Usability is life and death. Resources for learning more…

Web 2.0 brought with it the explosion of rich internet applications that work over the web and allow users to not just read content but interact with applications.  As users use our web applications, and with so many options out there, I believe that the User Interface of your application is the difference between user adoption….and ultimately success and failure. As a web 2.0 company you are now forced to create simple and elegant solutions that create the shortest paths from start to finish for your application tasks.

Whether you are a designer, developer, writer, marketer, you need to understand usability to be able to create experiences that people would enjoy. Being aware of what is going on, also makes it easier for the team to work with a usability professional and move the project along.

Here are some resources where you can learn more about usability

1. Interaction Design Association. It is a global network dedicated to the professional practice of Interaction Design. With the help of more than 20,000 members since 2004, the IxDA network provides an online forum for the discussion of interaction design issues and other opportunities and platforms for people who are passionate about interaction design to gather and advance the discipline. Their website has a great list of resources with video talks from past events/conferences.
2. Interaction Conference – Every year, IxDA gathers the interaction design community to stretch our minds, sharpen our skills, and inspire each other.  We are very excited to be a media partner for the interaction ’11 conference in February and will be conducting interviews with some of the presenters and writing about some of our favorite sessions.  So stay tuned!
3. Learn from Other’s Successes  – Find other web applications that people are raving about and learn from them.  Here is a list of great web app interfaces to get you started.
4. Read books on the subject: 11 Usability, UX, Interface books you should own

Do you have other suggestions?  Please share with us in the comments!

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5. Information Overload: Are You Up for the Interface Challenge?