John Carroll shows how a pervasive but underused element of design practice, the scenario, can transform information systems design. Difficult to learn and awkward to use, today's information systems often change our activities in ways that we do not need or want. The problem lies in the software development process. In this book John Carroll shows how a pervasive but underused element of design practice, the scenario, can transform information systems design. Traditional textbook approaches manage the complexity of the design process via abstraction, treating design problems as if they were composites of puzzles. Scenario-based design uses concretization. A scenario is a concrete story about use. For example: "A person turned on a computer; the screen displayed a button labeled Start; the person used the mouse to select the button." Scenarios are a vocabulary for coordinating the central tasks of system development—understanding people's needs, envisioning new activities and technologies, designing effective systems and software, and drawing general lessons from systems as they are developed and used. Instead of designing software by listing requirements, functions, and code modules, the designer focuses first on the activities that need to be supported and then allows descriptions of those activities to drive everything else. In addition to a comprehensive discussion of the principles of scenario-based design, the book includes in-depth examples of its application.

Python is a multipurpose development language that can be used on virtually every platform. It offers built-in support for critical development steps including data structures, dynamic typing, and dynamic building. It can be used in lieu of Java or C++, and Python scripts can be developed in a fraction of the time it takes to program and debug higher-level languages. Covers language basics and how to use Python for CGI scripting, GUI development, network programming, and much more Demonstrates why Python is arguably the most sophisticated of the popular scripting languages and why its popularity continues to grow

JavaScript is a versatile language that can be used to enhance client-side and server-side scripting. JavaScript is also widely used for its abilities to manage user input, show text, play sounds, display images, and communicate with a plug-in response. * JavaScript, unlike many other programming languages, is relatively easy to master, even for those who have no programming experience * Mastery of JavaScript allows Web masters and Web site developers to easily add interactivity, moving beyond static HTML pages

PHP has an edge over locked-in solutions such as JSP and ASP for most Web development work because it is a cross-platform technology. Surveys indicate that PHP is rapidly becoming the most widely used Web scripting language and PHP skills are now considered essential for many Web developers. * Explains why PHP is easier to learn than Perl or JavaScript and how it is useful in server-side development and administration tasks * Offers guidance to fully utilizing the possibilities of PHP * Enables Web designers and others with HTML skills to quickly gain essential abilities for site administration and content development

Ruby is an interpreted language, capable of saving programmers considerable time during program development since no compilation and linking are necessary. It is ideal for writing text-processing applications, server-side scripts, application prototypes, mathematics, and for many everyday programming tasks. * Reviews Ruby's clever syntax and demonstrates why that makes it a perfect choice for beginning programmers, and also shows how its multipurpose capabilities make it a sound choice for experienced developers * Explores Ruby's uses for prototyping, text processing, and other tasks

JavaServer Pages (JSP) is a multipurpose language based on Java technology that provides a simplified, fast way to create dynamic Web content. JSP is specific to Web page creation and rendering, and is a key Web technology for developers and administrators working with Java. Explains how JSP can be used to simplify tasks, shorten the development cycle, and integrate Web content with other elements of J2EE Shows how JSP enables Web designers and other nonprogrammers to quickly gain essential abilities for the creation of dynamic Web pages

Shares knowledge and best practice on the development, dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines, drawing on current examples from primary and secondary care including both local and national projects.