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Jessica Hupp published a great list in the Webword Newsletter of 100 blogs that focus primarily on Human-Centered Interaction (HCI) and Design. The list which we’ve posted below contains some of our favorites which includes: Boxes and Arrows, UX Magazine, This is Broken, and Functioning Form. These blogs are relevant, informing, engaging, challenging, and inspiring. Take a look and keep informed.

The Top 10

These blogs are the best of the best when it comes to user-centered discussions.

1. Signal vs. Noise: Written by 37signals, the makers of simple, elegant tools like Ta-da List and Basecamp, this blog discusses up-to-the-minute information on design, experience, simplicity, and more.
2. 456 Berea Street: Visit this very popular blog for insight into the world of web standards, accessibility, and usability.
3. ./with Imagination: As a leader in user interface engineering, Dustin Diaz has a lot of knowledge to offer in this arena.
4. Functioning Form: Luke Wroblewski’s Functioning Form offers extensive information on user interface design.
5. This is Broken: This is Broken features a round-up and commentary on user experiences, good and bad.
6. Adaptive Path: Adaptive Path strives to create experiences that “improve people’s lives,” and they love to share what they’ve learned with others.
7. Boxes and Arrows: The subject matter focuses on interaction design and other closely related topics, but this blog sets an example because it’s a peer-written journal composed of mainly user-generated content.
8. A List Apart: A List Apart’s insightful articles cover important issues in design and development with an emphasis on web standards.
9. UX Matters: This web magazine delivers top-notch content about strategies for improving user experience.
10. UX Magazine: For this magazine, “user experience is everything.” Check it out for a round-up of all that’s important to enhancing user experience.

Accessibility

When designing your site, you can’t forget about people with disabilities. Find out more about how you can make your web development open to everyone by reading these blogs.

11. 200ok: This blog by Ben Buchanan discusses web development, paying special attention to accessibility and web standards.
12. Accessify: Check out Ian Lloyd’s Accessify to learn how you can make what you develop more accessible.
13. Curb Cut: Visit the Curb Cut blog for loads of resources and discussions about accessibility.
14. Unintentionally Blank: Phil Nash writes about web standards, particularly focusing on accessibility and usability.
15. Clagnut: Check out Clagnut for Richard Rutter’s insight on design and accessibility.
16. MCU: Jim Byrne, author of 60 Hot to touch Accessible Web Design tips, offers insight into the world of accessibility, disabilities, and web design.
17. Anitra Pavka: This blog provides news, commentary, and articles on topics concerning web accessibility.
18. Rosie Sherry: Rosie Sherry discusses testing and tools that revolve around accessibility and web standards.
19. Wise Guys Only: Tim Roberts discusses the tricky combination of Ajax and accessibility.
20. Accessities: Accessities proves that websites can be both accessible and attractive.
21. Segala: Segala evangelizes accessibility and trust in web design.

Human Computer Interaction

Web pages don’t just load themselves — people find them and open them. These blogs discuss the intersection of humans and computers in design.

22. Interaction Design: Visit Interaction Design for an introduction to human computer interaction, interaction design, information architecture, and more.
23. Population of One: Sylvie Noel discusses her work on human computer interactions.
24. Human-Computer Interaction Design: Read David Roedl’s blog for information on human-computer interaction with a focus on topics like sustainable interaction design, experience-focused HCI research, and more.
25. Ergonomenon: Ergonomenon discusses the intersection of ergonomics and human-computer interaction.
26. Information Architects: Information Architects takes a look at interfaces that people like to use.
27. User Designer: Mike Bennett writes about human-computer interaction and interaction design, focusing on research and resources for user implementation.
28. Gotomobile: Gotomobile discusses people-friendly interface design and standards in user-centered design principles.
29. Another HCI Blog: Read about Beck Tench’s thoughts on her HCI work at Another HCI Blog.
30. YuBlog: The YuBlog helps readers learn how to improve user experience by considering human factors.

