Reviews (14)

Guiding hand to accessibility
The GlassHaus "Constructing Accessible Web Sites" book has been a great find.I began working to build sites and applications for use in Web browsers that had to be used by individuals with disabilities in 1997.Over these years I picked up a lot of hard won knowledge and experience, but have never run across a resource that fully backed what I had gathered.The GlasHaus Accessibility book not only echoes what I have learned, but has provided new insights to improve upon what I already have.The best part of this book is that I can point others to it and I am assured they will be able to build an accessible site or Web applications that can meet high standards. Guiding hand to accessibility
The GlassHaus "Constructing Accessible Web Sites" book has been a great find.I began working to build sites and applications for use in Web browsers that had to be used by individuals with disabilities in 1997.Over these years I picked up a lot of hard won knowledge and experience, but have never run across a resource that fully backed what I had gathered.The GlasHaus Accessibility book not only echoes what I have learned, but has provided new insights to improve upon what I already have.The best part of this book is that I can point others to it and I am assured they will be able to build an accessible site or Web applications that can meet high standards. No More Excuses.
Two new words have joined the vocabulary of web designers in recent years - usability and accessibility. You will often come across them used in tandem. Read more

Subjects:  1. Computers and people with disa    2. Computer - Internet    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Internet - General    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. User interfaces (Computer systems)    10. Web site development    11. Web sites    12. Disability   

Reviews (5)

we need more people reading stuff like this
I cannot tell you how many times, as a techwriter, and content developer, if you work on other people's stuff, edit the engineer's stuff...they think you are "Dumbing-it-down" or castrating it. Fantastic book!
This book is extremely well done, and it can be applied to much more than writing.I think that the bulk of it applies to almost any kind of design, i.e getting to know the users, their needs, abilities, experience, etc. and then involving them in the design, getting feedback, establishing a partnership, etc.It's just the kind of up from the trenches stuff that managers would be wise to listen to but very rarely do.You can definitely sense the frustration the author has in technical writers being the band-aid applied to poor product design and cost-cutting, and she offers concrete alternatives when you have limitations. This book is not a "how-to"
Well, I just got this book. From the Preface: "This book is not a "how-to". This book is one level higher and deals with the cognitive psychological theory of designing and developing technical communication...". Thats not what I need. I looked for "how to' not for another academic book. Well this book is going to the return center. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Communication of technical inf    2. Communication of technical information    3. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. Data Transmission Systems - General    6. Ergonomics/Human Engineering    7. General    8. Human engineering    9. Programming Languages - General    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Technical Information Communication    12. Technology    13. Computers / User Interfaces    14. Human-computer interaction    15. Software engineering   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Operating Systems    2. Computer networks    3. Computers    4. Computers - Computer Security    5. Computers - Operating Systems    6. Hardware - Handheld Computing    7. Operating Systems - General    8. Security - General    9. Security measures    10. World Wide Web    11. Computers / Operating Systems / General    12. Data security & data encryption    13. Operating systems & graphical user interfaces (GUIs)   

Reviews (11)

Great introduction and motivation to statecharts
I really learned quite a lot from this book about statecharts, enough even to write my own book using the concepts to build device simulations (Flash MX for Interactive Simulation)! Difficoult to read and apply
I don't know if the other reviewers have read the books carefully or not because the books have been over-rated. First of all, the book is filled with reference stuff to state theory. The useful stuffs are to help people HOW to get a gui done. In these aspects, the book did not do a very good job. A Quantum ahead...
I have lost this book, and re-order it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming    2. Computer Books: Integrated Systems    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computers    5. Computers - Languages / Programming    6. Programming - Software Development    7. Software Design    8. Statecharts (Computer science)    9. User Interface    10. User Interfaces    11. User interfaces (Computer syst    12. User interfaces (Computer systems)    13. Operating systems & graphical user interfaces (GUIs)    14. Software engineering   

Reviews (3)

Process for usability
Ths book is special for showing how high usability goals change the software development process. Nothing but Common Sense
Somehow the authors manage to fill several hundred pages without ever saying anything interesting or beyond the level of common sense.The authors seem to try to avoid discussing specifics, but talking about user interfaces in general terms has very little value in my opinion.I'm sure there are many better books available on this topic, so my advice is to keep looking!

