A Wider Net

Esquire Magazine Creates Augmented Reality Issue

Greg Jones — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:25:10 +0000

Check out Esquire’s December issue which includes augmented reality content: Robert Downey Jr. is featured on the cover of the issue, sitting on top of an AR tracker. When you access Esquire’s AR webpage and hold your magazine up to your webcam, you are graced with bonus material throughout the pages of the magazine. [...]

Agile and User Experience Redux

Judith Robichaud — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:49:40 +0000

This subject has some traction on the internet. Even web usability pioneer Jakob Nielsen is chiming in on the subject. Check out his latest post on integrating UX with Agile. It is encouraging to see that progress is being made on this front and that Jakob bids the old waterfall method good riddance. Some highlights include: [...]

Agile Development, User Experience and the Two Week Myth

Judith Robichaud — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:42:18 +0000

I recently attended a local UPA (Usability Professional Association) event in Boston. The topic was best practices in dashboard design presented by the folks at Enernoc who use the Agile Development Process to design and build their software. The speaker gave a brief overview about the Agile process, outlining the tenet of releasing every two [...]

Don’t Look Back???

Bob Pascarella — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:14:06 +0000

I’m one of those people who loves to look through old photos. I enjoy mocking the styles and sounds of the past. I also enjoy reminiscing about the good times and pining over the things we thought were great back in the day. I like to remember the things we took for granted then and [...]

“Suite Talk” from Edit 1

Barry Clegg — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:25:26 +0000

Episode 3 – Your Visit to the Edit Suite You spent the last 3 days on location shooting your master piece. Cramer’s team of directors, producers and production staff has captured your message in its raw form. The lighting was great, there were some laughs at the outtakes and you were amazed at what goes into [...]

The Real-Time Web

Rob Larsen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:16:26 +0000

If you try to keep up with the evolution of the internet (and I do), you’ve probably heard some talk that the “Real-Time Web” is the Next Big Thing. It’s come up most often in reference to Twitter,* but there’s a lot more to the discussion than just Twitter. What follows is a basic primer on [...]

Stop Blogging Right Now

Steve Gogolak — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:30:29 +0000

In keeping with Colin’s post about some of his favorite books I thought I would add my comments about a recent book I finished. Every now and then I like to read something that is completely misaligned with my opinions. No, I’m not a sadist, but I like to challenge to my opinions every now [...]

Augmented Reality Projection Mapping

Greg Jones — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:04:33 +0000

The next great idea to emerge from the realm of Augmented Reality is Projection Mapping. It is the process of mapping a real life 3D object (like a box, or a building) in 3DSMax to allow all of your animations to conform perfectly to the surface of that object when you line up your projector [...]

Daydreaming Your Way to Great Report Data

Steve Gogolak — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:12 +0000

Too often is a webcast or virtual event registration form an afterthought. By its nature the form is designed to provide data AFTER the event has concluded, so it’s no surprise that most hosts are unsure of what to ask up front. They simply complete their event and then wish they knew more [...]

5 Books for Web Designers to Impress the Neighbors

Colin Henson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:23:48 +0000

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. P.J. O'Rourke

My wife likes to tease me that our book collection is designed to impress guests rather than for reading. I don't know if that zing is more about my habit of buying academic looking fiction or my habit of not finish said books. Of course there's a reason that our book collection looks so pretentious - I like to be challenged by books.

For me, books are a necessary part of my life as a designer. They are a way to exercise the muscle between my ears - to push myself a little past my comfort zone or to refresh my memory. They can shift my thinking just enough to lead to a breakthrough in my work. As a web designer, I enjoy books about design and programming so I have plenty of opportunities to explore both the familiar and unknown.

Here are my top five favorite books on my bookshelf, in no particular order: