A simple collection of great stuff I found scavenging the web or simply receiving into my Reader.

I thought I’d pass it along.

So here we are for a new week of  Scary Browser (and super links). As usual, Quick and Snappy.

This week we’ll Facebook gets news feed patent (??), Luke Wroblewski gives us a run down of how Firefox was designed, a thesis about Internet Mobiles a great infographic video on the state of the internet, a look at Wired magazine for tablet and more goodies, all after the break.

• Apparently Facebook has been awarded a news feed patent that was seen as possible “social network killer”. Status updates are not included, so Twitter is sa. I’ll go tweet about that now.

• Firefox which world’s number 2 browser (in terms of users and after IE) is being exposed. Through Luke Wroblewski’s report, we get the run down of what it takes to design Firefox by its  head designer Alex Faaborg.

A few key points :

• The role of a designer in an open source company is to facilitate ideas rather than be the source.
• Flow: cognitive state people enter when they no longer focus consciously on the means of accomplishing the task they are doing –they just naturally do it. How can the interface fade away in software products?
• The design team deals with all these opinions with this by focusing on core principles to make decisions and giving contributors freedom to explore.

• Anne Kaikkonen thesis “Internet on Mobiles: Evolution of Usability and User Experience” is available (132 pages in PDF).  Read the abstract and keep the full thesis close enough. Bookmarked and saved already.

• JESS3 has created a figures-heavy video on the state of the internet. I find it clever and easy to understand. A bit quick sometimes but worth 3 min of your time. I promise.

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

• Which side are you on? Line25 is giving a breakdown of today most bloody battle on the webdesign scene with Top 5 Web Design Debates That Cause the Most Riots . So should you open that link in a new window or not?

• Neil Patel of Crazy Egg (yummm heatmaps) tolds us What [he] learned about [us]through 4 redesigns

• Cone Trees gives us an overview of the prototype wired magazine for tablets. It runs on AIR and it’s sexy… Now when is my paper copy arriving through the mail so?? (Also the player has one of the worst set of controls I’ve seen, but I digress)

• Finally some David Bowie/ Ziggy Stardust in depth analysis for the brave (and the not so, a video favorite of mine)

Enjoy and see you soon

lks, after reviewing a bit of my statsand some hard thinking, I think I’ll keep my Scary Browser (and super links) section quick and snappy.

I’ll extract the articles I found more interesting and they’ll get a post all for themselves.

Find out why playing squash is good for your UX skills.

So how did I come to the conclusion that UX would help me beat my very good friend yesterday?

“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster” said Sun-Tzu. Well I would humbly put it this way ”Know your users and know yourself, you can build thousands of Great Experience without frustration”. I am all for peace, not war.

The drinks were on me after the game :

A simple collection of great stuff I found scavenging the web or simply receiving into my Reader.

I thought I’d pass it along.

Hi Folks, after reviewing a bit of my stats and doing some hard thinking, I think I’ll keep my Scary Browser (and super links) section quick and snappy.

I’ll extract the articles I found more interesting and they’ll get a post all for themselves.

This week we’ll find a great matrix comparing social media today, some cyber spy rumours, why Windows can be sexy in your hand, some bike tidbits and how fun can improve your design.

It’s all after the break.

• If you want to see clearly how and where to develop your social media strategy,  that’s happening here: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2010/02/11/matrix-buzz-vs-facebook-vs-myspace-vs-twitter-feb-2009/

• Also Google and the NSA are trying to break a deal to protect all of us and our data… NSA is a spy agencies first and foremost…http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020304057.html?hpid=topnews

• Why Windows Mobile 7 looks so sexy and also can break the mold of “Iphone= Touchphone”.
  http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1002

• A geek little secret, where does the mouse go… itis  probably useful but that won’t stop me from using it  http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/09/track-mouse-activity-on-your-computer/

• Some Irish money badly spent… no not again, and this time it’s online… Damien Mulley reports at http://www.mulley.net/2010/02/12/the-e4-million-govt-website-that-you-never-heard-of/

• Everybody needs a good laugh, everyday if possible, well now your design needs it too: http://www.design-emotion.com/2010/01/08/the-science-of-fun-how-fun-helps-improve-your-design/

• And some bike goodness from NY http://www.good.is/post/new-york-turns-parking-meters-into-bike-racks

Enjoy and see you soon

lks, after reviewing a bit of my statsand some hard thinking, I think I’ll keep my Scary Browser (and super links) section quick and snappy.

