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Software Apartheid
The obnoxious behavior and obscure interaction that software-based products exhibit is institutionalizing what I call “software apartheid,” where otherwise normal people are fobidden from entering the job market and participating in society because they cannot use computers effectively. In our enlightened society, social activists are working hard to break down race and class barriers while…
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Save the Internet!
Is this a Sci-Fi horror story? Nope, it doesn’t look like it. In fact, congress is voting next week on the issue of Net Neutrality which, despite its difficult to decipher name, is a vital issue to everyone who uses the internet today. Here’s the deal: AT&T and other big telephone companies who transfer internet…
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Work work work
In case it’s not apparent, I’m currently in Montreal at CHI 2006. The last few days have been a blur, and at this point I’m quite exhausted. As a student volunteer, I’m required to work 20 hours this week. In return, I don’t have to pay conference registration fees (~$450), and I get a free…
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Do it right, then do it again
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of iteration, and the role it plays in design. We, as humans, are smart. Our biggest flaw, though, is that we know and understand that we are brilliant, and think that no one before us has ever been smarter than we are. In fact, we think…
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Techmology Frenzy
I keep bumping into new technologies thingies today. It seems like web 2.0 is really pumping out some new ideas lately… Thumbstacks: Online presentation creation and playback. Cool idea (one that I’ve had for my capstone for a while), but I think the execution is a little weak so far. I have a feeling they’re…
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Social Bookmarking
So, for the last week or so I’ve been playing with del.icio.us, the phenomenal social bookmarking site that is hugely popular. I now see why it is so. It is tremendously easy to use, though it is a bit bland, and seems to get the job done without being All Up in My GrillTM. For…
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Interviewing the pros
So, as many of you know, right now I’m working on my master’s degree Capstone Project and have been going at full tilt lately. My project is based around the idea that the way people give oral presentations today (utilizing PowerPoint and other “Slideware”) might not be optimal, and it might even hinder the learning…
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Philosophy vs. Humans
Josh’s Design Philosophy Rule #356323: When a design philosophy (yours or another’s) stands counter to what would help a system work better for people, side with the people. I had a brief discussion with an unnamed colleague last night about making Wikis a little more usable. “Why can’t they just implement a WYSIWYG Editor for…
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The WOW Experience
Josh’s Design Philosophy Rule #453251: Great new software or software features do not necessarily make anyone say “WOW!” Rather, the great new software would do well if the user didn’t even notice she was using new software at all. This is a lesson I learned a long time ago, but the ideas behind this are…
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Remember
“Free Advice” (with purchase of book) Think More, Design Less Say More, Write Less Spend More, Buy Less It is easier to talk than to listen. No job is too small. An interface calls attention to itself at its point of failure. The early bird gets to work before everyone else. Courtesy Ellen Lupton This…