Universal Usability: Designing Computer Interfaces for Diverse User Populations

Front Cover
Jonathan Lazar
John Wiley & Sons, Jun 5, 2007 - Computers - 640 pages

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.

From inside the book

Contents

Introduction to Universal Usability
10
The Why and How of SeniorFocused Design
43
Online Redesign of a Web Sites Information Architecture
93
Interactive Sonification
141
Improving the Screen Reading Experience for Blind Users on the Web
175
Online Learning Tools for Individuals
195
Using Virtual Peer Technology as an Intervention
231
EvidenceBased ComputerAssisted Instruction for Autism
263
A Design Case Study for Alzheimers Disease
357
Adding Gestural Text Entry to Input Devices for People
421
Social
457
Implementing CommunityBased Participatory Research to Reduce
491
Evaluating the Usability and Accessibility of an Online Form
517
A Multilingual Tool
559
Looking Toward
587
Copyright

Designing a Cognitive Aid for and with People Who Have
317

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2007)

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.

Bibliographic information