ExperienceLab

Could Pivot be a new cure for information overload?

2010-03-11T10:10:16+00:00

After watching a TED talk by Gary Flake about Microsoft Live Labs’ Pivot I felt compelled to download it and test it out.

Pivot is a new tool (currently only available to PC users) which aims to make it easier to deal with information overload by doing something that, according to Gary Flake, is “not quite browsing and not quite searching”. Pivot puts information into collections combining images and text. These collections can be arranged, sorted and filtered in many different ways, allowing users to see how information is linked. Users can also zoom in and out, choosing to see all the information at once, or only a portion of it.

From many images to just a few, Pivot can help you sort through huge amounts of information.

The nice thing about Pivot is that it is very visual. The images are very high quality and load really quickly. This means zooming in and out and rearranging happens fast and doesn’t involve the frustrating task of waiting for images to load.

Currently, there are sample collections on Pivot (my favourite being the dog breed collection) but the aim is for users to develop their own collections. To do this anyone (or anyone with Office 2007) can download an Excel add on and fill in a spreadsheet with all the information for their collection.

Could Pivot be the future of searching? Maybe one day instead of just typing “small obedient dog” into Google and reading through the results, the Pivot dog breed collection will be used, allowing users to see all the small, obedient dogs. Test it out and see what you think.

Cinema anyone?

2010-03-02T09:04:28+00:00

Last Sunday, after having lunch with some friends in Soho we decided we wanted to go to the cinema. There were various films we wanted to watch and so we got out an iPhone to see what was showing at the cinemas nearby.

There are five Odeon cinemas less than 10 minutes walking distance from the restaurant we were at. So, the obvious choice was to go onto the Odeon Cinema website. However, this obvious choice was definitely not the most efficient choice.

The Odeon website doesn’t let you select more than one cinema at a time. You have to select ONE cinema and find out what films are playing there. Then you have to go back and select another cinema and see what films are playing there. You also have to remember what films were playing at the first cinema and at what time. Doing this FIVE times is very frustrating and slow.

What made the process of selecting cinemas even harder is the way the cinemas are listed. The Odeon website expects you to know the name of the cinema and guess whether it will be listed as a London cinema, or just by its address. For example, the Odeon cinema on Shaftsbury Avenue is listed as “Covent Garden” next to the other cinemas starting with C. However, the two cinemas in Leicester Square are listed under “London- Leicester Square” and “London- West End”. Why aren’t all the cinemas in London listed under London? And how am I supposed to know that the “Panton St” cinema is just around the corner from the other Leicester Square cinemas?

We decided that perhaps a faster approach would be to select all of the films we wanted to watch and find out at what cinemas they were playing. We were wrong- it isn’t faster. The Odeon website doesn’t let you select more than one film at once either! So we were stuck going back and forth between films just like we had been with the cinemas.

Finally we had narrowed it down to two films, one started at 17:05 and the other at 17:10. Now we just had to choose which one we wanted to watch. Then someone looked at their watch. It had taken so long to use the Odeon website that it was already 17:15! What was showing at 17:30 again?

Why the Odeon website can’t show listings for more than one cinema at a time doesn’t make any sense. Don’t they realize that people might not care which of the Leicester Square cinemas they go to? Google Listing somehow manages to display all the cinemas in London on a map and show what each of them is playing. So, is it really that difficult for Odeon to the same on their website?

Gaming on the Go!

2010-02-25T13:46:09+00:00

PlayableGames recently conducted research on how developers and publishers can design better mobile games that can be used where they are intended, on the move.

We used a range of the current best selling mobile devices and went walkabout, using them in a whole range of different locations, where and when the mood struck us. The key things we learn't were that tailoring a mobile game for short, snappy sessions was essential as we often snatched a few minutes when waiting for a bus or train and needed to quickly shut down the game as our transport arrived.

Our findings, which are available from the PlayableGames research page, cover a range of different aspects that are useful to consider when designing a mobile game including, touch screen and audio issues, the various control mechanisms, lighting, and what to do if your gaming device is a phone as well.

Microsoft offers a choice to Windows users

2010-02-22T14:49:14+00:00

After being fined billions, Microsoft has announced that it is to offer Windows users in Europe a browser choice screen. This choice screen which the Guardian has named the “browser ballot”, will make it easier for users to choose an alternative browser. This is required as a settlement agreed with European Commission’s competition department in December 2009.

Picture credit: Mashable

Microsoft’s web browser choice screen will present users with a screen showing a range of browsers (Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE, Opera). Users will be able to click a button to install whichever browser they prefer, or ask for more information about the browser. It could be tested as early as next week in UK, Belgium and France, and will be introduced in 30 European countries next month.

