Digital Design Essentials: An Ultimate guide to Human Comuter Interaction

Finally my two years of hard work, one interface design per week for 100 weeks, magically turned into a hardcover book by rockport publishers. The overwhelming experience when you see your own book for the first time. Oh my! Tears of Joy is not just a statement, it actually happens. ok, before I get carried away, here is the picture, not of the tears, of the book.

Digital Design Essentials: 100 ways to design better desktop, web, and mobile interfaces?

An ultimate guide to human computer interaction.



Check out the digital design essentials book at amazon.

Digital Design Essentials: 100 ways to design better desktop, web, and mobile interfaces

I got an email from my publisher that my book on digital design is going to be out and available by May 1.



Check the Digital Design book at Amazon

Digital Design Essentials takes a practical, highly accessible approach to creating graphical user interface designs for desktop, mobile, and touch screen devices. Written by an expert in the realm of digital design, this comprehensive, step-by-step guide demonstrates how to apply design principles in a variety of desktops, web pages, mobile devices and other touchscreens. Filled with straightforward strategies in a visual format, it’s an essential volume for any designer working in the digital realm.

Here is the information about the book from the jacket cover

Digital Design Essentials

Whether dashboard software or a single-page website, a location-aware mobile app or a 10-foot TV interface, digital design is the tip of the iceberg; the actual design is not how it looks but how it works. Dive deep into the workings of one hundred popular desktop, Web, mobile, and TV user interfaces. Digital Design Essentials is a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary encyclopedia of user interface design. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it includes architectural views of the application, best practices and design guidelines, tips for creating a great user experience, along with live examples. Every major user interface concept is defined and illustrated for readers, including command line, "WIMP,” metro UI, skeuomorphic design, accessible web interface, e-commerce, zooming user interface, infographic design, adaptive interface, mobile lifestyle apps, voice interface, and intelligent user interface.

Learn best practices, design guidelines and pointers for creating a compelling user experience. Digital Design Essentials provides the experienced designer with an understanding of application design and user interfaces. Raj Lal points out the different components affecting the user experience and design principles applicable in an array of application interfaces, enabling the reader to understand the inner working of the application, plan key features, apply design guidelines, and choose the best practices instead of reinventing the wheel.

Digital Design Essentials:

● Provides a comprehensive guide to user interface design
● Explains the know-how necessary to understand the application interface
● Points out components affecting the user’s experience of the application
● Provides user interface design guidelines and best practices for design
● Illustrates concepts with a case study for each essential, using real-life examples


Digital Design Essentials is an invaluable resource for graphic artists, UI designers, UX gurus, Web designers, RIA, mobile, and device developers.

How I became a Stanford Igniter

Final day at Ignite! Got my Stanford Ignite Diploma today. End of an exciting Journey or lets say the beginning of an entrepreneur career. The real journey starts now. Here are some pictures.

Yossi Feinberg, the most amazing person I have met this year, teacher and mentor. Learned a lot from Yossi in last three months felt like a century.

But the one thing I will remember for the rest of my life would be

Feedback is a Gift - Yossi Feinberg

Stanford Ignite, a set on Flickr.

My Article on Accessible HTML5 design published on MSDN magazine

Check here Building HTML5 Applications - Designing Accessibility with HTML5



Thanks go to Dennis Lembrée, Art Barstow and Lakshmi for reviewing it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/jj863135.aspx

Here is the brief on the article

Designing Accessibility with HTML5

If you’re truly interested in reaching a broad audience, you’ll want to design your Web site for accessibility. Accessibility is about making Web pages easier to access, easier to use and available to everyone. In general, using the latest technologies makes accessibility easier to accomplish. Today, that means using HTML5.

To be accessible, your content needs to be available on a broad range of devices, such as ordinary computers using a keyboard or mouse, screen readers, audio browsers, devices with limited bandwidth, old browsers and computers, and mobile phones and touch devices. Moreover, it should be reachable by the widest variety of people, including those with disabilities and senior citizens, as well as people with low literacy levels or temporary illness, or who prefer using only a keyboard or mouse.