Web Standards

Web standards ensure that it’s easy for a wide variety of people to be served with quality web pages. Check out these blogs to find out more about web standards and how you can implement them in your own design.

31. Standard Web Standards: Regnard Kreisler C. Raquedan covers the essentials of web standards and usability.
32. Indelv: Check out this portal for web standards that includes reviews, news, tools, and more.
33. Standards Schmandards: Peter Krantz shares solutions, tools, and code for designing within web standards.
34. Muffin Research: Muffin Research focuses on web development with special attention devoted to web standards.
35. Zeldman: Jeffrey Zeldman, author of Designing With Web Standards, discusses the importance and implementation of web standards.
36. The Web Standards Project: The Web Standards Project evangelizes standards that make development easier and websites more accessible.
37. Meyer Web: Eric Meyer discusses the importance of web standards and good design.
38. Ordered List: Steve at Ordered List covers the imporance of web standards in information architecture, web design, and more.
39. Max Design: Max Design focuses on web standards, usability, CSS, and accessibility.
40. Andy Budd: Andy Budd’s blog is about web design, particularly web standards, user centered design and information architecture.
41. Duoh: Verlee, CEO of Duoh, promotes the benefits of web standards.
42. Just Add Water: On Just Add Water, you’ll find a wealth of information on web standards, usability, and accessibility.
43. Monday By Noon: Jonathan Christopher discusses the latest in web standards and how they affect the Internet.

User Experience and Interaction

In user-centered development, it’s all about how people experience what you’ve designed. Get more on this subject with these blogs.

44. Flamelab: Read this blog to find out about user experience, the aesthetics of interaction, and more.
45. Interaction Design Online: Lindsay Lauters discusses topics concerning user-centered design, accessibility, and more.
46. Usability Forum: Visit this blog for a group discussion on the usability of everyday things and the frustration that ensues when functionality isn’t considered.
47. [BEEP]: Find out what Peter Boersma has to say about user experience design in Web 2.0 and information architecture.
48. Mike Industries: Mike Industries covers commentary on user interfaces and web design.
49. Warpspire: Kyle Neath’s Warpsire blog is about web design, and it’s full of resources for interface architecture and usability.
50. Experience Planner: Scott Weisbrod discusses the many factors that go into creating a positive customer experience.
51. Good Experience: Good Experience encourages readers to focus on customer experience.
52. Customer Experience Crossroads: Visit Susan Abbott’s blog to find out how to create a “branded customer experience.”
53. Church of the Customer: Jackie and Ben evangelize positive customer experiences.
54. Keith Instone: Keith Instone keeps readers up to date on the latest in making websites usable.
55. Advanced Common Sense: Steve Krug helps readers improve the interfaces and usability of their websites.
56. Total Experience: Bob and Paula discuss design and experience as it affects our lives.
57. GUUUI: GUUUI is a resource for interaction designers, with posts about tools, tests, and handy tricks.
58. Software As She’s Developed: Michael Mahemoff, author of Ajax Design Patters, discusses the intersection of usability and Ajax.
59. WebWord: John Rhodes educates readers on topics in usability and human factors in design.
60. Logic+Emotion: David Armano writes about experience design and the intersection it makes with business.
61. D. Keith Robinson: Find out what web experience expert David Keith Robinson has to say about design, web standards, content, and more.
62. Design By Fire: Andrei Michael Heraslmchuk, owner of Design By Fire, was one of the first official interface designers for Adobe Systems. Check out his blog for insight on web standards, design, and user interfaces.
63. Challis Hodge’s UXblog: Challis Hodge discusses user experience and provides loads of resources for further UX education.
64. Compete on Usability: Joshua Ledwell encourages readers to concentrate on user experience.
65. Experientia: Experientia offers a look into user experience, design and innovation that puts people first.
66. The Product Usability Weblog: This blog discusses news, research, and current events related to consumer product usability.
67. Usernomics: Read Usernomics to find out more about user interface design, human factors, and ergonomics.
68. ExperienceCurve: Karl Long discusses the intersection of social media, marketing, and customer experience.
69. Vanderwal: Thomas Vanderwal covers the topics of information architecture, interaction design, and more.
70. Louis Rosenfeld: Lou Rosenfeld, author of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, discusses current issues and thoughts in the fields of user experience and information architecture.
71. iaslash: iaslash covers topics related to user interface design, usability, and other concerns surrounding access and use of information.
72. Etre: Etre discusses usability, accessibility and findability in this interesting blog.

