Amazon Buys Shelfari and its Innovative UI. Shelfari, a small book sharing startup, was acquired today by Amazon (an existing investor in the company).
Shelfari is known for its innovative user interface, something which we've discussed a few times on ReadWriteWeb. Shelfari's competitors include GoodReads and LibraryThing. The relationship with the latter has been frosty, with LibraryThing writing on its site today that Shelfari is a "clone" and that it is "somewhat less intellectual, less featureful", among other barbs. The What, Why and How of Usability Testing. The movie Glengarry Glen Ross taught us Always Be Closing.
In the world of web design, the mantra is Always Be Testing. Yet, it’s not always clear how to go about testing your site or how to know what exactly you’re testing for. Fortunately, we’re here to provide the who, what and why of usability testing. What is Usability? Before we examine the components of website usability testing, let’s define it. The Difference Between Usability and User Experience. As long as there’s been an Internet, the discussion between user experience and usability has been explored.
Although they are conceptually linked, taken separately, they highlight different elements of the human-computer interaction. Yet in these days of advanced user interfaces, from mobile devices to e-readers to tablets, has the line between user experience and usability blurred? And if so, what does it mean for web standards and design? We examine their distinctions, roles and implications in an effort to answer these questions.