The four key areas disability accessibility seeks to address are:
• Hearing
• Mobility
• Cognitive
• Visual

Check rest of the Accessible design article at MSDN

Let me know what you think.

Joining Stanford Ignite

Got the acceptance letter for Stanford Ignite. Super exciting journey begins January 13th. Stanford Ignite is a program on Innovation and Entrepreneurship for aspiring Entrepreneurs.

When I first heard about this program, an year ago, I immediately knew that I am going to do this. Stanford's best of the best teachers come together for a 3 month part-time program, once a year. For a bay area professional, it just cannot get any better than this. I waited around 8 months to apply for the program. But In their information seminar when I saw 1000 people in the Auditorium, and knowing that there batch is of ~65 people, in which they will select around 30 from Stanford and 30 from outside, I did not believed I had a chance. Nonetheless I have been preparing for it all of this year. And preparation never fails you.

Then I met Yossi Feinberg, Director of the program a few weeks ago in the group interview. I felt a unique connection, an inexplicable feeling, that I knew him from events from future. I somehow knew I will get into ignite, it just felt right. There is an old saying, that the teacher cannot teach a student until the student is ready. I felt as if I am ready for this. I just knew that my destiny is entwined with his in things much bigger than both of us in future.

This amazing photograph of Stanford university by Linda A Cicero sets the stage for a beautiful academic experience, coming soon.

Stanford Ignite

Stanford Ignite is a nine-week, part-time certificate program that teaches innovators how to formulate, develop, and commercialize their ideas. More about the program in the Video.

Fun with Silverlight 4 with VB.NET

The VB.NET Version of the popular book "Fun with Silverlight 4" is now available at Amazon. Amazon link for VB.NET book

Check out some of the amazing review on the book at amazon !

Simple, concise, instructive and informative - Tim Heuer, Microsoft (Redmond, WA) (On C# version of the Book ) "This is a great book for someone looking to get a broad view of the Silverlight 4 platform. It is very simple to read/understand for anyone wanting to get started. The book is very illustrative - literally - to provide good visuals about each of the core concepts. At the end of reading this book and following the examples, the reader should be able to quickly start building "real" applications using the basic concepts. ... Recommend."

"Handy guide for you to find specific solutions you want to achieve in Silverlight 4" - Kunal Chowdhury, a Silverlight MVP

This book illustrates more than 100 features in Silverlight using a simple problem/solution approach. It takes one feature at a time and guides you in progressive journey where you begin by using the basic components, then by creating graphics and animations. You then create rich media applications on the client and web services, and delve into calling advanced Web services like AJAX, REST and WCF services from Silverlight.

The book takes an example approach for all problems and features, and illustrates with class diagrams what objects and methods are used and how the elements of a Silverlight project are created in easy to understand format.

In the Book
• Design a Rich Internet Application
• Extend the Control Framework
• Create Compelling Graphics
• Work with Animation
• Extend the Browser Programming Model
• Bring Data Visualization to the Web
• Develop with ASP.NET and Ajax
• Work with Web Services
• Create Rich Silverlight Media Applications
• Deliver Enhanced and Interactive Streaming Video Experiences

The book assumes the reader has a basic understanding of web technologies and .Net programming languages, and is targeted at the intermediate to advanced Silverlight developer.

Amazon link for VB.NET book

Kindle edition of Fun with Silverlight 4 with VB.NET

Amazon link for Kindle edition of Fun with Silverlight 4 with VB.NET

Joining W3C as a Nokian

If you ever wanted to change the World Wide Web for better, now is the time, Join W3C and make the difference.



I was nominated by Nokia for Three Groups WebApps, WebApps Security and will be soon joining Web Accessibility. Looking forward to contribute.

Am I excited ? You Bet !

Fun with Silverlight 4 Book

The book is finally available at Amazon and other book stores.

Buy from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Silverlight-Illustrated-Creating-Applications/dp/1463506023/

It took more than 3 years to finish this 600 page long book.