I’ll extract the articles I found more interesting and they’ll get a post all for themselves.

ExplainIA is a contest put in place by Peter Morville for which the goal is to ,well let’s say it out loud, Explain Information Architecture or as the contest manifest reads:

“In this contest, you are invited to explain information architecture. What is it? Why is it important? What does it mean to you? Some folks may offer a definition in 140 characters or less, while others will use this opportunity to tell a story (using text, pictures, audio, and/or video) about their relationship to IA.”

Update:

The winners have been selected and they are all great. So go and check: http://bit.ly/9IhqS6

My entry can be seen after the break

A simple collection of great stuff I found scavenging the web or simply receiving into my Reader.

I thought I’d pass it along.

This week I’m making it quick and dirty, cause we’re all busy aren’t we??

SO i’ll show how to get creative in 30 seconds, design a city for bikes, where we really stand in the scale of the universe and other bits too.

It’s all after the break.

Hi all, today i’m making a quick and snappy sections of links.

Be ready it’s going to be quick:

• The Scale of the Universe, (in Flash, with a slider)

  http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2010/2/4/the-scale-of-the-universe.html

Just to put some real figure to the beloved Simpson universe lies within homer intro:

• How can the music industry engage with fans?
  http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-02/05/interactive-music.aspx
  Well, anybody got Simon’s Cowell twitter account???

• Making dough or spam? The perplexing case of designing lead generation pages
  http://carsonified.com/blog/design/making-dough-or-spam-the-perplexing-case-of-designing-lead-generation-pages/
  Been in that situation before, and the tricky part design a page that barely is sum of others and really only exist to justify your adword campaign. Well here’s how you can make it good.

• 30 seconds to creativity
  http://www.adaptivepath.com/blog/2010/02/02/30-seconds-to-creativity/

30 seconds to creativity from Brandon Schauer on Vimeo.

Maybe I should have watched that video again before writing this post.

• 
  http://johnnyholland.org/2010/01/27/when-data-gets-up-close-and-personal/Just one of the best article I’ve read in the last weeks…. go read it too.

• http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/designing-bicycle-cities.html
  What would be a week without me and my bike propaganda ?

• http://dzineblog.com/2010/01/very-cute-jacketbookmarks.html
  Getting ready to get my valentine’s her present.

• http://flowingdata.com/2010/02/01/data-underload-7-no-worries/
  Just check how the development cycle of your worries according to your age. and It’s scientifically proven.

That’s it for now. Enjoy

Those are not big “show-stoppers” issue, but I feel compelled to expose those usability quarks to help make more people happy. (Starting by me).

After getting a bit overwhelmed with my last facelift: Getting Carried Away, I’m giving you two very short UX update.

What is it you might ask me? Well it’s simple, I’m giving a “face-lift” to some website, web applications or any type of interface I come across while browsing.

It’s simple, a “face-lift” is me trying to make the interface more usable, easier to use and somehow enjoyable (I’ll try prettier but that’s a matter of taste isn’t it?)

I’m using simple usability techniques, a quick mock-up/prototype and some bullet points to highlights the before after.

But there is a trick: I only “face-lift” website that I actually use and I’m only giving me a few hours to get that done.

Let’s get started after the break

First to get on the face-lift chair today is my “MSN video player”.

The symptoms:

I’m trying to watch a trailer and due to “sensible content”, I must provide my “real” date of birth. (I never understood how this made the check worth anything in anyone’s eye but the legal team… but that’s another story).

It’s a very simple form done bad. I have to enter 3 times MM (what does that stands for anyway?) and I will, in microsoft fashion, click the left button to submit, not the right one that of course cancel my “real” date of birth.

The diagnostic:

• Give visual clue as to what is expected from the user and lead towards action.

