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Universal Usability: Designing Computer Interfaces for Diverse User Populations

ISBN: 978-0-470-72456-9

July 2011

640 pages

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Description

Universal Usability is the concept of designing computer interfaces that are easy for all users to utilize. Universal Usability includes key chapters by Human-Computer Interaction luminaries such as Jonathan Lazar, Ron Baecker, Allison Druin, Ben Shneiderman, Brad Myers and Jenny Preece. The text examines innovative and groundbreaking research and practice, and provides a practical overview of a number of successful projects which have addressed a need for specific user populations. Chapters in this book address topics including: age diversity, economic diversity, language diversity, visual impairment, and spinal cord injuries. Several of these trailblazing projects in the book are amongst the first to examine usability issues for users with Down Syndrome, users with Amnesia, users with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and users with Alzheimer's Disease, and coverage extends to projects where multiple categories of needs are addressed.

Ideal for students of HCI and User Interface Design, and essential reading for usability practitioners, this fascinating collection of real-world projects demonstrates that computer interfaces can truly be designed to meet the needs of any category of user.

About the Author
Dr. Jonathan Lazar is an Associate Professor of Computer and Information Sciences at Towson University, where he serves as head of the Computer Information Systems Program, and is the founder and director of the Universal Usability Laboratory.
Dr. Lazar has authored over 70 refereed publications, on the topics of web usability, assistive technology, user error and frustration, and user-centered design methods. He has previously authored two books and edited two books. His most recent authored book is "Web Usability: A User-Centered Design Approach", published by Addison-Wesley in 2006, and his most recent edited book is "Universal Usability: Designing Computer Interfaces for Diverse User Populations" published by John Wiley in 2007.
Dr. Lazar is a founding member and currently serves as Chair of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGCHI U.S. Public Policy Committee. He was also recently named a Distinguished Speaker of the ACM. He has served on a number of conference committees, including CHI, ASSETS, INTERACT, and HCII.
New to Edition
  • Edited by a key researcher and emerging authority in HCI and Usability.
  • A groundbreaking collection of essential research into usability for diverse users, addressing economic diversity, age, and – most importantly – disabilities, where the foremost and most market-driven research is taking place.
  • Strong practical approach, rather than theory driven.
  • Extremely valuable for students on Usability and User Interface Design courses, as well as advanced HCI courses.
  • Essential reading for Usability practitioners.
  • Complements Wiley’s existing HCI list (Preece, Jones and Marsden)
  • The chapters include real-world projects, being carried out on different continents. The authors of the chapters also represent diversity—interface researchers and software developers in university, industrial, and government settings. 

  • Includes guidelines and suggestions for students attempting similar projects, as well as implications for different stakeholders such as policymakers, researchers, and designers.

Features
Edited by a key researcher and emerging authority in HCI and Usability.