User-Centered Web Site Development: A Human-Computer Interaction Approach [Paperback]

Daniel D. McCracken (Author), Rosalee J. Wolfe (Author), Jared M. Spool (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130411612 | ISBN-13: 978-0130411617 | Publication Date: May 30, 2003 | Edition: 1

This is an innovative and timely book that introduces the reader to the human component of Web site design. Readers will be able to do a much better job of writing front ends or other interactive software, as the book describes the creation of user-friendly Web sites. In the context of Human-Computer Interaction and Web design, this book covers such topics as user and task analysis, content organization, visual organization, navigation design, prototyping, and evaluation, as well as color, typography, multimedia, accessibility, globalization. For individuals interested in entering the field of Web page and site design, as well as industrial team workers in HCI and Web site development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is the kind of book I've been searching for!" — Robert Renman, Augustana University College

"I used your textbook in draft form this past semester for my undergraduate HCI course. It was fantastic. The students loved it, I loved it, and we had a great time. I think they learned a lot." — Mary Jane Wiltshire, School of Engineering, University of Portland

"I realty like the book and think that it would fit into the course I'm going to teach in the fall." — John K. Estelt, Ohio Northern University

From the Back Cover

Here is a book that presents Web design as an application of key ideas of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

This text is the only one of its kind that addresses Human-Computer Interaction as it relates to website design. It stresses HCI principles, not just Web implementation techniques. The book provides a working knowledge of Web design. aimed at creating Web pages and sites that are attractive and user-friendly. while allowing students to become familiar with the concepts and terminology of Web design as a basis for further study.

Major themes include:

• Human Computer Interaction: Chapters 1-8 cover the importance of knowing your customer and the significance of visual and content organization of a website, as well as navigation design and the crucial issues of prototyping and user testing.
• Supporting Disciplines: The impact of color, typography, and multimedia are discussed in terms of website development.
• Major Web Issues: The significance of accessibility, globalization, and personalization are discussed in the context of a successful website.

Rich in pedagogy, the book contains more than 300 review questions, exercises, and projects. A full suite of instructor supplements is also available.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (May 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130411612
• ISBN-13: 978-0130411617
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Human-Computer Interaction
  • #91 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Interface Design

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only instructors will get the full value of this book, November 22, 2003

By 

Brett Merkey (Palm Harbor, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: User-Centered Web Site Development: A Human-Computer Interaction Approach (Paperback)

Until it was finally in my hands, I wondered why this book had not received much reviewer attention, given its solid content and authorship. Keys to understanding that at once became obvious:

1) The book is much more expensive than books with similar content.

2) The eloquent Jared Spool, listed as an author, provided only a short preface.

3) The book was designed as a college textbook. Who loves or hates a textbook enough to bother to review it?

As a classroom aid, the book is superb. Usability principles are presented from foundations to applications clearly and without padding. Unlike many usability texts, statements are backed with ample references. The color illustrations lighten the book sufficiently to soften any textbooky stigma.

Each chapter ended with review questions and exercises. Some of them were very interesting and creative, but if you are not in a classroom with an instructor who has access to the password-protected answers, you are on your own.

So the Web professional attracted to the material and learning on his own will inevitably feel a bit cheated out of the full value of the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Product was defective, February 20, 2009

By 

Manuel Cruz (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: User-Centered Web Site Development: A Human-Computer Interaction Approach (Paperback)

Normally, I have had good purchases from Amazon. I will continue to shop for other items here. Unfortunately, the book had words missing from every sentence towards the middle of the book. Also there were full sentences missing at the bottom of the page as if the printing of this book was not checked. I tried to see if I could keep it, because my class had already started, but it was hard to read the chapters when you have words and full sentences missing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Content Okay - Presentation Poor, February 14, 2009

By 

andrea - See all my reviews

This review is from: User-Centered Web Site Development: A Human-Computer Interaction Approach (Paperback)

As a previous reviewer suggested, the printing quality of this book is very poor. Every word in each row of the right hand column has been cut off, leaving the reader to guess what should come next. Additionally, this is not a book that is meant to be published in paperback, this is especially evident in the chapter on color, which of course has absolutely no color, but references color wheels (in black and white mind you) and asks you to view images that are meant to show gradations in hue, etc.! One can work through these obstacles, but with a $50+ price tag, you shouldn't have to. The only reason I did not return my copy, was because I needed it for a class in which I was already behind.