Usability Frist!
This book gives a new approach to interface developement process, which will ensure USABILITY throughout the developement lifecycle. Anybody who who wants to develop interfaces(software & web) with good usability, can be benefited by this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Languages    2. Computer software    3. Computers - Languages / Programming    4. Development    5. Programming - Software Development    6. Programming Languages - General    7. Software Design    8. User interfaces (Computer syst    9. User interfaces (Computer systems)    10. Computers / User Interfaces    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Human-computer interaction   

Reviews (7)

Needed perspective for a programmer
Want to write a brilliant applicatioin?Then think and process information the way your user will think and process, and design your application for them, not you!Easy concept to say and comprehend, but rather hard to actually do.Tog, through examples and descriptions, tells us how people think and process information.The not-so-surprising thing is that most code slingers think in conceptual ways that are not so common.Go figure.Tog really does help you understand how most others will process, and that understanding makes you a better developer.
Great, but somewhat sheltered, writing
I am a big fan of AskTog, so I bought this book. Some of the information is a bit dated (and relates specifically to the old Macintosh), but much of it is sound design principles expressed informally (and in a readable way). A classic that's fun to read
You'll get some good laughs, as you follow Tog through the complexities of designing some of the earliest, and still the best, interfaces out there...he was, as I recall, the Interface Czar at Apple when they were creating the Mac, then worked at Sun, and now is part of the Nielsen Norman Group.The book's good background for his site, AskTog.com. You'll get the basics, without the sour looks of some other interface gurus, and you'll get a sense of the way a leading designer interacted with the developers he had to persuade to follow his lead. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers - Languages / Programming    3. Human-Computer Interaction    4. Programming - Software Development    5. Programming Languages - General    6. User Interfaces    7. User interfaces (Computer syst    8. User interfaces (Computer systems)    9. Computers / User Interfaces   

Reviews (4)

good introductory book
Too many beginning developers learning object oriented programming dive right into implementation and don't think about interfaces -- and interfaces are what OO is really all about.
A Successful and Worthwhile Book
I've been very pleased with Interface Oriented Design by Ken Pugh. Not only does it cover it's stated topic well, but it is also refreshing in two ways: one, at 215 pages it is just the right size for someone who needs an overview of the interface-oriented approach; and two, it operates at a level of abstraction that is paradigm-agnostic and time-proof. This book will be useful and relevant ten or fifteen years from now with only a few minor tweaks in future editions to keep up with the times.
A frustrating experience
This book discusses and encourages thinking about object oriented design in terms of interfaces, i.e. the high-level "tasks" that an object offers to carry out for you, rather than thinking about implementation details. Examples are given in a mixture of languages (not all OO), with the majority in the Java-like notation Pugh used in his previous book, Prefactoring. There are three parts to the book. The first part, which takes up the first half of the book, introduces interfaces and discusses them in the context of contracts, stateless versus stateful, and the interplay of inheritance and interfaces. The second part consists of one chapter on an agile development process, which discusses use cases and CRC cards (here redubbed Interface Responsibility Interaction cards). The third part covers three examples, and then a final chapter on design patterns.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Interfaces    3. Computer Programming    4. Computers    5. Computers - Languages / Programming    6. Data Transmission Systems - General    7. Programming - General    8. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    9. User Interfaces    10. Computers / Languages / Programming    11. Computers / Programming / Software Development    12. Computers / User Interfaces    13. Computers/Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    14. Software engineering   

Reviews (3)