Fun with Silverlight 4

The Illustrated Guide to Creating Rich Internet Application with Examples in C#, ASP.NET, XAML, Media, Webcam, AJAX, REST & Web Services.

This book illustrates more than 100 features in Silverlight using a simple problem/solution approach. It takes one feature at a time and guides you in progressive journey where you begin by using the basic components, then by creating graphics and animations. You then create rich media applications on the client and web services, and delve into calling advanced Web services like AJAX, REST and WCF services from Silverlight.

In the Book
---------------
1. Design a Rich Internet Application
2. Extend the Control Framework
3. Create Compelling Graphics
4. Work with Animation
5. Extend the Browser Programming Model
6. Bring Data Visualization to the Web
7. Develop with ASP.NET and Ajax
8. Work with Web Services
9. Create Rich Silverlight Media Applications
10. Deliver Enhanced and Interactive Streaming Video Experiences

Fun with Silverlight 4, Available Now Hot off the press !

Finally the book I have been working for last 3 years sees the light of the day. The book will be available at amazon, b&n, and other book stores in few days, but it is available to order Hot Off the Press

Get the Book "Fun with Silverlight 4" here https://www.createspace.com/3616306



More information about the book at http://silverlightfun.com

7 Key HTML5 challenges for N-Screens: My Session at W3C conference

Everything you need to know about developing HTML5 Apps on multiple devices was at W3C conference. I was there in Redmond, Nov 15-16, 2011 this week and it was amazing, first time all the vendors together, instead of talks about individual device/ browsers, all the sessions were focused on the common part, the HTML5 part. If you missed the conference check videos here W3C conference Presentation Videos.

My presentation was about N-Screens Problem, the set of challenges you come across when you develop an App for multiple connected devices. How HTML5 WebApp solution was the most promising solution for the developers. My session was around the 7 Key implementation challenges you will face when developing a Web App solution for multiple devices with different form factors.

The 7 key challenges were, Feature Detection, Layout detection, Using CSS3, Choice of Animation between SVG, Canvas, CSS3 Animation, and WebGL, Audio Video related problems and their work-arounds, and how to use advanced HTML5 API with a brief on Polyfills and Shims.

Here is the online demo of my presentation. Detect your N-device HTML5 features and APIs at http://widgets-gadgets.com/html5. Source code of the demo here

N Screens problem: W3C Conference Redmond, Nov 15,2011

View more presentations from Rajesh Lal

Here is the Video recorded of the session at W3C.

3D with Silverlight: My article at MSDN magazine

Learn 3D with Silverlight, at MSDN Magazine

Great review about the article - Mike James, I Programmer,

"Silverlight 3D for me this article was the star of the show. It is about three different ways to create a rotating 3D cube in Silverlight. After some basic theory it explains how to do the job in Silverlight 4 first using rectangles and projections and then using bitmap images. The third method however is much more satisfactory - using XNA with Silverlight 5. Can't wait for Silverlight 5!"


Here is excerpts from my article, let me know if you find it useful.

Developing 3D Objects in Silverlight

In this article, I’ll show you how to develop 3D objects in Silverlight. I’ll start with a brief background on 3D and then look at some of the advanced features available in Silverlight that enable creation and display of 3D objects. I’ll take a simple example of a cube and show you three different ways to create 3D transformations. I’ll also explain what key elements you need to display a 3D object on a computer screen. Finally, I’ll explore how Silverlight 5 will allow you to go beyond what’s available today and create much richer 3D objects.

Silverlight supports a right-handed coordinate system, which means the positive z axis is pointing toward the viewer (see Figure1). There are three main elements of 3D that are needed for displaying an object on the screen:

* Perspective
* Transformation
* Effect of light

More .... check at Developing 3D Objects in Silverlight at MSDN Magazine

For the book Fun with Silverlight 4

Creating a User Interface for a Touchscreen Digital Photoframe

Another of the User Interface idea for digital Touch Screen devices. Got the Patent for this design invention, which I filed at Sony Electronics, San Diego few years ago.



