Online Books

A Distant Drum
Marguerite Bell
Authors Online, Ltd
40 Castle Street, Hertford SG14 1HR, England
Genre: Fiction/Historical Romance
ISBN: 0755201604, $14.95, 172 pp, 2005

This is a traditional romance which takes place around the Napoleonic era. Fanny Templeton is a twenty-six-year-old English widow, still a virgin and step-mother to Justine. At the beginning of the story she is a paid companion to Lady Elizabeth Mablethorpe and concerned about the welfare of Justine and her new husband, Freddie, who is the younger brother of the Marquis of Ordley, Edward, a Colonel in the British army.

There is an initial tension between Fanny and Edward which evolves into romance in Brussels. They are married in a barn shortly after Edward is seriously injured in the Battle of Waterloo. Because Fanny was not certain that he truly loved her, she would not share his bed so that the marriage could be annulled if he so chose after he was well again. Edward, of course, interpreted this as rejection until . . . .

If you like historical romances of this period, you will enjoy this book. Marguerite Bell is a consummate writer, and you definitely will not be disappointed. She's clearly knowledgeable about the period-the manners, customs, the clothes-and certainly brings it all to life as she keeps the intrigue sharp and poignant.

Other books by this author include: A Rose for Danger, The Devil's Daughter, Bride by Auction and Sea Change. The Pride of Eagles will be published sometime this year. She also writes under the name of Ida Pollock and books under this name include: The Gentle Masquerade, Lady in Danger, The Uneasy Alliance, Country Air and Summer Conspiracy.

I enjoyed the story and her engaging style of writing. Thank you!

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - May 8, 2006 - Copyright

Cuts through the red internet tape right to the medical site. This is a comprehensive, well organized book that can save time, which is crucial ,when you're sick or a loved on is ,and you are looking for help on the internet. It has every conceivable category in a handy paperback edition. It's contents tell all from How the Internet works to a detailed list of chapters(alphabetical of course)ranging from allergy, asthma to urology. Within each category the authors almost seem to read your mind. The sub -headings under Urology,for example, are from bedwetting to prostate problems and vasectomy. There's even a chapter on Sports Medicine. Given the state of our Medical profession in the USA today this is really an essential tool up there with the dictionary and Dr. Spock.

Also recommended: The Abandonment of the Patient The Lost Art of Healing

Leaders in higher education should stand up and applaud the efforts of these authors. This is an accurate appraisal of the IT landscape in higher education. Few have ever touched upon this 800 pound gorilla of a subject. These authors have challenged the misperceptions held by many about the real costs of technology. It's about time.

There are 100s of books aimed at people who design web sites. Books that tell you how to write HTML. Books that show you how to design 3D buttons. Books on programming in Perl, Java, etc.

This book takes a completely different approach: it assumes that the people who use web sites just want an easy life. This requires simplicity - not complexity. So, this book on web site development hardly mentions technology. Instead, it focuses on the customers of the technology: it explains how to design e-commerce sites that ordinary people can use (not just yourself, your boss or client!).

The book has now been on the market for three years, but never received the same attention as for instance the usability books from Jakob Nielsen or Steve Krug.

But if you would like a more structured approach then this book is a good pick. His approach is to design a clear roadmap for the web site design or re-design process with lots and lots of forms and checklists that we can put into use Monday morning.

CUSTOMER-CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS
David Travis is a British usability expert with a background from designing Industry Standards. He has designed a customer-centred design process that has four steps. I will outline these steps below:

Step 1: ANALYZE THE OPPORTUNITY
- Identify the stakeholders (who are they? what are their motivations? prioritise the list!)
- Write the site mandate (why it exists? which objectives?)
- Segment the market (e.g. by using Moore's technology adoption lifecyle)

Step 2: BUILD THE CONTEXT OF USE
- Build customer profiles (demographics, web site behavior, needs, and then you design personas)
- Build environment profiles (physical, socio-cultural, and technical)
- Build task profiles (prioritise task portfolio: value to customers vs. ease of implementation)

Step 3: CREATE THE USER EXPERIENCE (an iterative process)
- Develop key performance indicators for the site
- Develop information architecture (the high-level, conceptual model)
- Lay out the screens (the detailed design)
- Evaluate usability (using experts and representative customers)

Step 4: TRACK REAL-WORLD USAGE AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE SITE.
The job is done - isn't it? To paraphrase Chuchill: this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. This is the end of the beginning. You will need to change and update the web site as your customers change, if you want a successful web site. These key measures will keep your finger on the pulse of your site: Conversion rate, usage rate by registered customers, fulfilment performance and customer retention. Note that the two last ones are "beyond-the-interface" metrics.
So regularly you need to go back to step 2 or even step 1 again and improve wherever you can. As Einstein said: "The questions remain the same, but the answers differ" as we evolve.

Each of these bullets is devoted a chapter with tools and techniques, so the process is well documented. The author has refined his customer-centred design process through a lot of work with customers, such as HP, Motorola, Financial Times, and Thomas Cook).

Based on his experience, the author suggests three components of a web site's usability.

SCREEN DESIGN:
Although, most web site professionals nowadays accept usability as key to success, then many have a very narrow view of it. According to the author, many think it's only about screen design: choosing the correct fonts, colours, and icons. But in reality, usability is a process. It is not something that can be stapled on at the end of development. It's like putting lipstick on a bulldog ... Optimising screen design is perhaps only 15% of a web site's usability performance.

CONSISTENCY:
Screen design is just one of 3 important components. Consistency is the second key feature and it may account for about 25% of a web site's usability, says David Travis. We can all point to annoying inconsistencies in (or between) much of the software we use. The same goes for web sites.