Instructions on How to Install and Use PHPEclipse
When you are first learning a new computer language such as PHP, you will want to complete each line of code and each phase of the program by hand and without using any shortcuts. This is the best way to learn. But as we all know, in the real world, we are all pressed for time. Many programmers turn to an IDE (integrated development environment) to keep them organized and to streamline the workflow. This book by Shu-Wai Chow will show you how to install, setup and use PHPEclipse which is a popular open source IDE for PHP programmers.
A Great Resource to the Rescue
I have struggled with PHP, always wishing I could just find a plain-language guide. This book not only makes the material clear, it is actually fun to read!
Invaluable
I don't know how I ever wrote php code without Eclipse!And this book makes it easy and FUN to use Eclipse.Shu Chow is a master at explaining the concepts involved as well as the functionality of the tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Bks - Internet    3. Computer Books: Web Programming    4. Computers    5. Internet - Web Site Design    6. Internet languages    7. World Wide Web (WWW)   

Editorial Review

For the seasoned developer, Read more

Reviews (15)

Wind blew
Not to dissent, but this seems more one man's personal manifesto than a guide for making apps conform with existing Windows standards. Did Microsoft Press just farm this book out to some random writer? Not that he doesn't raise the occasional valid point, but if you're looking for Windows standards and practices, be it ui or infrastructure--or if you're looking for the results of solid research as opposed to assertions of opinion--look elsewhere.

Very Useful and Practical Book
This book is well written and contains a helpful CD with a great set of sample guidelines that acts as a terrific cheat sheet of the book's main points.

Outstanding Quality
I was 100% satisfied with this book.It is clearly written, well organized and filled with many usefull examples of both good and bad designs.It also is very well cross referenced to other user interfacedesign resources on every topic. In particular, it contains comprehensivereviews of otherusefull books related to user interface design. I ratethis as a must-have quality book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer software    4. Computers    5. Development    6. Microsoft Windows (Computer file)    7. Programming - General    8. Programming - Software Development    9. Programming Languages - General    10. Software Development    11. User Interface    12. User Interfaces    13. User interfaces (Computer systems)    14. Virtual Reality   

Subjects:  1. Artificial Intelligence - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Books: Operating Systems    4. Computers    5. Computers - General Information    6. Experimental Psychology    7. Human-Computer Interaction    8. Interactive & Multimedia    9. User Interface    10. User interfaces (Computer syst    11. User interfaces (Computer systems)    12. Virtual Reality    13. Cognition & cognitive psychology    14. Computers / Interactive Media    15. Computers-Artificial Intelligence - General    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    17. Psychology-Experimental Psychology    18. Technical design   

Reviews (1)

Expand Your Mind
This text is made up of several chapters, each chapter is a separate article that covers a lot of the issues not typically found in the IS curriculum. This text was used for an Information Policy course. I honestly felt that it was a good selection given the content for the course.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Computers - General Information    4. Government & Business    5. Information Management    6. Information Technology    7. Information science    8. Information society    9. Management Information Systems    10. Moral and ethical aspects    11. Social Aspects - Human-Computer Interaction    12. Social aspects    13. User Interfaces    14. Human-computer interaction    15. Impact of computing & IT on society   

Editorial Review

The official book on Microsoft user-interface design. If you are developing Windows 95 applications, please buy this book--standards are "a good thing." ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Even 10 years on, it's remarkably current
To echo the other reviews, don't be put off because this book is now 11 years old. Almost all of the behavior defined in this text still applies to Windows XP. If you are somehow involved in UI design for desktop software, you need this book.

Still practical
The Microsoft interface book is still practical although it is old (1995 or so). It explains the very basics of user interfaces in a few and clear words. However descriptions about technology and specifics of certain windows platform are really outdated.

A complete reference of an obsolete GUI
This official set of guidelines for creating Windows-compliant user interfaces was published in 1995, and explains in depth then just released Windows 95. Profusely illustrated and nicely printed on a good quality paper, it seems to cover all the necessary bases on its 550+ pages. It might not be the best lecture ever -- the text is rather dry and gets boring after a while -- but for a reference book that it is, it's hard to point out any serious problems. Even when Windows 95-like interface will be long but obsolete, the book might be a joy to riffle through. International word lists, presenting Windows terms translated to 25 languages, are a nice addition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer software    3. Computers - Languages / Programming    4. Development    5. Microcomputer Operating Environments    6. Microsoft Windows (Computer file)    7. Operating Systems - Windows    8. Programming - Software Development    9. User Interface    10. User Interfaces    11. User interfaces (Computer systems)    12. Microsoft Windows   