The procedure:

• Better use of in area labels MM/DD/YYYY
• Big and clear Action button and reduce size of cancel button

Second on patient the couch today is sonystyle.co.uk

I’m on the lookout for a new laptop as my 5 year old is on the verge of retirement. Anyway, long story short, I had a go at configuring a possible machine. But it’s not as easy as it looks (I like the clear layout).

The symptoms:

• I can’t select a number of options unless I select a specific one. Dependant selection is not new, but when the dependency is only available as the 7th option, that’s a bit frustrating.

Click the image below to see how the content is ordered.

The Diagnostic:

• Just make it simple and in an order that does make sense.
• Use a bit of Information Architecture technique and common sense.

The Procedure:

• Just move the deciding choice before the others two, thus removing a cognitive punch in the face and paving the way for a nice choice selection. Choosing a laptop is a hard task for most people, and I want to be secure in my belief that I can choose what’s right for me.

Et voila for today.

What is it you might ask me? Well it’s simple, I’m giving a “face-lift” to some website, web applications or any type of interface I come across while browsing.

It’s simple, a “face-lift” is me trying to make the interface more usable, easier to use and somehow enjoyable (I’ll try prettier but that’s a matter of taste isn’t it?)

I’m using simple usability techniques, a quick mock-up/prototype and some bullet points to highlights the before after.

But there is a trick: I only “face-lift” website that I actually use and I’m only giving me a few hours to get that done.

My first face-lift is today: http://www.trafikanten.no/ and this time I already broke my own rules.

I’m telling you why (and how) after the jump.

So why “trafikanten”?

Trafikanten is my girlfriend’s favorite website when it comes to transport time. Basically when is the next train for<insert station name>?

I used it a few time when I needed to go somewhere. I’m still fairly new to Oslo and getting my way around is not always easy. And I always walk, almost everywhere, but last week, the frozen foot-walks and my bad ankle suggested that I’d take the metro/tram/bus to go to this meeting.

I went to trafikanten to find the best route, but was a bit disapointed that I could get the time for any public transport, but had no idea as to where the place actually was (north, south, central, suburb, etc…)

I jumped then to google maps to figure out where was the actual location.

Why not put all of that together, and have a nice little package with time+routes+ all the info you might need to be on time at the “rendez-vous”?

As a good facelift practitioner, I noted the following:

Symptoms:

• The info is clear and reliable, but not presented very effectively
• Everything is “grey”, there’s no highlight as to where to click: What are the actions. Is thgis button more important than this one?
• The site is overall slow
• the search box are not forgiving and alternatives/precisions are expected in a 2nd screen (delaying again the results we’re looking for)
• Default assumption is that “I want to leave after <insert time>“. Actually not so much, in most case I need to be somewhere at a certain time, and without knowing how long it takes to get there, it’s a bit hard to estimate when I should be leaving. I want to system to tell me when to go based on traffic info.
• The action buttons have a counter intuitive position and no differentiation see below.

Diagnostic:

• A wealth of information that seems to get major support from Norwegian users. This rates good in terms of findability, but could improve on the usability side.

A note: as I thought about how to “facelift” that page, it struck me that the services as such doesn’t need to change. From my user interview findings (a few norwegian friends around an øl) the site serves its purpose. But I felt it could do more, especially for the newcomers, anybody who still needs to figure his way around. And when it made perfect sense to check times on one site and then map and direction on another (google map), I was looking for a one-stop shop solution. This is what you’ll get now.

So the remedy, my very own “face-lift”.

This facelift brings the whole process to a more advanced level.
You’ll see:

• My initial ideas as I skected them out on a sleppless night.
• A paper prototype to show the interaction ideas
• A first visual design draft.

The procedure:

• Make the search form stand out more
• Use “human language”. I want to go there, and I’m coming from….
• Better use of label
• Focus on time of departure and distance. This is not just a time schedule planner, this is a journey planner
• Extend options beyond public transport
• Keep the accuracy of informations and flexibility of search
• Move suggestion and search refinement into the form, not as a 2nd step.
• Allow forgiving format in search box
• Visually differentiate action from information

My initial ideas

Paper prototype*

Paper mock up – Trip plannin Concept from Eric Haidara.