TASK FOCUS:
The third component of usability, the remaining 60 %, is accounted for by task focus. You know a web site has task focus when you get a feeling that the person who designed the site knew exactly what you wanted to do. The site works the way you expect. There is no need to go searching through menus or dialogue boxes. The main things you want to do are there in front of you - easy to find and simple to carry out. It's intuitive, just like the best computer games, where very quickly the "interface" disappears and you are instead absorbed by the universe of the game - the task.

Of the three components of usability, task focus is the most complicated. Rules for good visual screen design are plentiful. Consistency is a matter of discipline and testing against relevant guides. But achieving task focus is much more complicated - it requires a process, and it is what this book attempts to do (cf. the four step process above).

If you are a structured person, you will love this book. Most usability books consist of many valuable guidelines and hints but are often rather unstructured in their process. This book offers a roadmap to success with the step-by-step approach.

If you are interested in e-commerce usability, then I also recommend you take a look at these books (less structured, but with a lot of useful guidelines):
- Jakob Nielsen: Prioritizing Web Usability (2006)
- Eisenberg: Call to Action: Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results (2005)
- Steve Krug: Don't make me think - A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (2005)

PS. The book contains about 200 pages.

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

A comprehensive book on a new and exciting topic. I have read all of Mr. Banks' other books and would highly adding those and this new one to your finance library. He has a way of making complex topics understandable.

Javad Saffarzadeh has done an impeccable job of producing an outstanding series of computer instruction books, particularly Introduction to PC and Windows. We're convinced he has captured all the basics for beginners. The Teacher Talking texts should make the best seller list in no time. Again, we commend Mr. Saffarzadeh and those who were instrumental in preparing this outstanding three-book spiral series ... A great read!

This book is a must for anyone hoping to facilitate online learners.It is very "user friendly" and enables the reader to realise the benefits, but also the pitfalls of learning through this compelling medium.

M.P.Slayton's collection of patterns and tips in her EARLY AMERICAN DECORATING TECHNIQUES publication is a "must" for anyone who enjoys creating and painting in this style. With the instructions and color illustrations of this book, it would be possible to become self-taught in freehand bronze, theorem and other forms of stenciling. Tinsel painting (or reverse painting on glass) is covered as well as techniques in gold leaf. Slayton begins her book with the basics of strokework and walks you through to the finishing steps of varnishing and handrubbing.The book is divided into 3 sections. While the first 2 concentrate on technique, the last section (approx. 100 pgs) contains numerous full-size patterns of Early American designs.Decorative painters need more resource and referral books such as this one!

Advice from an online Masters Education graduate:

Anyone can be a successfull online student but there are a couple of things that the person must have in order for him or her to be successful in the subject courses that he or she will be taking at any of the online schools that exist in this great nation(USA).

1. You must have a great relationship with your computer. Know your computer like the back of your hand. Know how it works, of how it operates and make sure you have the necessary programs installed in it so it can make your online class experience more smooth. Many of the programs can be downloaded at the online school website, or for free at the internet(if you look for them on particular websites). The school that i went to required one to have Java.

2. Know APA Citation. This is very important especially for students who are majoring in Education but it seems that APA Citation is more important or seen very highly by more teachers at many of the online schools than MLA. Many teachers get technical with one (the student)if one does not know APA very well. So please learn it. In the end you will see that APA is better than MLA. It is faster to memorize.

3. Always be a team player, believe in Synergy. Online is no place for solo runners. Because you will always be working in groups for the most part.

4. Buy used books if you are on a tight budget. It really helps.

5. Always keep in touch with your advisors (at the school that you are in), either through email, telephone or both, and especially with your teacher. You need to know your progress.

6. Always use [...].Many online schools have[...]as a service. They have great tutors who are very knowledgeable in many fields. For example, English, math, Spanish, Calculus, and Government.

7. Always be positive because some classes are lonely so get the drive to strive ahead. Think about puppies, or your girlfriend, or of special memories of people you have helped back then(e.g., the elderly, your mom, or kids at school)..which will motivate you to do good in the class you are in. See the higher goal...that you want to make a difference in this world that you are in. Be a change agent.

8. Never post your photograph in the course room even if you think and are an attractive person(e.g., an attractive russian lady or an ex model of the past). Online education regardless of what people think does have social prejudice and so looks or non looks may do you in(in failing the class). The most important key is the knowledge that you will be submitting in the course room as well as the information you will be sending to your professor via email.... No one needs to know how you look like. The less they know about you or anyone else reading this the more you are in control.

9. Have alot of patience in everything you do online, and have patience when you type because the answers you give in the course room will be long. How do you say? Love the keyboard.

10.If you like talking, then learn to love the keyboard as well. The keyboard will be your mouth/pen in the cyber world. *Another benefit is that you will get more typing experience. Always give good answers. Remember you are paying alot of money to be online so make every answer count. Never give clown answers (baseless answers).

11. This is very important, but make sure your school is accredited. If your school is not accredited then your degree is worthless. You may have a hard time finding employment.

12. You will spend alot of time on your computer. The machine will be your new friend, so get to know it well. In case you work and travel-you may use the computers at the printer places or use the public library computers in case of emergencies-when you need to send that RTF or DOC Attachment paper to your online professor.

You can be a successful online student. Just be positive, always, as well as work hard. Never doubt yourself because at times no one will believe in you. It helps one to Pray. I Prayed and it helped me move beyond, and great thing i succeeded.

The benefits outweigh the disadvantages but online is worth it. But just becareful...follow the steps, and you will be okay.

Online Graduate 2005.

Great book filled with successful eBay stories. My favorite was Chapter 2: Adam Hersh. I leave a copy on the end table in our living room because we pick it up so often.