Windows users have always been able to download alternative browsers, and they have increasingly been adopting these, Firefox proving the most popular. However, others such as Opera, who’s complaints were the basis of the EU case, will be more visible to users, but will still not be competing on a level playing field.

Although users in the EU have always had this choice, some have never thought about which browser they are using, and this could be an important step towards helping these users understand and be more aware about the control they should take over their online lives.

This undoubtedly presents these alternative web browsers with a unique marketing opportunity, however, how much this browser choice screen will influence users to adopt a different browser is not apparent right now but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Silver Sat Navers

2010-02-01T11:41:42+00:00

Over the holidays it was the ideal time to visit friends and relatives, as everyone seemed to be on a break. My Mum and Nan, in particular, wanted to visit family in west London. So, not wanting to be the family’s permanent chauffeur service during my time off… I handed over the satnav.

While identifying the main roads wasn’t going to be an issue, the destination was in an unfamiliar part of town, and so that’s where the satnav was to come into play.

With mum at the wheel, they headed off from East London on the A406 towards some random part of Southall, using the satnav but not really paying closer attention until they had to locate the specific address. When it was time to make the return journey they set the satnav to go home…except now here’s the problem.

They wanted to return via the same route used to get to their destination because they knew the main roads that they needed to get to. However, a journey that should have taken maybe an hour, took three hours.

The satnav unhelpfully programmed itself to drive through central London. Mum didn’t think she needed to check the details of the route the satnav had planned for them as it took them through the A406, which was the ideal route, and just started driving. As they were unfamiliar with the destination area they trusted the satnav to take them home. What they really wanted was for the satnav to remember the route.

Why can’t satnavs be programmed to remember routes? Why can’t I save a journey? Why can’t it remember the route I want to travel by? Consequently, Mum's driving home, now even more confused when following the satnav, not realising until it’s too late that they will end up central London with a diabetic Nan in the car cursing the satnav. That’s an awful long time especially when it’s not expected.

Although, I am quite reliant on my satnav, it would be great if I could save a route. I just want it to take be somewhere and bring me back the same way. At least that would help me remember the route too...it’s just not as simple as I want it to be.

Apple's iPad Tablet - Take Two

2010-01-29T12:54:52+00:00

Well earlier this week I was speculating about the price of the Apple tablet, hoping that it would be somewhere between iPhone and Macbook pricing. Well it looks like it will be reasonable value after all. Or will it?

Based on the information provided it looks like you can play games, view photos, watch movies, read articles and books on the device, check your email and listen to music. You can also use apps - but only one at a time because there is no multi-tasking ability.

There is also no internal camera which would be useful for Skype and the 3G network feature looks like another special SIM might be needed so no swapping your iPhone SIM in and out.

There is also no real word on the graphics ability of the new device for gaming or the legibility of the screen for reading text indoors and outside. So e-reader devices such as those from Amazon and Barnes and Noble may still have room to breath.

All in all the device is no real threat to Macbook sales and I suspect that that was the intention as Apple has carefully positioned (and in a sense limited) the device to occupying the space between two existing product lines.

However, if the iPhone example is anything to go by the really interesting thing will be seeing what the App developers come up with as they are bound to push the device in new and novel directions. I guess I will have to buy an iPad to find out what's in store!

Windows 7 Startup won't let me be me!

2010-01-29T09:17:25+00:00

I bought a cute little Windows 7 startup netbook over the holidays. I only really need it for surfing the web and iTunes and that sort of thing. In all honesty, whilst shopping around I would have much preferred to buy a Mac, now that I use one for work. However, the netbook suited my budget.

Now that I have it, the most irritating thing that Windows could possibly do is to prevent me from personalising my desktop. What’s that about? One of the first things most people - well I - do is change the background so its more ‘me’! I have Googled the problem and I know there is a work around but why should anyone have to do that… Windows. Grrr!!!

Just in case you're interested...I'd have this piece of cuteness as my desktop background:

Apple Tablet - a difficult pill to swallow?

2010-01-27T10:34:49+00:00

In a few hours Apple are likely to announce a new category of product - the iTablet. Or iSlate or iPad depending on who you believe. Whatever the name the device is generating a lot of excitement even before any announcement. Lots of commentators are speculating about the likely design and the potential functionality. Will it be a media player, an internet browser, an e-reader, a games machine or all of these things. What kind of screen will it have, LED or OLED? How big will it be? Will there be a range with several models available?

This is all very interesting but I am beginning to worry about one detail in particular. The price. You see if the rumors of a $1,000 price point are true, and let's face it that could mean £1,000 in the UK, then I think there is problem. It seems to me that the acceptable pricing range is defined by two other types of Apple device already on the market - the iPhone and the Macbook laptops. In the UK the iPhone 3GS can be purchased for about £400 and the Macbooks start at around £800. I would expect the tablet to cost more than an iPhone but I would also hope that it does not cost more than the available Macbooks. If the price is close to or even more than the fully-functional (and portable) laptops Apple also sells then the value of the tablet device could be difficult to get across to potential buyers.

As I say it is a worry however I will still want one because I have that certain Apple / Mac illness and there is no known cure.

What will TV be like in 2020?

2010-01-18T16:52:51+00:00

The rapid changes in consumers’ viewing habits brought about over the last decade by such services as Sky+ and Freeview show what can change in a short period in the TV domain. VOD and IPTV services through a set-top box have also emerged over the last decade but have been slower to make real changes to viewing habits. However, their impact is set to accelerate over the next decade. User interest in VOD is definitely present (as high usage of BBC iPlayer suggests) but ‘discovering’ content in broad VOD libraries, particularly on a TV screen, (or even thinking to consider VOD content instead of on broadcast channels) requires a substantial change in user behaviour. This change will only be brought about by UIs that really take account of user needs and so facilitate this change.

Developments in VOD/IPTV services are accelerating (e.g. through Project Canvas) and set-top box based services will soon emerge that provide access to a wider range of content, more similar to the scope available on the web. In my opinion, how successful these services are will depend greatly on how much consideration developers give to understanding the user benefits of broadcast TV (as well as of the newer services) to ensure services develop that are considered an improvement by viewers. If these factors are carefully considered, I believe VOD/IPTV services could have an even more dramatic effect on TV viewing habits over the next 10 years than PVR services have had in the last 10 years.

Whether the next decade will see the end of broadcast TV as some predict, I doubt, however I definitely expect dramatic changes. Viewing of broadcast TV will inevitably decrease as usage of VOD/IPTV grows since many consumers only have so many hours in a week to watch TV. In addition, broadcast TV business models that rely on advertising revenues are threatened by the increasing number of channels, increase in PVR advert skipping and advertising budgets being diverted online. This provides the necessary business incentive for a radical change in TV services.

By 2020 I expect to be watching TV via a range of mobile devices, computers, set-top boxes and traditional TV sets. On my TV sets I expect a flexible experience integrating broadcast, VOD, internet applications and games with seamless transfer of content between my ‘TV-enabled’ devices, supported by remote controls optimised for these new applications. I also expect easy access on my TV sets to photos, music and other personal media content . I hope the service will provide a fast, intuitive, personalised approach to discovering content, supporting the social functions of TV (for family/household viewing and ‘water-cooler’ discussions) and including an element of serendipity in finding VOD content in a similar way to channel ‘flicking’. In this way I hope to stumble across programmes I enjoy with minimum cognitive effort.

And finally, I want all this to have evolved without any user group being excluded. To achieve this, flexible services are needed that support the existing habits of the older, tech-nervous user, and those with disabilities, just as much as the young, tech-savvy.

I look forward to being a part of the evolution…

MiFi impossible

2010-01-06T12:24:44+00:00

A new trend for mobile broadband has been the appearance of mobile WiFi routers or 'MiFi's' allowing the user to setup their own WiFI hub quickly for internet access via 3G. As many of our jobs here at ExperienceLab mean that we need to be out and about we decided that one of these MiFi's would be a useful addition to our technology arsenal.

Now I've only had it a couple of days but I have to say that the experience has not been great. The device uses five LED's to indicate its current state, though the longest I have seen them on is probably about 10 seconds before they switch off into a power saving mode, not that helpful if you are trying to troubleshoot the connection.

Try as I might I can't get a connection to Three's 3G network. The manual tells me that I need to look for the signal strength indicator to turn green to indicate that it is connected to the network, however as this indicator turns off after about ten seconds to "save power" I've never been sure if I have ever got a signal.

What is really irritating that I also have a USB modem provided by Three that manages to get a signal when the MiFi device just sits there like a expensive looking paper clip holder refusing to tell me anything about its status.

The design would have been improved had Three seen fit to offer any kind of useful feedback about the signal strength and network connection that lasted more than 10 seconds, perhaps by including, oh I don't know, a LCD screen that has been the standard fare in mobile devices since the beginning of time….

I'm sure that in an area with good (any) 3G network coverage the process could be more straightforward but when you run into any problems that require troubleshooting the options provided are totally inadequate for a device that promises to be quick and easy to setup.

In conclusion a nice idea but let down by feedback mechanisms that are likely to prove essential in a device such as this.