*This paper prototype is intended to convey the interaction principle for validation before coding and having a visual design fixed.

I loved doing it, and this had probably taken more time to do than allowed/ necessary in a real project. This was my first time, so it took a bit of hit and miss to get the results. I’m convinced though that my next project using this technique will see the preparation time divided by half at least.

Visual design draft

Et voila:

As presented before, this is not quite a facelift but more of a “what if” trafikanten offered a more inclusive type of services.

I’m hoping that you’ve found this case interesting and moreover, that it makes sense.
What do you think? should you come and visit me in Oslo, will you use my trafikanten-plus to be on time

Let me know what you think.

A simple collection of great stuff I found scavenging the web or simply receiving into my Reader.

I thought I’d pass it along.

So here we go for this week, I’ll show how to make the Beatles pretty, and strongly encourage you to read a book. I also had a dream about the future of bike lanes, give you some great music for free and explain you that you’re not likely to be eaten alive, in-flight by mega shark. And all of this is free, unlike the NYtimes.

It’s all after the break.

Charting the Beatles

• http://www.mikemake.com/#72772/Charting-the-Beatles
  I’m not a fab four fanatic, but I enjoy more than a few of their songs. I’m not an infographic fanatic either, but starting to be an enthusiast so when those two came together (over me….) I felt I would share. This is very good pretty, impressive in the making and only a teaser for more to come. I might even join mind you.

Read a Book

• http://www.good.is/post/read-a-book
  Good is a great website resources for all things interesting. that’s quite an empty statement, but there’s [almost] nothing bad in good. In their latest issue, they help us to slow down. And in that domain I can definitely use some help. The article “Read a book” is a list of books about the art of taking it easy. I haven’t had time to read any yet (just finished selling usability last night) but sure I will soon. When I have time

Mega Shark infographic

• http://staubman.com/blog/?cat=7
  Best link of the week, in so many ways. Anyway no need to explain more, just check that scene then view the poster, then print it and put it on the nearest wall.
  http://www.youtube.com/v/I16_8l0yS-g&hl=en_US&fs=1&
  

The Flying Bicycle Lane

• http://kolelinia.com/en/
  Let’s think for a second. You’re on your way to work (or back in my case), sun is shinning and you’re enjoying a nice ride that keeps you fit and beats the traffic big time. Then before you realise, a car take a chance turning just when you arrive at that junction. Seconds later you’re on your back, bike crush but you’re mostly fine (thanks helmet and backpack). Well, this would never happen with the flying bicycle lane. Soon in your fantasy neighbourhood.

Public Domain music for all (and it looks pretty too)

• http://deweymusic.org/
  This is a project that puts a layer of usability and web2.0 to archives.org I like the initiative, there’s loads of music to choose from, some excellent live bootlegs and it’s free. Not rapidshare free, free like enjoy and feel good about it free.

Nytimes.com to start charging for some site access

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/media/21times.html?src=tptw
  New model: will it last? is it viable? It sure creates some serious question has to use of articles, retweet, sharing and link back…

and finally when Aesop Rocks meets Philip Glass & Ravi Shankar. Greatness

That’s it for now. Enjoy

http://internetonlinewebsite.com/

I’m not the comic book guy (even though i love him) and for me  this is the most usable website ever.

I kid you not, Kinda. Check out why after the break.

What is it about?

My first though was that this website is about websites, especially the “art/science/craft/mass production” way of making those.

Like they say if you manage to find it: “Aquent’s InternetOnlineWebsite.com is a website about websites (and marketing, direct mail, t-shirts, etc.). Each familiar feature of the site is designed to be explored…”

So the website is a showcase of what Aquent can provide…. on a large scale it seems. A clear website with clear business goals aligned with clear UI patterns. I feel that I’m almost looking at a presentation of the”basic of user centered design”, or “UX for dummies”. (I love that line of books by the way).

