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Designing Web Usability : The Practice of Simplicity (Paperback) (平装)
by Jakob Nielsen
| Category:
Internet, Web developing, Design, Software |
| Market price: ¥ 428.00
MSL price:
¥ 408.00
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MSL rating:
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| MSL Pointer Review:
This is a bible for web developers who are serious about business results! |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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A reader (MSL quote), UK
<2007-06-29 00:00>
By thinking of a website as an interface instead of a means to directly deliver entertainment or complex content the value of the Jakob Nielsens's guidelines becomes more obvious.
Browser incompatibility issues, unsupported file types, and the prevalence of modem dial-up-connections makes the internet and website design a challenge. Simple and usable websites are an even bigger challenge, which is why too few exist. But what a refreshing relief they are when happened upon.
If more websites adhered to the Jakob Nielsen way of thinking ( as it is mine ) the internet would be much more useful.
Steve Krug's 'Don't Make Me Think' should also be read, and digested.
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R. Tiedemann (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
Jackob Nielsen has put together the most logical and useful book on creating usable websites with the kind of information people want. And, when you think of it, what's more important?
You can design a web site, sure, but making it something folks learn from and want to come back to is something else. So is making it easy to use and chocking it full of the kind of information visitors want to see. His emphasis is on the business site, but the principles apply to everyone. If your web site is just for play, and you don't care about usability, this book isn't for you.
In the introduction, "Why web usability," Nielsen points out that there are two approaches to web site design: one of artistic expression and the other of problem solving for the customer (meaning web site visitor). He promises a systematic approach to designing a site that encompasses both. He accomplishes his goal beautifully. For each principle he gives, he provides a background of statistical support.
This is not a book about how to construct a web site as much as it's about how to make that site attractive and easy to use. As he says, you'll have to go elsewhere to learn HTML and how to design and put your site on the web but you should read this first to learn what your customers or audience want and how to make your site useful as well as appealing.
Common errors in web design include: Treating the web like a business brochure, managing a site as if it were a traditional corporate project, structuring the site to mirror the company, creating gorgeous pages that look great to insiders but don't necessarily appeal to customers, writing that's linear, and not linking to relevant sites that would be helpful to your customers. "The Web is a new medium and requires a new approach, as explained in this book," he writes.
This is an intelligent book. It's not hard reading but on the other hand, it's not written for children. It's full of new vision and great advice. It's definitely not the only book you should have on web design, but it should be in your collection.
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Robert Morris (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
An abundance of market research data indicates that convenience (or ease of doing business) is ranked either first or second among attributes by which customers measure their satisfaction with a seller of goods and/or services. This is especially true of visitors to Web sites. As Nielsen brilliant explains and then convincingly demonstrates, "web usability" is another application of the KISS Principle. He has written two books which "attack the problem of usable web design from two angles. This first one is about the 'what' of good websites, and the second is about the 'how.'...This book explains what is known about the properties of easy-to-use websites. Short preview: Relish simplicity, and focus on the users' goals rather than glitzy design." He guides his reader through various phase of web design (page design, content design, and the design of the overall architecture) and then shifts the reader's attention to "special issues" such as intranets, users with disabilities, and international users. Nielsen concludes his book with a "view toward the future of the Internet and new developments on the Web."
Who will derive the greatest value from reading this book? My hunch (only a hunch) is the owner/CEO of a small-to-midsize company which has not as yet launched a Web site, or, which has done so and the Web site has not achieved its objectives thus far. Whether designing a Web site or a residence, the same basic question must first be answered: Why? More specifically, how will it be used? By whom? To serve which specific purposes? To accomplish what? And at what cost? Nielsen observes, "usability rules the Web. Simply stated, if the customer can't find a product, then he or she will not buy it. The Web is the ultimate customer-empowered environment. He or she who clicks the mouse gets to decide [italics] everything. it is so easy to go elsewhere; all the competitors in the world are but a mouseclick away." The challenge, then, to maximize the "usability" of a Web site for those who are attracted to it. Research data reveal that a substantial majority of those who go on-line visit only ten Web sites 90% of the time. Presumably those who are only one-time visitors had an unsatisfactory experience. Getting them to return may not be impossible but is certainly very, very difficult.