User-Centered Design

Design is more than just aesthetics. Read these blogs to find out how to make your development attractive and functional.

73. PinPoint Performance Solutions Blog: On this blog, you’ll find commentary on user-centered design, testing, and performance improvement.
74. Usability Blog: Read this blog for Paul Sherman’s take on usability, user-centered design, and user experience.
75. Presentation Zen: Presentation Zen focuses on presentation design, both in person and otherwise.
76. User Interface Engineering: UIE delivers the latest in interesting usability design news.
77. iQ: iQ takes a look at what works and what doesn’t, and offers advice on how you can design a good user experience.
78. Design Thinking Digest: Chris Bernard discusses design thinking that revolves around user experiences.
79. Bokardo: Joshua Porter offers his take on web design with people in mind.
80. Cre8pc: Cre8pc focuses on holistic usability, accessibility and “people on purpose” web design.
81. Dexo Design: Russell Wilson, an expert in the field of interface design, offers his take on issues and current events in user-centered design.
82. Interesource: This blog discusses designing the web for people.
83. Engage!: Dave Malouf reminds readers that “the core purpose of design is to engage” and solve problems.
84. Information Aesthetics: Information Aesthetics celebrates data visualization and visual communication.
85. Small Surfaces: Small Surfaces discusses interaction design, user interface, and other design topics related to mobile technology usability.
86. Alertbox: Jakob Nielsen, the “king of usability,” offers insight into ways to make the Internet easier to use.
87. Design & Emotion: Brush up on the latest in user design with Marco van Hout.
88. Laws of Simplicity: John Maeda discusses how the laws of simplicity affect design, business, technology and life.
89. Eyetools Eyetracking Research: Learn about design and content optimization that revolves around where users’ eyes rest.

User-Centered Writing and Content

Web 2.0 has brought on all sorts of social media and crowdsourcing content. Find out how you can successfully harness this phenomenon to become more user-centric.

90. Viaspire: Discover content strategies, information architecture, and other user-centered topics at Viaspire.
91. What’s Next Interactive: Find out about functionality and interactive content from Kathryn Campbell.
92. User Effect: This blog discusses how the user-driven Web 2.0 movement makes usability and user-centered design essential.
93. Futurelab: Futurelab covers the why and how of customer-centric marketing and strategy.
94. Consumer Generated Media: Pete Blackshaw discusses the future of consumer generated media.
95. InfoDesign: InfoDesign writes about the importance of “relevant, clear, and memorable information.”
96. UXB: Shane Morris, a user experience evangelist for Microsoft, covers interaction, usability, user-centered design and more.
97. Work Play Experience: Adam Lawrence tells readers how the showbiz approach can help strengthen experience design.
98. Subtraction: Read what this design director for the New York Times has to say.
99. A Brief Message: A Brief Message discusses (briefly) real-world design.
100. Nooface: Nooface explores design and content for interfaces beyond the PC.

Barry Schwartz, author of the book The Paradox of Choice, has some insight and research into how people make choices and filter the number of choices they have.

I’m interested in the ramifications of Barry’s book on information architecture and website design.
In a nutshell, the author asserts that we’ve always thought people should have more choices rather than fewer yet his research is saying there’s a point at which too many choices can be paralyzing.