Reviews (1)

essentially an illustrated guide
Naturally, the computer in the title is one running a Microsoft operating system, like MS Windows XP. Miller writes for someone who perhaps has never used any computer before. So pragmatically, he concentrates on the Microsoft machines. Not even a mention of the Macintosh. :(
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Books: Internet General    4. Computer Science    5. Computer Science (General)    6. Computers    7. Internet - General    8. Microcomputers    9. Computer Software Packages    10. Computers / Internet / General    11. Operating systems & graphical user interfaces (GUIs)    12. Personal computers   

Reviews (4)

A Book of Research, not Ideas
This book is academic and a dry read. There are better books out there which address this same material that makes for an easier read. But if you want to read the original work that paved the road for those books and usability now, here it is. Academic research that is usability's foundation!

Very satisfied
I bought this book for class and aced the class. I found this book helpfull and inspiring for people in the web usability field of study. Even though this is 1994 book, web usability aticles apply to today world as well.

Disappointing
I do usability inspections as part of my job.I bought this book based on Nielsen's reputation and the description of this book here on Amazon.com.I was very disappointed to find that this book was scholarly, not practical.After scanning the book, I returned it for refund. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers - General Information    3. Human-Computer Interaction    4. Programming - General    5. User Interface    6. User interfaces (Computer syst    7. User interfaces (Computer systems)    8. Computers / Programming / General    9. Software engineering   

Reviews (1)

Knowledge Management In The Construction Industry: A Socio-T
Knowledge Management In The Construction Industry: A Socio-Technical Perspectivepresents concepts, applications and case studies on how the construction industry is attempting to understand and then integrate concepts of knowledge management or innovation into their work and strategies. .This reader has seen many definitions. The author has settled on managing experience and insight as the definition that best fits the challenges faced by an industry where from 40 - 70% of the skilled workforce is retiring within the next 15-20 years, and the needto capture their experience and skills is critical.
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Construction - General    3. Construction industry    4. Information Management    5. Information resources manageme    6. Knowledge management    7. Management    8. Organizational learning    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Technology    11. User Interfaces    12. Technology / Construction & Construction Trades   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (8)

Dont Bother
I just thought this book is not really that good.Most were not even hacks, but just basic usage.The only hacks book I really liked was by Rob - Linux Server Hacks.I would really recommend that one, even if you use bsd as it has true hacks with tar/ssh/etc.Try the Absolute OpenBSD book too.That is quite good and has a lot of info.

The best BSD book on the shelves, PERIOD.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, you will find this book extremely practical.Dru's solutions make building a BSD server from start to finish a snap.Buy this book as a supplement at the very least.5 stars!

Mac-Centric Review for Darwin/OS X Hackers
Originally reviewied for the Lower East Side Mac Unix Users Group:
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Web Programming    2. Computers    3. Computers - Operating Systems    4. Operating Systems - UNIX    5. Programming - General    6. Programming Languages - General    7. BSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, server, networking, administration, Unix, Dru Lavigne, Hacks, firewall, ports, ports collection    8. Computers / General    9. Computers / Operating Systems    10. Computers / Operating Systems / UNIX    11. Operating systems & graphical user interfaces (GUIs)   

Reviews (6)

OK for beginners but not too basic for experienced developers
I think Lars and M. Hawley's reviews are right on.I was pretty disappointed with this book.Most of it seemed to be pretty much common sense.Don't get me wrong I did learn some from this book.The first few chapters had some decent content but as the chapters went on I was hoping it more focus more on design and technical aspects.If you're looking for the basics then this book is good but if you're an experienced developer (even only a few months) then I think you will be disappointed.

