Designing Effective Wizards (IBM books) Book

This is the first "nuts and bolts" how-to guide for building wizards that help users perform complex tasks in software. Written by the IBM team that has standardized wizard development across a wide range of software products and families, the book brings together the wisdom of usability experts, programmers, technical writers, and other disciplines. The step-by-step guidance it offers is designed to work equally well on any contemporary platform, from IBM mainframes to Windows, Unix/Linux, Java, and Web-based applications alike. Designing Effective Wizards: A Multidisciplinary Approach outlines a practical set of processes and methods for effective wizard design, identifying key issues and problems encountered during the design process -- and IBM's best solutions. The authors begin by introducing the concept and goals of wizards; then explain how to gather requirements, prototype wizards, and evaluate designs. The book includes specific guidelines for wizard design, as well as techniques for avoiding errors and refining interactivity. The book contains three detailed case studies, as well as practical checklist for planning wizard projects. A four-color insert illustrates a wide range of examples, which may also be found on an accompanying CD-ROM For all software developers, interface designers, usability professionals, and Web interface designers.Read More