That sounds interesting, if not a bit controversial (for UX practitioners) as it seems to be saying: Here’s the template to make a business website…

Maybe it’s time to get a feel the process behind that: internetonlinewebsite.com

How is it done?

Well it’s basically done in the most straight forward manner: what you see is what you get. Navigation is labelled, hum “Navigation”, logo is logo and OMG a flash banner is… ok you catch my drift.

Each element has 2 states, off and on. A click on one calls a modal windows that explains what that element is about…. NOT.

It actually doesn’t do that, it tries to explain what’s going on behind the scene. What are the actors/Skills involved in creating that UI. And at that, it does a fairly convincing job.

“Interactive Designers are masters of the balance between form and function.” That’s not me saying, that’s: internetonlinewebsite.com. I tend to agree, until they start using words such as “designer-y goodness”…???

So it’s not a website about websites, it’s about what job makes such websites. Everything on that website is done towards users aka potential customer aka….whoever they created as personas.

So the next question is….

What’s the point?

Wait a minute? Have I been wrong all that time?

This website is actually not about UI patterns, but how one skills, one job is needed to build the element, and how all coming together creates a great website (online and on the Internet as well).

So I did my research and looked a bit more into the website creators. Aquent, which first appeared to be an online agency, is in fact a “talent agency” aka recruitment agency. (Previously known as Mactemps)

So they are not here to teach us (me, you, whoever is in the business) how to do websites. They are here to showcase decision makers, that they can provide the best talents for the right job. It does seem to work, but it’s actually a bit misleading.

So it’s not a website about usability or User experience, it’s a website about “talents” that makes those sites.

Have I been fooled/wrong in my first assumption because I’m wanted to see it like that? Maybe.

Does the website serves its purpose? I would think so, even though I’d like to know how much “talents” they can place thanks to that, and as well, how many people looking for the creative talents will go to google and type: “Internet online website”???

Still, if not the most usable website ever, this is for sure the best use of labels ever. It’s like mixing Steve Krug’s principle with a high dose of 2.0 “designer-y goodness”.

A weird object that I can’t help but like, at least for it’s attempt. And who cannot fall for the actual paper sketch of the wireframe as background?

So, what do you think?

This new category of post will be a simple collection of great stuff I found scavenging the web like Lara Croft back in the days or simply receiving into my Reader.

I thought I’d pass it along.

So here we go for this week, I’ll share some good IA and infographics resources, got an interesting article about “Learning UX”, some insight of how the DoomsDay Clock came to life and also other bits.

It’s all after the break.

Information Architecture Resources

• http://www.noupe.com/design/fantastic-information-architecture-resources.html
  Interesting if not composite collection of resources. I have a very soft spot for infographics and information architecture. So somehow it’s natural that both should feature in the same resources. Pick and choose as I did.

Learning User Experience

• http://www.nickfinck.com/blog/entry/learning_user_experience_design
  Nick Fink is someone I look up to. His presentation are always delightful, clever and full of insight. So his take on UX and how to learn it had to grab my attention. Hopefully yours.

Video – Designing for Visual Efficiency

• http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2010/1/14/video-designing-for-visual-efficiency.html
  Simple straight forward video that tells us a bit more why we react to visual design and how to use that knowledge.

Website Performance: What To Know and What You Can Do

• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/06/page-performance-what-to-know-and-what-you-can-do/
  In my previous post “2010: a subtle design upgrade” I was explaining that my site was having some speed issues. Well search no further than that page to get most of your needs covered. (I also recommend the Smashing book as it’s a great read when not on screen)

Designing the Unthinkable

• http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=12447
  Do you know the story behind the “Doomsday Clock”? Well search no longer cause this short piece has what you need. Clear, concise and frightening at the same time this is a good read. And no, it’s not the product of a “designer”, but of “design thinking”.

Real World Billboards Become Google Ads in Street View

• http://www.good.is/post/real-world-billboards-become-google-ads-in-street-view
  Makes me wonder why I haven’t got a enhanced reality phones yet… Wait I know why now, google is the Cylon god… or Skynet… or really clever opportunity grabber.

It’s all about performance right???

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

That’s it for now. Enjoy