Universal Usability: Designing Computer Interfaces for Diverse User Populations

Universal Usability describes the goal of designing computer interfaces that ar4e easy for all to use. It is a concept which many decry as elusive, impossible or impractical, but this book, which addresses usability issues for a number of diverse user groups, proves that there is no challenge in interface design that cannot be addressed. Individuals with cognitive, motor and perceptual impairments, as well as older, younger and economically disadvantaged users, face a variety of complex challenges when interacting with computers. However, with user involvement, good design practice, and thorough testing, computer interfaces can be successfully developed for any user population.
This book, featuring key chapters by Human–Computer Interaction luminaries such as Jonathan Lazar, Ron Baecker, Allison Druin, Ben Shneiderman, Brad Myers and Jenny Preece, 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 address topics including age, economic, and language diversity, visual impairment, and spinal chord injuries, and include trailblazing projects that examine usability issues for users with Down Syndrome, Amnesia, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Alzheimer′s Disease. Coverage extends to projects where multiple categories of needs are addressed.
These chapters represent real–world projects, being carried out on different continents, by authors representing diversity – interfaced researchers and software developers in university, industrial and government settings. In the practical spirit of the book, guidelines and suggestions are provided for those attempting similar projects, and implications considered for stakeholders such as policymakers, researchers, and designers. Ideal for students of HCI and User–Interface design, and essential reading for usability practitioners, this fascinating collec tion demonstrates that computer interfaces can truly be designed to meet the needs of every user.

Spis treści:
Editor′s Note.
Preface – Ben Shneiderman.
1. Introduction to Universal Usability – Jonathan Lazar.
2. Designing Searching and Browsing Software for Elementary–Age Children –  Hilary Hutchinson, Allison Druin & Benjamin B. Bederson.

3. The Why and How of Senior–Focused Design – Teri O′Connell.
4. Online Redesign of a Web Site′s Information Architecture to Improve Accessibility for Users Who are Blind – Vanessa Evers and Hans Hillen.
5. Listening to Choropleth Maps: Interactive Sonification of Geo–Referenced Data For Users With Visual Impairment –Haixia Zhao, Ben Shneiderman & Catherine Plaisant.
6. Improving Screen Readers for Blind Users – Jonathan Lazar & Aaron Allen.
7. Web Fun Central: Online Learning Tools for Individuals with Down Syndrome – Matt Myers, Assadour Kirijian & Sylvie Charland.
8. Using Virtual Peer Technology as an Intervention for Children with Autism –
Andrea Tartaro & Justine Cassell.
9. Evidence–based computer–assisted instruction for Autism Spectrum Disorders – Christina Whalen, Brooke Ingersoll, Lars Liden & Sven Liden.
10. Making Software Accessible for Users with Dementia – Norman Alm, Richard Dye, Arlene Astell, Maggie Ellis, Gary Gowans & Jim Campbell.
11. Designing a Cognitive Aid for and with People who have Anterograde Amnesia – Mike Wu, Ron Baecker & Brian Richards.
12. Memories of a Life: A Design Case Study for Alzheimer′s Disease –
Tira Cohene, Ron Baecker & Elsa Marziali, and Simona Mindy.
13.  Interaction Techniques for Users with Spinal Cord Injur ies: A Speech Based Solution – Jinjuan Feng and Andrew Sears.
14. Adding Gestural Text Entry to Input Devices for People with Motor Impairments – Jacob Wobbrock & Brad A. Myers.
15. The Creating Community Connections Project: Social and Cultural Approaches for Engaging Low–Income Communities – Randal Pinkett.
16. Implementing Community–Based Participatory Research to Reduce Health and Technology Disparities Among Low Income African–American Women –
Diane Maloney–Krischmar, Eleanor Walker, David Bushnell & Sadanand Sirvastava.
17. Evaluating the Usability and Accessibility of an Online Form for Census Data Collection – Elizabeth D. Murphy, Lawrence A. Malakhoff and David A. Coon.

18.Internationalizing Greenstone: A Multi–Lingual Tool for Building Digital Libraries – David M. Nichols, Te Taka Keegan, David Bainbridge, Sally Jo Cunningham, Michael Dewship & Ian H. Witten.
19. Making Universal Access Truly Universal: Looking Towards the Future –
Jennifer Preece.
Index.

Nota biograficzna:
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.

Okładka tylna:
Universal Usability describes the goal of designing computer interfaces that ar4e easy for all to use. It is a concept which many decry as elusive, impossible or impractical, but this book, which addresses usability issues for a number of diverse user groups, proves that there is no challenge in interface design that cannot be addressed. Individuals with cognitive, motor and perceptual impairments, as well as older, younger and economically disadvantaged users, face a variety of complex challenges when interacting with computers. However, with user involvement, good design practice, and thorough testing, computer interfaces can be successfully developed for any user population.
This book, featuring key chapters by Human–Computer Interaction luminaries such as Jonathan Lazar, Ron Baecker, Allison Druin, Ben Shneiderman, Brad Myers and Jenny Preece, 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 address topics including age, economic, and language diversity, visual impairment, and spinal chord injuries, and include trailblazing projects that examine usability issues for users with Down Syndrome, Amnesia, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Alzheimer′s Disease. Coverage extends to projects where multiple categories of needs are addressed.
These chapters represent real–world projects, being carried out on different continents, by authors representing diversity – interfaced researchers and software developers in university, industrial and government settings. In the practical spirit of the book,