Abstract
---------
A digital picture frame has a frame bounding a touch screen that presents a user interface having first and second arcs of selector elements. The first are of selector elements is manipulable to establish an input genre root, and the second arc is manipulable to select an input branching from a genre root selected using an element in the first group. The arcs are rotatable to reveal previously unpresented selector elements when a person moves a hand along the respective arc.

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=l_LWAAAAEBAJ

Here are the Slides for the idea.

Two thumbs User Interface

View more presentations from Rajesh Lal

Let me know what you think !

Design Patent: Honeycomb Design

Design Patent: Honeycomb Design

Finally I got two Design Patents, for Honeycomb design for Mobile devices, Both were filed by Sony Electronics, San Diego. Honeycomb design was also used in the Microsoft Mobile 6.5, and hopefully we will see more Sony devices based on the patent.



Here are the links to the two design patents:

• Honeycomb User Interface I
  
• Honeycomb User Interface II

A User Interface for Mobile device inspired by Honeycomb structure with Hexagonal Grid

Honeycomb User Interface Design

View more presentations from Rajesh Lal

Basis :

• 1. Hexagon structure gives the optimum space for individual Plug-ins
• 2. Hexagon structure is best suited for Thumb Interaction
• 3. Hexagon structure gives consistency in user interface
• 4. Hexagonal structure is uniquely suited for both Right handed as well as Left Handed persons which is most important in a Mobile device interaction.

HEXAGONAL HONEYCOMB CONJECTURE: The proof that hexagonal tiling provides the least-perimeter way to enclose infinitely many unit areas. This is useful for us as we can have any number of plugins and displaying the plugins ICON view in a Hexagonal structure can give the optimum usage of space.

Weblinks

1. Honeycomb Conjecture
2. Full Proof Honey Comb conjecture PDF Format
3. Frank Morgan's Math page on Honeycomb structure
4. Honeycomb corner angles analysis
5. Download Documents of the Conjecture

The Book is here: Developing Web Widget with HTML, CSS, JSON and AJAX

My most awaited book on Web Widget got published today (11th march) by CreateSpace and is available to buy from all the popular book stores. So if you ever wanted to create a secure and high performance web widget, here is a comprehensive book on the topic.

About - Developing Web Widget using HTML, CSS, JSON and AJAX

Buy the Web Widget Book



To create a successful web widget, the only complete guide you need is Developing Web Widget with HTML, CSS, JSON and AJAX.
In the Complete Guide to Web Widget you learn:

1. Know what are Web Widget and how they work

2. Create Hello World Widget with HTML, CSS and JavaScript

3. Create Rating Widget using HTML, CSS, JSON and AJAX

4. Know design guidelines and standard practices for Widget development

5. Create high performance Widget with bootstrapper

6. Create RSS Widget with Ajax, cross domain proxy server and Google ajax feed APIs

7. Create Widget using Facebook APIs and Facebook UI framework

8. Understand the Revenue Model of the Widget

Back Cover

Download Free source code and sample chapters from http://widgets-gadgets.com

Buy the Web Widget Book

Beginning Smartphone Web Development: Building Javascript, CSS, HTML and Ajax-Based Applications

The book hit the stores today and is available at Amazon , Barnes and Noble and all popular book stores.

The Book is authored by Gail Fredrick and I have contributed a chapter on Mobile Web Usability, so if you are creating website for mobile device, this is the book to get.Buy it now

To check the latest update go to http://smallinterface.com

Paperclip Principle

I gave this presentation at Amsterdam 10 Tips for designing Mobile Widgets and I am getting a lot of these emails about the Paperclip principle.

Paperclip Principle inspired by the most popular paper clip (GEM) is a principle for Designing Software User Interfaces which is based on a simple assumption and my experience that:

Most effective designs are least complicated

When designing a User Interface you need to take care of three things, The user interface should be

1. 1. Easy to Look At
2. 2. Easy to Understand
3. 3. Easy to Use

It is my belief that if you follow these three guidelines, you will achieve an effective design on developing an interface for any device.