Good for guidelines, but lacking on design
Resources on how to use each of the UI controls and dialog styles in which circumstance are scattered throughout the MSDN library and articles. This book does a great job of bringing all of that information together into one place and, as such, is a reasonable first reference manual on how to put together a UI application.
Good at covering the basics
Mike Gunderloy has put together a nice book to follow up his Coder to Developer, this time covering the basics of UI design and concepts.A good book, but not perfect.What's good:he systematically describes in detail all the major components making up the modern Windows user interface.Don't do Windows?That's okay, a lot (if not all) of the components have their equivalents in other operating systems/UI shells.If you've never done UI design, either by choice or you've never had to, this is a good place to start.I've not found a book yet that covers the UI basics, without being wrapped up in a particular language or technology.The author's premise is a sound one; rare is the project that has the luxury of a dedicated UI specialist.Most business applications are done by developers that are typically not trained in User Experience or the like.So if you think that a good UI is easy and you just drag some of them white boxes on to the form, with a bunch of buttons too, this is a good book for you.I also appreciate his coverage of the web browser based application.There has been a lot of work in standard UI styles that got tossed out the window when the web based app hit.Mike does a good job dealing with that too.What's not so good:I thought that the chapter spent on Avalon, Microsoft's future UI was wasted, as it is inconsistent with the premise of the book.We'll need the new version of the book in a couple of years, once Avalon/Longhorn have shipped.I would have preferred the space used for more details on the current UI styles.My other issue is that this is a book for beginners.If you follow what Tog or Jef Raskin are doing in UI design, this isn't the book for you.If you feel challenged by Alan Cooper's ideas, then keep looking, this is a beginner's book and you are not going to find what you're looking for here.And this is not a criticism, merely an admission that this book is for a particular skill level, just like other development books.I'm glad to see Sybex and Mike Gunderloy giving the User Interface it's due and hopefully making developers realize that there is a little more to UI design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Languages    2. Computers    3. Computers - Other Applications    4. Miscellaneous Software    5. Programming - Software Development    6. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    7. Software Engineering    8. Computers / User Interfaces    9. Operating systems & graphical user interfaces (GUIs)   

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Networks    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Internet - General    7. Internet - Web Site Design    8. Smith, Bud E    9. Web sites    10. World Wide Web (WWW)   

Reviews (5)

Very practical
Very practical, helpfulland easy to follow book. What is more important it gives you possibility to easily make your own templates for analysis and design.

One of the best book I ever read
Easy to read and understand.Good and practical methodology.Cover most essential parts of Software Analysis and Design. Platform independent, plain english, and complete - buy it.
I have read this book three times, and each I learn something new.It isnice to have a book that is independent of any development platform, and inPLAIN ENGLISH to boot.This book is more valuable than the course I hadtaken in college.Read more

Subjects:  1. Client-Server Computing - General    2. Client/server computing    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers    5. Computers - Communications / Networking    6. Distributed Computer Systems    7. Graphical user interfaces (Com    8. Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems)    9. Management Information Systems    10. Networking - General    11. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    12. User Interface    13. Computers / Client-Server Computing    14. Databases & data structures    15. Systems analysis & design   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (2)

For the new sysadmin
As the various unixes developed in the 1990s, vendors tried to make administration easier by writing proprietary UIs to simplify tasks. For example, IBM came up with SMIT. Of course, each UI was only for that vendor's unix. A developer, Cameron, set out to simplify this across vendors, by writing Webmin. As the book explains, it has now been ported to most unixes and linux. Great Book, Great Open Source Software
This is a great book that describes one of the best pieces of software for a *NIX enviroment I have ever seen. It is easy to read and understandRead more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Languages    2. Computer interfaces    3. Computers    4. Computers - Operating Systems    5. Internet - General    6. Operating Systems - UNIX    7. Social Aspects - Human-Computer Interaction    8. UNIX (Computer file)    9. Unix (Operating System)    10. User Interface    11. User Interfaces    12. User interfaces (Computer syst    13. User interfaces (Computer systems)    14. Computers / Operating Systems    15. Computers / Operating Systems / UNIX    16. Computers/Internet - General    17. Computers/Social Aspects - Human-Computer Interaction    18. Unix, Unix Linux & Unix TCL/TK