be as usable as possible, otherwise they can be frustrating and annoying, spoiling the user experience. This book takes all the hassle out of implementing forms in whatever way you wish, dealing with client-side forms in HTML and Flash, client- and server-side form validation, and server-side data processing. It provides code samples fully adaptable to your own needs, along with walkthrough tutorials on how they work, and an HTML form element reference.
by Jon Stephens, Jody Kerr, Clifton Evans
October 2002
Creating a usable e-commerce application is a daunting challenge. There is so much to do, from the initial concept, through to designing and coding the application. This leaves a lot of scope for things to go wrong. In this book we take all the hassle out of online shopping applications, by showing you how to plan your application, design the user interface and datastore, and code the entire thing. But it doesn't stop there - we provide the complete code for two complete shopping cart applications, customizable for your own needs.
October 15, 2001
Every stage in the design of a new web site is an opportunity to meet or miss deadlines and budgetary goals. Every stage is an opportunity to boost or undercut the site's usability. This book tells you how to design usable web sites in a systematic process applicable to almost any business need. You get practical advice on managing the project and incorporating usability principles from the project's inception. This systematic usability process for web design has been developed by the authors and proven again and again in their own successful businesses. A beacon in a sea of web design titles, this book treats web site usability as a preeminent, practical, and realizable business goal, not a buzzword or abstraction. The book is written for web designers and web project managers seeking a balance between usability goals and business concerns.
by Nuray Aykin
August, 2004
Contributors from the US, Europe, and Asia provide a theoretical foundation and practical examples and guidelines for designing information technology for different cultures, languages, and economic standings, describing methods that can be used to ensure their usability across cultural boundaries. Case studies describe research on cross-cultural design for children in a cyber setting, user requirements in mainland China, and travel planning on the Web. Aykin is affiliated with Siemens Corporate Research.
by John Cato
June 26, 2001
In this thoughtful book, usability expert John Cato outlines a design process that has a Web site visitor's needs in mind. He offers both theoretical discussions and real-world case studies. Although the illustrations in this compact book are small and not always well printed, the insightful advice is clearly communicated and is valuable to anyone setting out on the open sea of Web development. And, with its analyses of various corporate Web sites (including this one at Amazon.com), User-Centered Web Design addresses particularly important issues for those involved with e-business. This is neither a software how-to book nor a showcase of what's cutting-edge on the Web today. But it does inspire the sort of careful thinking found in Don Norman's The Psychology of Everyday Things.
by Jonathan Lazar
December 1, 2000
When a technology such as the Web is first introduced, the primary concern is making sure that the technology works. As we become more experienced with designing web sites, the problem no longer remains the technical infrastructure but rather becomes how we can make a web site that is easy to use and meets the needs of the user. As a result, many web sites are being designed utilizing a user-centered development process. User-Centered Web Design guides readers through the process of designing user-centered resources that are based on feedback from the end user. User-Centered Web Design; will take the reader through the entire development process: From the initial idea of developing a web site, determining the mission of the web site, collecting the requirements, designing the pages, performing usability tests, and eventually implementing and managing a web site.
by Edward R. Tufte
May 1, 2001
A timeless classic in how complex information should be presented graphically. The Strunk & White of visual design. Should occupy a place of honor--within arm's reach--of everyone attempting to understand or depict numerical data graphically. The design of the book is an exemplar of the principles it espouses: elegant typography and layout, and seamless integration of lucid text and perfectly chosen graphical examples. Very Highly Recommended.
by Edward R. Tufte
February 1, 1997
Like its predecessors, Visual Explanations is both intellectually stimulating and beautiful to behold. Tufte, a self-publisher, takes extraordinary pains with design and production. The book ranges through a variety of topics, including the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger (which could have been prevented, Tufte argues, by better information display on the part of the rocket's engineers), magic tricks, a cholera epidemic in 19th-century London, and the principle of using "the smallest effective difference" to display distinctions in data. Throughout, Tufte presents ideas with crystalline clarity and illustrates them in exquisitely rendered samples.
by Michael G. Paciello
October 2000
You will gain a critical insight to the legal parameters involving Web accessibility. Enforcement of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and pending federal and international standards are likely to mandate Web and Internet accessibility. This groundbreaking book delivers all the resources employers, Internet Service Providers, and Web site designers need to assure compliance and meet the needs of users with disabilities - including a complete review of the latest standards of the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium.