Nielsen explains that "There are essentially two basic approaches to design: the artistic ideal of expressing yourself and the engineering ideal of solving a problem for a customer. This book is firmly on the side of engineering." He correctly realizes that today, this moment, the patience of a Web site visitor is measured in seconds. "This book is full of specific methods that can be used at almost every stage of a web project to dramatically enhance the the user experience." That's true. Nielsen does indeed provide an abundance of information, observations, caveats, and suggestions but all of them presuppose the constant practice of simplicity in both planning and execution of strategies and tactics.
Who else will derive substantial value from this book? Decision-makers in much larger organizations (especially those involved on a global basis) who are hard at work on projects whose success depends directly or indirectly, on the usability of their organization's Web site. Specifically, those who are formulating or revising initiatives to improve CRM, employee recruitment and retention, allocation of resources, logistics, internal and external communications, contingency planning and crisis management, and cycle time reduction. In other words, decision-makers who are determined to maximize usability in literally every area of operations. Yes, this is a book about the Web but the Web, ultimately, is about everything and everyone involved in every organization, regardless of its size and nature.
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Kevin Stahnke (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
In reading over the reviews it is easy to find people who are quite hostile to what Nielsen has to say and it's easy to understand why-he insults and threatens their very approach to web design. Nielsen's message is really quite simple: web sites should be constructed for the end user, not to demonstrate the skills and ego of the designer. Unless you are designing a site that is intended simply to demonstrate the breadth of your abilities, designing is not about fun-it's about taking information and making it as accessible as possible for your end users. It can be fun, but your own enjoyment shouldn't be the purpose.
In Designing Web Usability Nielsen does an effective job of demonstrating ways in which you can help your users to move through your site efficiently and accurately. Individual sections may seem seem somewhat self-evident, but taken as a whole these sections add up to an impressive amount of information.
Of particular interest are chapters 4: Site Design, and a section in chapter 3 on writing for the web. In the section on site design he discusses issues such as using navigational cues to orient the reader to where they are, where they've been, and where they can go, and different types of organizational schemes. As a technical communicator I found the section on writing for the web particularly relevant. Put simply--most people do not like to read online. You have a second or two to grab their attention and only a bit longer to hold them there if they are intrigued. Relevant information needs to be placed front and center and should be foregrounded through the effective use of headings, bulleted lists, etc. This section does a good job explaining how to do so.
None of this is to say that Nielsen is without fault. I do believe that there are times when his rules should be broken. He seems to assume that conveyance of information is the only purpose of the web and, obviously there are many other reasons people surf. Nevertheless, if your site has the purpose of communicating information of some form, this book should be read and absorbed.
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Erika Mitchell (MSL quote) , USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
This book provides essential information for anyone considering putting a page on the Web, from Web designers to business managers. Nielsen argues that the primary concern for Web design must be usability. He then explains how to make Websites more usable, and what to avoid when making a Website. The core of the book is the first four chapters, on usability, page design, content design, and site design. Following this core, Nielsen gives detailed analysis of the special requirements for intranet design, accessibility, international design, and the future. The prose is extremely clear and readable, and numerous images are included as examples. This book is a must for anyone interested in creating Webpages.
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Paul Nishikawa (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
I've been an avid reader of Jakob Nielsen's alertbox web site for 2 years. One has to remember that Jakob's views are quite extreme - a "usability nazi" if you will - and using his comments to temper over-creativity can create some of the most functional Web sites out there.
I believe that any members of a development team, particularly those without Web design experience, should read this book. It's an easy read with many, many real world examples. His breakdown is at times hard to follow if you are looking for specific examples of page elements (ie. is a navigational button part of the "page design", "site design" or "content design" chapter?).
Overall, his work is an excellent refresher for any site architect or Web designer. His views, although extreme, can help most Web designers remember that this is very much a user-centric medium.
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Sage Tyrtle (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
I bought this book without knowing anything about it other than the title and the fact that it was published by New Riders (who I've had great luck with in the past). When you consider that in general I only buy 2-3 books a year and do all the rest of my considerable reading at the library, that's saying something.
Jakob Nielson takes the world of web usability and makes it understandable to a complete usability ignoramus like me. After reading this book, I revamped almost all of my websites and yes, I'm getting more orders as a result. I'm also making sure I listen more closely to the negative feedback I get - because after reading this book I know that behind every person who does give negative feedback, there are 100 more who didn't bother to write.
