Articles on User Interface Implementation

Our continuous work on enterprise application design projects has allowed us to encounter, ponder, and solve many user interface problems. Here is a selection of some of the articles that we have written on the subject over the years.

8 Stupid Things Teams Do To Mess Up Their Software Projects Jul 2004

In 2002, the United States wasted over $55 billion on failed and poorly run software projects according to the Standish Group. Ten years ago, they reported similar numbers with 53% of projects overrunning their estimates and only 61% of features being implemented.

Will 2004 Be the Year We Abandon HTML? Jan 2004

Probably not. However, Jim Hobart, president of Classic System Solutions, has a strong sense that this will be the year for a major shift in technology deployment for enterprise Internet applications away from HTML/JavaScript and toward the adoption of rich client solutions.

Optimizing User Experience with Agile Design Apr 2002

With all the press and attention recently given to extreme programming and agile modeling techniques, Jim explores the benefits of agile design to quickly establish a high quality user interface (UI).

Are You Wasting Time and Money on Your Visual Design Efforts? Aug 2001

According to Forrester Research, 75% of Internet-based service projects fail to deliver the promised results. Jim looks at ways to reduce these project risks to manageable levels, with experience, an effective process, and the right tools to support your efforts.

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing a Thin-Client GUI Strategy May 2000

A thin-client solution can be much harder to develop than a traditional client/server application. Jim explores three important reasons why and five mistakes that we often make.

IBM’s Shareware That Could be Worth Millions Aug 1999

With its San Francisco project, IBM has assembled a consortium with a novel approach for building enterprise frameworks. Jim looks at the benefits of this approach and what it will provide from a user interface perspective.

Effective Icon Design May 1998

Since people comprehend images faster than words, icons can make it easier and faster to perform a task. Good icons convey their function rapidly and are easy to remember. Bad icons can actually reduce the usability of an application.

Languages for Web Development Mar 1997

The architectural benefits provided by a web site design is significantly affected by the type of language on which it is based. Jim examines the different languages and their benefits.

Migrating Win 3.1 Help to Win 95/NT May 1996

Moving your help system from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95/NT involves several steps that take into consideration content, search, and programming issues.

Principles of Good GUI Design Oct 1995

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have become the user interface of choice. Yet despite the GUI’s popularity, surprisingly few programs exhibit good interface design.