by Eric Peterson
March, 2004
It is a book about making data actionable, about turning information into insight... Focusing on the data, the tools, and the metrics that are common to nearly every analytics package available today, regardless of price, performance or popularity, Web Analytics Demystified will help you understand which reports you need to be looking at to run your online business successfully. With a focus on key performance indicators (KPIs), broken down by those best suited for each major business model, this book is truly about making your analytics program work for you! Written by someone who has worked in the field for years, Web Analytics Demystified is as complete a guide to the field of Web Analytics (traffic analysis, log file analysis) as exists today. The author stands on the shoulders of giants like Jim Sterne, Bryan Eisenberg, Jim Novo and Hurol Inan, expanding on each gentleman's ideas on the subject.
by Susan Fowler, Victor Stanwick
June 23, 2004
User interface designers have been debating among themselves for years about how to design effective Web applications. There were no comprehensive references that covered the myriad topics that emerged in these debates until Fowler and Stanwick took on the challenge and wrote Web Application Design Handbook, the first comprehensive guide to building Web applications. This book tackles design problems faced by every Web development team with uncommon wisdom, clear prose, and detailed examples. Key topics include: modifying the browser interface to meet application security and efficiency requirements, searching, sorting, filtering, building efficient and usable data input mechanisms, generating reports, preventing errors, and using creative visualization techniques to optimize the display of large sets of data. This thorough work should be a primary reference for everyone designing Web applications.
by Kelly Goto, Emily Cotler
December 10, 2004
Anyone who has managed the process of developing or redesigning a Web site of significant size has likely learned the hard way the complexities, pitfalls, and cost risk of such an undertaking. While many Web development firms have fantastic technical expertise, what sets the topnotch organizations apart is the ability to accurately manage the planning and development process. Web Redesign: Workflow That Works directly addresses this crucial area with a specific, proven process. This brief but important book lays out a specific five-step strategy--called the Core Process--that can always be applied to the development of Web sites and fine-tuned to almost any type of project. Each step--defining the project, developing site structure, visual design and testing, production and QA, and launch and beyond--contains three related but distinct tracks. The text begins with a brief overview of each of the steps, then delves deeper into each with detailed explanations as well as specific forms and project-management strategies. This book does not cover back-end, server-side programming. Instead, it focuses primarily on the visual, conventional components of a Web site. Authors Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler compiled this book in an attractive, easy-to-read format. This process guide uses numerous full-color screen shots to illustrate site examples, as well as plenty of site diagrams and sample forms. The book even has a companion Web site with downloadable forms in PDF format to put the Core Process into immediate action.
by Jennifer Fleming
September 1, 1998
Navigation is one of the most important (and least understood) issues in Web site design. Why do so many people get lost on the Web? How can we create more user-centered environments? The answer is by crafting the user experience. This book explores navigation design in depth, covering usability engineering, interface design, lessons from "real life," and more. The first half of the book suggests goals and processes for developing workable navigation schemes. The second half focuses on designing by purpose, with chapters on entertainment, shopping, identity, learning, information, and community sites. Case studies of popular sites help show what works and what doesn't. Throughout the book, interviews with expert such as Clement Mok, Nathan Shedroff, and Jakob Nielsen provide valuable insights. The accompanying CD-ROM includes a tour of selected sites, a "netography," and trial versions of popular software tools.
by Mary E. S. Morris, Randy J. Hinrichs, Mary E. S. Morris
June 6, 1996
This book is a comprehensive guide to building outstanding web pages. The author addresses the key problems of information overload and users getting "Lost in Cyberspace." She also pioneered new design techniques. With help from this book, you can go beyond building an ordinary Web page, and build a great one instead.
