What are the most popular Web analytics tools?

Google Analytics (www.google.com/analytics/) is in a class by itself. It offers substantially more functionality than the other basic tools, but is free.

Unlike tools such as Webalyzer or AWStats, you need to install Google Analytics on your site, which involves pasting a chuck of HTML (provided by Google) into every page. This obviously requires a bit of HTML know-how, but if you know what you're doing, shouldn't require too much effort. Depending on the size of your site and how it's set up, installing the Google Analytics code might take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a few hours. Once the code is added, Google displays your statistics in a custom reporting interface that you can view online.

In addition to the reports offered by tools like Webalizer or AWStats, Google allows you to find out how often visitors come to your site, tracks visitor conversion across a series of pages, compares the behavior of different types of visitors (such as new versus returning, or those from different referring sites), and much more. A selectable date range allows you to analyze any given time period, instead of being limited to a monthly view (as you are with AWStats and Webalizer). Google has a nifty feature that allows you to look at a rendered version of the site and see the percentage of people that clicked each link on a given page.

What kind of assistive devices are there?

Braille embossers transfer computer generated text into embossed Braille output. Braille translation programs convert text scanned-in or generated via standard word processing programs into Braille, which can be printed on the embosser.

Light signaler alerts monitor computer sounds and alert the computer user with light signals. This is useful when a computer user can not hear computer sounds or is not directly in front of the computer screen. As an example, a light can flash alerting the user when a new e-mail message has arrived or a computer command has completed.

Screen readers are used to verbalize, or "speak," everything on the screen including text, graphics, control buttons, and menus into a computerized voice that is spoken aloud. In essence, a screen reader transforms a graphic user interface (GUI) into an audio interface. Screen readers are essential for computer users who are blind.

Speech recognition or voice recognition programs, allow people to give commands and enter data using their voices rather than a mouse or keyboard. Voice recognition systems use a microphone attached to the computer, which can be used to create text documents such as letters or e-mail messages, browse the Internet, and navigate among applications and menus by voice.

Screen enlargers, or screen magnifiers, work like a magnifying glass for the computer by enlarging a portion of the screen which can increase legibility and make it easier to see items on the computer. Some screen enlargers allow a person to zoom in and out on a particular area of the screen.

Reference Link: Assistive Devices

What tools are available for SEO?

There are a lot of free and easy to use SEO tools available in the Internet. The website http://www.seocompany.ca/tool/seo-tools.html list out 136 SEO tools which can help the developer to optimize their website and move their search engine position higher.

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Other benefits to using Web standards

(1)Reducing dependency on any one developer
A common challenge for web developers when assuming management of existing sites is the code written by other developers with poor HTML code quality. Because standards are very well documented, another person taking over some standard-compliant code can hit the ground running - and will not need to become familiar with the previous developer's coding practices.

(2)Benefits to web site visitors
Thanks to accessibility, faster loading web pages, and compatibility with more browsers, visitors are more likely to appreciate your service and come back later.

(3)Increase Website Traffic -Better search engine ranking
Separating presentation from content increases the information/markup ratio, making CSS-based documents more pertinent with regard to the search terms, which makes them rank higher in search results.

(4)Compatible with newer browsers
More and more browsers, other than Internet Explorer for Windows, are used to surf the web. However, testing each web page in every configuration is impossible. Coding to standards is then the only practical solution.

What are the different deliverables for information architecture?

Typically, there are seven deliverables for Information Architecture.
Occasionally they will not produce all seven, the choice of which to use and when to use them will depend on the needs of the project.

(1)Conceptual Model:
A conceptual model is most often a graphic, though it can be a chart, a written paragraph or a flowchart. The key is that it expresses an explanation of the system's behavior to the user that is easy. It does not have to be how the system actually works.

(2)Content Inventory and Organization
The content inventory may be provided by the IA or the client. It is a complete list of all the content that the site holds and will hold. Typically card sort is performed with the end user of the system, rather than only by the IA. The IA can then take the result of the card sorts and refine the collection and labeling.

(3)User Flows/Scenarios
User flows are simple diagrams that follow a user down a path of activity. Occasionally they look like storyboards, other times like flow charts. The important thing is to not outline every single possible behavior, but rather show most likely user experience.
Scenarios is used to tell the story of the users working with the system.

(4)Task Analysis
This is a discrete step-by-step analysis of how users accomplish their desired tasks. This allows the IA to carefully analyze each step a user needs to complete any give task.

(5)Site Map
The site map documents the various pages or page types throughout the site and the user paths to and from them. It is typically started early in the project, and refined throughout.

(6)Page Architecture
Also called wireframes. It is are a basic visual guide used in web design to suggest the layout of fundamental elements in the interface. Because of this they are often completed before any artwork is developed.

(7)Decision tables
The tables allow precise documentation of the design of every interaction possible. It is especially useful when designing error handling.

Card Sorting

Card sorting is a quick, inexpensive, and reliable method, which serves as input into your information design process. Card sorting generates an overall structure for your information, as well as suggestions for navigation, menus, and possible taxonomies.

Two Methods:
Open Card Sorting: Participants are given cards showing site content with no pre-established groupings. They are asked to sort cards into groups that they feel are appropriate and then describe each group. Open card sorting is useful as input to information structures in new or existing sites and products.

Closed Card Sorting: Participants are given cards showing site content with an established initial set of primary groups. Participants are asked to place cards into these pre-established primary groups. Closed card sorting is useful when adding new content to an existing structure, or for gaining additional feedback after an open card sort.

Advantages:
Simple, Cheap, Quick to execute, Established, Involves users & Provides a good foundation.

Disadvantages:
Does not consider users’ tasks, Results may vary, Analysis can be time consuming & May capture “surface” characteristics only

Step To Do:
(1) Prepare the cards: Each card named with different content or function
(2) Participants are requested to sort the cards into groups
(3) Participants are requested to give name for each group
(4) Analyze the result