Write a short critique (no more than two pages) of your reading and how its content may help you in your design process INTERFACE DESIGN

The project started in 1994 and has evolved into two book publications and a web site. The book publications were an after thought as the main purpose of the project is to provide an online resource to web designers.

The second edition and current online edition have been updated to include how to use cascading style sheets to meet accessibility guidelines.

The book can be purchased for $18.95 but it was not designed to be purchased and is completely available online at http://webstyleguide.com/interface/print/interface.html .

Once at the website you may go to any chapter or section to get help with whatever section of you website you are working on.

The main focus of this book is to try to provide the current acceptable standards for well-designed and effective Web Sites.

Just as it current book interface features like page numbering, indexes, tables of contents, and even title pages evolved over time currently web page interface features are evolving and becoming standard features which users expect on web sites today.

Just as detailed instructions can be found for creating books in guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style detailed instructions can be found for creating web sites in guides like this one, Interface Design by Lynch & Huton, 2002.

The advantage of this book being a website is that as technology changes and standards keep evolving this web site can evolve and change to keep up.

I have noticed that many of the suggestions found in this guide are a repeat of ideas I have encountered in another a book by Gillani, Learning Theories and the Design of E-Learning Environments, perhaps they read his book.

I plan to use subtitles from chapter two, Interface Design, as a check list while working on the interface my web pages.

Basic interface design User-centered design Clear navigation aids No dead-end pages Direct access Bandwidth and

interaction Simplicity and

consistency Design integrity and

stability Feedback and dialog

Accessibility Alternates and

fallbacks Style sheets Accessibility guidelines Graceful degradation

Navigation Provide context or

lose the reader Button bars

Title Who What When Where

An informative title (which also becomes the text of any bookmark to the page)

The creator's identity (author or institution)

A creation or revision date

At least one link to a local home page or menu page

The "home page" URL on the major menu pages in your site

What specific need s of target audience are met

Notes

Clear consistent icons

Home link every page?

Yes ______

No _______

Are any pages a dead end?

Yes ______

No _______

5-7 links per menu

Content only a click or two away from main menu pages.

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Does it take more than 10 second for PAGE TO OPEN?

Are users dial-up modem

or

High -speed DSL

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

3 colors

Modular units with same layout each page w/standard links

Menu on left

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Site looks neat, good visual design?

All buttons work?

Plan to check frequently that links still work?

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Constant confirmation of user’s whereabouts and options?

Uniformly placed hyperlinks and navigation buttons?

Link s to site editor?

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Is site designed to give disabled users equal access?

Yes ______ No _______

Are alternate text descriptions built in for disabled users or users who have graphics turned off?

Is there a text-only navigation system.

Do video lectures also have transcripts?

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Are CSS Cascading Style Sheets used?

(With CSS-styled pages, the user can transform Web content into a format that addresses their requirements for accessibility.)

Yes ______ No _______

Are minimum standards for accessibility per W3C, World Wide Web Consortium, met?

Yes ______ No _______

Is site designed for average users with average computers?

All pages fit 800 x 600 pixel display screen?

If graphics are turned off are pages still intelligible and navigable?

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______

Consistent , predictable navigation buttons.

Yes ______ No _______

Are explicit cues to the content and organization provided?

Yes ______ No _______

“Back” & “Forward “ link on each page?

“Next page” and “Previous page” buttons built into each page?

Yes ______ No _______

Yes ______ No _______