The only slightly annoying facet of the book was the way he kept wandering off into the future and what "might happen" and how that "might effect" the web in the year 2005. Well, that's all well and good, but I'm worried about designing in the year 2000.
I would warn beginners NOT to purchase this book, however. This book is about *why* to make your website more user friendly. It does not tell anything about *how* to accomplish this. It's really for advanced users, and I would recommend it to any advanced user without reservations.
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Thomas Denham (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
No book has influenced me to change more in the websites I design than this one. And many of the changes I have made are just farther along the line I thought I was already following well enough. Jakob Nielsen is passionate about easy to understand and fast loading pages. Over and over again throughout the book he makes the point: "the Web is not a way of life for the average user. Most people simply want to click on a few links and read a few pages - they don't want to mess with web technology for its own sake." In this book he introduces the reader to the findings of usability studies and best practices for accommodating users. I found his screen shots of good and bad web design interesting and helpful. It seemed to me that most of his material was from 1997. In any event, the concepts were not dated.
I read the book over a period of a month. I just could not take it in faster. I began rebuilding the website I have maintained since 1996 - http://www.lovinghands.com - the day I began to read. I struggled with many approaches to decreasing the amount of space devoted to navigation while making information on the site easier to find and read. I came to appreciate Nielsen's emphasis on being practical and doing the best you can rather than attempting perfect adherence to principles of design. I have learned how difficult it is to reset an established site. I am grateful that I had begun to read this book before I began a recent intranet development project. My users don't know what benefits they have gained by the influence Jakob Neilsen has had on my work.
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Tan Kwan Seng (MSL quote), Singapore
<2007-06-29 00:00>
I have a few web sites in cyberspace and often browsing others' sites to see creative approaches and web usability is always of great concern to me.
While this web does not teach you in detail to achieve high degree of usability in that there is NO CODING. So if you are expecting a book with nice ilustrations of highly usable sites and coding that achieves those effect,.... this book does not do that.
It has color illustrations which are useful in appreciation of web pages done by others. I have learnt some bits of information which are totally new (totally unaware of) to me, others I already know as I have been designing sites for a few years.
I strongly recommend this to anyone who knows that web usability is an important aspect of web design and would really, really want a book that provides comprehensive coverage of it.
You do not need to be an artist of expert in HMTL, Java, Javascript, whatsoever, in order to know what he is talking about. The language is simple. But to put ideas into practice, some basic knowledge of web design (that is, simple coding of web sites) and knowledge of powerful software such as Dreamweaver would certainly help in achieving the ends. As most of you may know, it is tedious to produce certain layouts from scratch, usage of good software cuts down the time and effort tremendously.
To me, it is 3-star as most of the things I already know and applied to my web pages... and they appear common-sense to me.
Five stars to people who have not put web usability as one of the top factors to consider in web design. To these people, I would say, "It's time to get web usability in perspective. Get this book and you will certainly know what web usability is about after reading this book."
Hence, five stars... Well deserved.
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Matthew Foraker (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-29 00:00>
Nielson's book offers a straightforward and intelligent presentation of web design with a keen awareness of the big picture and what actually happens when users visit a web site. All times the practice of simplicity and ease of use are emphasized in page design, navigation, content and overall web site development.
The book is heavy (literally!) with high quality color printing featuring hundreds of web sites to illustrate each of the points discussed. This could be regarded as a serious textbook that takes a deeper cut into the art and science of effective web site design than the more amusing (and also valuable) reads such as "Web Pages that Suck."
Nielson addresses such issues as users with disabilities, the global nature of the web and the implications of multilingual sites, the use of metaphors, and the numerous other issues including download times, URL design, graphics, streaming video vs. downloadable video, site structure, color and text design, and so on. The book really "gets into it" and does not shy away from the nitty, gritty details, using its large quantity of illustrations to fully address each point. While it comes across as heavy handed on some occasions ("Do it this way") where an experienced web designer may see alternatives, this detail provides a great introduction for those new to web design.
This one text effectively captures the most significant topics associated with designing effective web sites that will accomplish the task at hand. Reading it will put the overly zealous gif animators and latest plug-in proponents in touch with the world of the average user. Given some of the hideous web sites I've seen even from Fortune 500 companies with large web development budgets, Nielson's book is a voice of reason and intelligence in an area where hype and flash can cause people to lose sight of their objectives.
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1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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