From the Boxes and Arrows interview with Barry…

Barry Schwartz: In 50 years of research and psychology, there is study after study showing that people who are able to choose X were more satisfied than people who simply got X. But in all of those studies, the contrast was always with two options. And if two options are better than no choice, then three must be better than two, and four must be better than three, and so on. But no one ever studied that. The empirical basis for the idea is that the more choice people have, the better they are. And it seems perfectly reasonable.

What economist have said, more as a matter of theory than as a matter of empirical evidence, is that if you add options, you can’t make anyone any worse off. If you’re happy alternating between Cheerios and Rice Krispies, you can just keep doing that. And, if I add 50 other cereals, you’ll ignore them. And if I don’t like Cheerios and Rice Krispies, chances are that one of those 50 cereals that have been added will be just the ticket.

Adding options is bound to make somebody better off, and further, it won’t make anybody worse off. The more choice people have, the better they are. So how could it not be true?

It’s not true.

But it’s only in the last five years that people have started doing research where instead of having two options, people have 20 or 200. And when you cross a line (and you are probably going to ask me “where’s the line?” and I’m going to say, ”I don’t know; nobody knows”), choice goes from being beneficial to being paralyzing. So one effect of too many choices is that people can’t choose at all…

The consistent problem in all of this is that people don’t know what’s good for them. If you offer people a limited range of options and a large set, most people will choose the large set. They’ll go and try to pick something, and they’ll walk out empty handed shaking their heads. So everyone’s kind of swallowed the ideology that more is better than less.

Read the full interview on Boxes and Arrows >>
Watch the Google video of Barry’s talk at Google >>

Andrea Wiggens has written a good article over at Boxes and Arrows discussing why IA’s need “to understand why visitors come to the site and what they seek, so that the content can be best presented to meet user needs and business goals.”

Using heuristics
Providing a context for heuristics is the most useful application of web metrics in a site redesign: a framework for measurement is critical to future evaluation of the success and value of strategic but intangible investments like information architecture. Analyzing pre-existing web traffic yields insights to user behavior and measures how well a site meets user needs. By comparing analytic data to an information architect’s heuristic evaluation, a basic validation emerges for otherwise subjective performance measures. In addition to heuristic validation, web analysts can use the information to engineer effective key performance indicators (KPI) for future evaluation, and the information architect can use the information to provide direction for the design.

(Via Boxes and Arrows.)

Mark Sullivan over at Light Reading has posted an article with an interesting look into Microsoft TV’s Usability Lab and some interesting findings related to the IPTV User Experience…

According to Microsoft TV usability director David Sloo, the reaction time of other IPTV features, such as programming guides, can appear to be faster than they really are if a viewer is experiencing highly reactive channel change response times…So Sloo’s team doesn’t just study responses to the Microsoft TV product: A lot of time is spent learning from both the attributes and shortcomings of competing products…The research has shown that TV watchers want to spend most of their time looking at their TV, not at their remote. So Sloo and his team have been working with several different ways of putting more navigation features on the screen, and fewer on the remote control.

“We see TV today as akin to the PC in the 1980s — it’s useful but its utility is limited until it becomes a two-way system,” says Microsoft TV spokesman Jim Brady. Microsoft’s approach to the problem is something called “search and discovery.” During Light Reading’s visit to Microsoft’s Mountain View, Calif. campus, marketing general manager Christine Heckart demonstrated the system’s simple search function. She entered some keywords into the system with the remote control, and the system searched all of the recorded, broadcast and VOD programming available and returned a list of titles.

In future iterations of its software, the “discovery” part of the equation will become more emphasized, Microsoft says, with the experience become more like browsing at Amazon. Once a viewer locates something (a movie, clip or TV show) that’s in their general area of interest, the system begins suggesting related titles the viewer might like

“We get asked about broadband video a lot, and there’s so much confusion about it,” Brady says. “Over time the lines between IPTV and internet video will blur, but today people access and watch them for different reasons,” he adds, though “we do see a crossover in the future.”

via Light Reading by Mark Sullivan, Reporter