Association of Computing Machinery

My interest in Mathematics and Computer Science got me into Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field's premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources.

I joined last month and am an ACM professional now. Interested ? Click here to join.



I have few research topics related to User Interface / User Experience, which I am going to publish on.

Wait for It !

Creating Vista Gadget: Published - 15th May 2008

Most of you know that I was working on a book for last one year "Creating Vista Gadgets using HTML, CSS and JavaScript - Sams Publishing" Well the result, the book got published recently and is available from today 15th May 2008 in all major book stores.


Creating Vista Gadgets
using HTML, CSS, & JavaScript

Front Cover   Back Cover   Author Photo



More about the book at http://www.innovatewithgadgets.com

Get the gadget book free 
--------------------------------------
If you are in United States and are interested in getting one of the complimentary copy from my publisher please send me your address and I will send you a free copy. this is limited to first 20 people who send me the address :) [UPDATE] All 20 copies are gone, buy it from the link given below.[/UPDATE] 

http://www.innovatewithgadgets.com/2008/04/get-gadget-book.html 

Code Project MVP !

How do you feel to be among the chosen 40 in a four million membered developer community codeproject.com ? In one word, elated. Having your name beside legends like Michael Dunn, Christian Graus, Nishant Sivakumar, Colin Angus Mackay, Marc Clifton, DavidCrow and others is an honour for a life time.

Check Quartz.(Alias) at Hall of Fame

When I saw the email, that I was awarded as Code Project Most Valuable Professional (MVP), I was surprised and happy at the same time. The year 2007 flashed by my eyes. All that, I learned and taught, the knowledge I gathered and shared, the articles, I wrote, applications I made, discussions and arguments at code project lounge, the prizes, I was awarded at code project, everything came in front of me in Vista Aero 3D style. It was like Code Project summed up everything I did, in three words, "Code Project MVP".

Check my articles here

Here is the List of awarded MVP's for 2008 at Code Project. My Alias is Quartz.(the tenth from the top) at Code Project. and here is the portion of the email I recieved.

"One of our most important announcements, however, is our MVP list for 2008. It's with pleasure, thanks and a little awe that I present to you our most helpful, our most prolific and our most valuable professionals:

The Founder of code project Chris Maunder also offered unlimited beers to the recipients. "If you can make it to Sydney in a couple of weeks Michael Martin has promised to buy you all as many beers as you want." Now thats the spirit.

So, what do you think ?

Winner: Windows Vista Secure App Competition

Another of my Article at code project was today awarded a monthly prize for
Vista Secure App Competition

What did I Win ?

The monthly prize, valued at approximately $1100 US, is a secure laptop
package, including:

• • A nifty new laptop, including security features like a fingerprint
  scanner, hard drive security features, and more
  
• • A year’s subscription to MyLaptopGPS, safeguarding your data and laptop
  through special remote data recovery software, including a SafeTag for your new
  laptop

Excerpts from the Article

Introduction

The Cryptography API: Next Generation(CNG) is a new and agile framework in
Windows Vista™, which implements an extensible provider model that allows you to
load a provider by specifying the required cryptographic algorithm rather than
having to hardcode a specific provider.

The advantage is that an algorithm provider can be replaced or upgraded and
you will not have to change your code in any way to use the new provider. Also,
if some algorithm is determined to be unsafe in the future, a more secure
version of that algorithm can be installed with no effect to your code. To
facilitate this, you load a CNG provider by identifying the cryptographic
algorithm that you require, not the specific provider. Most of the CNG APIs
require a provider or an object created by a provider.

In this article, I try to describe the new security feature Cryptography API:
Next Generation(CNG) and compare it with an RSA and AES samples, both managed
and unmanaged, using "Crypto API" (CAPI before Vista) and how it can be
implemented using CNG in Windows Vista. Managed version of CNG is yet to come,
if you feel like you want more, wait for the next release of Visual Studio
"Orcas".

Check the article here