WebWord.com Newsletter Issue #59

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ISSUE #59

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                WebWord.com Newsletter
           "Industrial Strength Usability"
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                 Newsletter Editor
                   John S. Rhodes 
                     John@webword.com
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July 1, 2001                       Newsletter #59
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Table of Contents

1.  Please Submit Usability News
2.  Services First, Technology Second, People Third
3.  True Simplicity: Krug-o-rama!
4.  Understanding the Art and Science of Web Design
5.  Understanding the VA HyperFAQ
6.  Attack of the Back Button  
7.  Amazon, You Just Lost $82.62
8.  What Can You Find at WebWord.com?

       
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	--> http://webword.com/services/index.html



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ITEM #1

Please Submit Usability News


I need your help. I would like you to submit usability news that you find
to a group that I set up at Yahoo:

>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WebWord

The bottom line is that I need more time to write articles and conduct
interviews. If you submit usability news to the group I set up, then I
will be able to spend less time harvesting news. I can add value by
pulling out the best news and adding comments. 

This is your chance to pay back WebWord. Please join the group and start
posting usability news now!

>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WebWord


Thank you!

- John

p.s. 4,191 subscribers. Isn't that amazing?

John S. Rhodes
WebWord.com -- Industrial Strength Usability
http://webword.com
john@webword.com



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ITEM #2

A new WebWord.com article is now online:
--> http://webword.com/moving/misdirection.html


"Services First, Technology Second, People Third"

Microsoft doesn't care much about shared source or Smart Tags and we are
wasting our time following their marketing trail. We need to focus on
Microsoft's true goal, which is to completely dominate the internet
services market. We should pay attention to how they are building a
services infrastructure, not a technology infrastructure. We should figure
out how they are going to use tools like Passport and Microsoft Messenger
to control our personal information and various internet transactions. 


You can read the new article here:
--> http://webword.com/moving/misdirection.html



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ITEM #3

A new WebWord.com interview is now online:
--> http://webword.com/interviews/krug.html


"True Simplicity: Krug-o-rama!"

I recently interviewed Steve Krug, author of Don't Make Me Think (an
excellent usability book). I asked Steve several questions and as
expected, his answers were great. Here's a small sample:


Question: Don't users want rich content? Don't they want exciting colors,
flashy animations, and really cool web applications? Why should a web site
be simple? 

Answer: When was the last time you heard someone say that they spent a few
hours surfing the Web? Most of the time, we just want to get things done:
buy airplane tickets, read movie reviews, or learn how to fix the leak in
the shower. Personally, I tend to think that settling bar bets ("Name the
seven dwarves") and answering nagging questions ("What's the part number
for the glass shelf I just broke in my refrigerator?") are the real killer
app of the Internet, and that we really haven't figured out how to do them
well enough yet. 

 
You can read the new interview here:
--> http://webword.com/interviews/krug.html

Enjoy!



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ITEM #4

A new WebWord.com interview is now online:
--> http://www.webword.com/interviews/veen.html

"Understanding the Art and Science of Web Design"

I recently interviewed Jeffrey Veen, author of The Art and Science of Web
Design. Below is part of the interview:

"For most people today, using the Internet means sitting at a desk and
hearing the modem screech and bringing up a browser and squinting at a
screen. That seems about as appealing as getting out to  turn a crank to
start your car. I don't want to navigate six menus with voice commands as
I drive down Highway 101 just to get traffic information. I don't want to
check my email from my refrigerator. I want to see the Internet creep into
places we don't expect it, and I want that experience to be seamless and
delightful."


You can read the new interview here:
--> http://www.webword.com/interviews/veen.html

Good stuff!



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ITEM #5

A new WebWord.com interview is now online:
--> http://www.webword.com/interviews/white.html

"Understanding the VA HyperFAQ"

I recently interviewed Basil White, the driving force behind the VA
HyperFAQ. Here is an excerpt:


"I've learned that building interfaces based on a customer goal hierarchy
not only improves usability, but it actually eliminates rework, because
all of the non-interface changes to the product occur in the lower levels
of the design.  Screen and command changes end up affecting Section
3.2.2.4 or some other bottom-level section of the design." 


You can read the new interview here:
--> http://www.webword.com/interviews/white.html

Very cool!



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ITEM #6

A new WebWord.com article is now online:
--> http://www.webword.com/moving/backbutton.html

"Attack of the Back Button"

Getting stuck on a web page can be painful. The back button doesn't always
work. While there are many ways to escape from web pages, many users don't
know the tricks. A company can stop hurting users by doing more testing,
using proper development methods, and being aware of the issue. 


You can read the new article here:
--> http://www.webword.com/moving/backbutton.html



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ITEM #7

A new WebWord.com article is now online:
--> http://www.webword.com/moving/amazon.html

"Amazon, You Just Lost $82.62"

The purpose of this article is to openly display my disgust with Amazon
and to discuss the implications. On Monday, 11-June-2000, I ordered a gift
certificate from Amazon.com. I was going to use the certificate for
Father's Day, however Amazon failed to send the certificate in time. So, I
drove to Barnes and Noble, bought some books, and bought a gift
certificate. Amazon just lost $82.62.


You can read the new article here:
--> http://www.webword.com/moving/amazon.html



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ITEM #8
    
What Can You Find at WebWord.com?


WebWord.com Services
>> http://webword.com/services/index.html

Articles (Moving WebWord)
>> http://webword.com/moving/

Expert Interviews 
>> http://webword.com/interviews/

Recommended Books
>> http://webword.com/books/booksindex.html

Newsletter Archive
>> http://webword.com/archive

Weblog Archive
>> http://www.webword.com/weblog

Usability Reports 
>> http://webword.com/reports

Recommended Web Sites
>> http://webword.com/hotsites.html



----- End of WebWord.com Usability Newsletter #59 -----

      (c)2001 by WebWord.com and John S. Rhodes. 
                 All rights reserved.

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