RE: techwr-l digest: June 14, 2001

[Sean MacRae <sean -at- rcp -dot- co -dot- uk>]

Ian,

Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think" (Que, 2000; ISBN: 0789723107) is a gentle
introduction to the art of Web-based usability, which includes a useful
description of a usability walk-through with a user. Recommended, readable
and short!

Hackos and Redish, "User and Task Analysis for Interface Design" (John Wiley
and Sons, 1997; ISBN: 0471178314) is an excellent reference for the analysis
phase.

I have just read Jeff Johnson's "GUI Bloopers: Don'ts and Do's for software
developers and Web designers" (Morgan Kaufmann, 2000; ISBN: 1558605827).
Although this is aimed at GUI designers and developers, it includes some
descriptions of assessments and analyses that Johnson has carried out; you
may wish to borrow, rather than buy this.

Jakob Nielsen's Useit.com (http://www.useit.com)has been mentioned recently
in the list; in particular his article on "Guerilla usability" includes some
discussion of usability methods:

	http://www.useit.com/papers/guerrilla_hci.html

Also try out uidesign.net:

	http://www.uidesign.net/

The BCS in the UK run a HCI chapter; they may run courses and do have a
conference coming up, but HCI groups tend to be too academic:

	http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/

Regards,
Sean M

PS: Although you didn't want books describing the "why?" rather than the
"how?", I believe everyone should read Alan Cooper's "The Inmates are
Running the Asylum" (Sams Publishing; ISBN: 0672316498). You won't agree
with all of it, but I wanted to photocopy large chunks and staple them to
the foreheads of our developers...


> Subject: Question on courses for UK-based Tech Writers
> From: <ian -dot- saunders -at- vf -dot- vodafone -dot- co -dot- uk>

[...]

> Do any UK-based tech writers know of any courses (aside from 
> undergraduate
> courses in tech writing) in this country covering: 
> 
> * User Needs Analysis 
> * Usability Testing
> 
> Failing that, do you know of any good books, web pages or 
> other resources
> containing guidelines for performing these tasks (rather than just the
> theory of why they are important)?

[...]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com

Sponsored by Cub Lea, specialist in low-cost outsourced development
and documentation. Overload and time-sensitive jobs at exceptional
rates. Unique free gifts for all visitors to http://www.cublea.com

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.