by Edwin Margulies
August, 2004
Web Site Usability Almanac 2004 The Web Site Usability Almanac 2004 is a landmark study in the usability of commercial and non-profit web sites, with an eye on customer service and automation. The Almanac represents the output of a joint research initiative sponsored by Sterling Audits' own research staff and its research affiliates. The research base includes thousands of web sites from 9 industry segments including: Communications; Financial Services; Government; Healthcare; Insurance; Manufacturing; Retail; Transportation; and Utilities. The Almanac concentrates on survey results of each web site in five critical areas: Navigation; Content; Usability; Interactivity; and Credibility. Scores for these critical areas are be tabulated using the Sterling Audits Research Portal software. Research questions are crystallized into small chunks of data that bubble up to the five focus areas mentioned above. Over 200 data points are used from each web site. Each of the five critical areas is assigned 20 points out of a possible 100. Weights are used in each area based on the criticality of the item. The Almanac is arranged by chapter. There is an introductory chapter, a chapter on approach and methodology - and the rest are dedicated to the survey results in the five critical areas. There are over 200 graphs and charts in this almanac. We list the upper quartile, median and lower quartile averages for each category.
by Patrick J. Lynch, Sarah Horton
March 2002
This essential guide for Web site designers provides practical, concise advice on creating well-designed and effective Web sites and pages. Focusing on the interface and graphic design principles that underlie the best Web site design, this book offers invaluable help on a full range of issues, from planning and organizing goals to design strategies for a site to the elements of individual page design. This second edition includes guidelines on designing for accessibility, strategies for maintaining a Web site, details on using style sheets, and much more. This book grew out of the widely used and highly praised Web site on site design created by the Center for Advanced Instructional Media at Yale University (info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/). At this site, readers will continue to find updated color illustrations and examples to complement and demonstrate points made in the book, as well as useful and current online references.
by Carolyn Snyder, Tara Scanlon, Will Schroeder, Terri DeAngelo, Tara Scanlon, Will Schroeder, Carolyn Snyder Jared Spool
November 17, 1998
Web Site Usability: A Designer's Guide is a report that every person involved in Web design, commerce, or online marketing will want to have. This book is, undoubtedly, the most comprehensive data demonstrating how Web sites actually work when users need specific answers. Researched and compiled by User Interface Engineering, the results are written in an easy to understand style, illustrating the need to make Web sites useful, not complicated.
by Mark Pearrow
July 15, 2000
Does your company Web site convey your message effectively? Are your customers finding what they need easily? Determining these factors is a difficult task that has challenged Usability professionals since the first Web page was posted. Company Web sites aren't optional in today's highly competitive business environment and ensuring that your investment on the Web is well spent, is a challenge facing all levels of Web professionals. With the hands-on guidance and examples provided in this book, readers will find practical tools to make certain that their site is as effective and user-friendly as possible. They'll learn to create sites that are free from navigation "dead ends", difficult to use interfaces, and other barriers to usability. All of the principals of User Centered Design (UCD) are covered along with Critical Human Factors, and guidelines for implementing a test plan. Examples of Usability issues and how they are dealt with are covered through a case study focused on an existing site. As new techniques and tools are introduced, the team of usability specialists will detail how they implement these new tools as they work through the evaluation, testing, and transformation stages
Jonathan Lazar
February 1, 2004
This book takes readers from the initial idea of developing a web site, determining the mission and target user, designing the pages and testing the site, to implementing and managing the site. Case studies are presented explaining how these concepts have been applied to web development in real world situations. Covers the principles behind Web Usability and interface design. Provides content needed to learn and build useable websites. Incorporates six practical case studies that have readers working with existing websites to improve their usability. This book is appropriate for anyone interested in designing web sites based off the needs of the user.
by Chun Wei Choo, Brian Detlor, Don Turnbull
September 1, 2000
This book brings together three great motifs of the network society: the search for and use of information by individuals and groups; the creation and application of knowledge in organizations; and the fundamental transformation of these activities as they take place on the World Wide Web and corporate intranets. As research endeavors, these streams overlap and share conceptual constructs, perspectives, and methods of analysis. Although these overlaps and shared concerns are sometimes apparent in published research, there have been few attempts to connect these ideas explicitly and identify cross-disciplinary themes. This book is an attempt to fill this void.
by Richard Mander, Bud E. Smith
December 15, 2001
Web Usability For Dummies goes beyond the current best-sellers by going beyond usability analysis and offering readers real, hands-on methods for improving site usability and testing usability. This guide covers the essentials a Web designer needs to know to create an effective and usable page or site. The book empowers shows you how to overcome design problems, analyze your own design, and test usability with real users.
Titles Q to Z Web Site Design Books
