User Interface Design for Mere Mortals®

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Brief Histories

The past does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.

—Mark Twain

Topics Covered in This Chapter

The History of Graphical User Interfaces

The History of Web Design

Differences in Look and Feel

Before I discuss user interface design, there is a backstory that tells you how we got from the beginnings of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and how that led to the advent of the Web. You will learn that, as the Web became more popular, Web design and usability became ever more important. You will also learn about the history of Web design conventions. Finally, you’ll learn about the differences in the look and feel between GUIs and Web interfaces.

The History of Graphical User Interfaces

Jeremy Reimer, in his 2005 online article “A History ...