Resolutions

I have resolutions, not for the new year as new year is never motivation alone to do something. But since it is the time for having them I shall update and share mine.

1. Get my website live - it's nearly there, no more excuses.
2. Get the garden looking nice - more fun than not.
3. Get creative - I've spent a year or more trying to educate about usability and standards. I'm not abandoning these principles, but I need to get back to the grassroots of what I'm good at and start creating some shit hot design again.
4. Get a team together at work. I'm currently the only designer at Talis. Although I'm not the only creatve, I am the only one with a visual slant, so my mission this year is to build a virtual team from any visual artists recruited within the company.
5. Get driving - stop being a wuss and get on the road (once the car is fixed)
   

2005 Round up

2006 marks my second anniversary at Talis and so I'm going to be (even more) self indulgent now and have a quick recap at what's happened in 2005. I think the biggest thing for me personally was buying our first house, which has introduced me to the delights of a real kitchen and a dishwasher and also gardening. This can be translated into turned me into a sad old git, but I love it. But as far as work goes 2006 holds a lot of opportunities, thanks primarily to some key events in the last 12(ish) months:

Firefox

The Firefox browser was launched in 2004. But it really found it's market share in 2005, at last there is a real alternative to Internet Explorer and one that offers far more standards support than previous browsers. Tabbed browsing is also a great innovation that makes my surfing just that little bit easier.

Adobe buys Macromedia

Adobe's purchase of Macromedia has already cost 7000 people their jobs for Christmas, but that will just be the begining. I wait with baited breathe to see what will happen to the software I use everyday. Lets hope they don't under estimate the unique value of Fireworks.

Google Desktop and Dave's Quick Search

Google Desktop is well documented across the web, but Dave's quick Search is often overlooked. It's a great little app that sits in the taskbar and can be used to directly search the web via google or a multitude of other websites. It can also be customised to use searches on other websites, with additions of a few lines of parameters. Very handy indeed.

XBox 360 Launched

The first of the next gen consoles. Although most people won't be lucky enough to have one of these yet (me included). In an industry that has has overtaken film in the entertainment market, gaming is big business and so is the launch of a new platform. Recently, with the exception of the Eye Toy and the Nintendo DS; hardware developemnts which have spurred some interesting games, gaming has become overall stagnant with development costs hindering inovation. Hopefully as with the other hardware developemnts this new platform will push developers to create some new and interesting games to take advantage of the XBox 360.

RSS

Really Simple Syndication, RSS, has taken off in a big way. No longer do you have to chase down that information you wanted, but you can have it fed to you. Similar to how you would subscribe to an email newsletter, but without having to give away your details and with up to the minute information. It's the bits of the web you like, delivered to your door. For me so far the weaknesses have been trying to find a News Reader that does everything I want, Including offering suggestions of RSS feeds I might like based on those selected. But also the inevitableness of advertising within this media. Still a little too new, RSS adverts are few and far between, but where there is an audience the spammers are sure to follow.

iPod in all it's new guises

iPod released the Shuffle, Nano and colour Screen iPod this year. iPod has already clearly defined itself as a design icon, but with this has moved to make itself more affordable and now the "cool thing" is affordable to than just the designer elite. I think eventually the old 20MB version will become the retro cool, in a statement of I did it first, if the battery can last long enough ;) . Just a thought.

Hybrid cars

With the cost of petrol becoming increasingly ludicrous in the UK and the enviromental issues around fossil fuel consumption. Hybrid cars have not yet taken off in the UK, but they are certainly something worth paying attention to.

PSP

Play Station Portable, PSP, this little gadget I think will have a profound affect on portable media. Not just gaming, but there has already been a huge boost in film related sales and it is starting to establish it self as a new type of media. While I have never felt comfortable with trying to view the web on a crappy little phone screen, and like most people I can't justify the cost of a PDA, the PSP offers a lot of potential as like Nintendo's Gameboy I think we can expect it to become common place. Although this is just theory at the minute. If we are eally going to see a mobile internet I think the PSP may be the way forward. It hasa beautiful hi-res screen that can easily cope with a web browsing experience we have all become used to and critically it will be in the hands of the right people to drive it forward.

Weaving the Web - Tim Bernes-Lee

Weaving the Web by Tim Bernes-Lee

Suggested reading from the CEO, this book by the guy who created the World Wide Web. I'm usually quite cynical about reading anything that "management" recommend reading as I usually find little of value in most "management books". However this one actually caught my interest. So I "ate my own dogfood" and made an online reservation from my local library, (actually it was someone else's dogfood and it tasted pretty bad).

I was pleased to find it an untechnical read, focusing more on the vision he has for the web; that primarily of a social tool. So the focus remains on how the web is and could be used, from the perpective of a much larger picture.

Tim talks significantly about the Semantic Web, and made clearer for me where this differs from and where is crosses over with the whole Web 2.0 thing, as these terms are often misunderstoood and interchanged, without explanation. While Web 2.0 incorporates a lot of different notions, the Semantic Web is very specifically about the data. The Semantic Web, as the suggests, is about adding a layer of "understanding" to the data; enough to help provide us with solutions above and beyond what is just spelled out in the data.

With the exception of the last chapter I found the book interesting, if a little light in areas. It often only briefly touched on something that would catch my interest, only to move swiftly on to the next idea. However this meant that the book did not get bogged down in technical data and that a lot was covered in a brief book; it is much more a social study than a technical one. Which is I think why I found it an enjoyable and interesting read.

Mark Boulton | Information design

Mark Boulton | Information design

Another blog well worthy of a link. Masses of really useful information. A clear look at typography and design for the web.

RSS icon standards

Feed Icons - Help establish the new standard

I heard about the fact that Internet Explorer will be adopting Firefox's RSS icon a while ago. But today I found this site promoting the new standard.

A bit or browser standardisation is no bad thing. So I though it was worth a mention.

Andy Budd::Blogography

Andy Budd::Blogography

This guy is the author of a presentation on Web 2.0 I posted a few days back. I've dug a little deeper and he has much more to offer - including an excellent css book due out soon.

HR styling with CSS

I been working on about the 400th redesign of my website. Hopefully I'll actually get this one live. Any how I decided to try and use the hr tag before and after my main body of content. Firstly in order to hang curvy corners from and secondly so it would degrade in a good manner, so that it still has a meaning when CSS is switched off.

This worked beautifully in Firefox, but some issues with Internet Explorer, since it seems to insist on a margin and border regardless of the CSS. Much as I'd like to ignore IE I can't so I'll have to find a solution or a tag better suited for the purpose.

More searchingand I find I am not alone and that this chap hasn't found a work around either, which is a shame.

Styling HR

Seems like I'll have to resort to divs again :( Bummer. Also IE has an issue with empty div heights so I needed to put comments in to get the height small enough.

CollyLogic | Illogical Waffle

CollyLogic | Illogical Waffle

More talent oozing forth from Nottingham. Some real intersting stuff.

Mastering Ajax, Part 1: Introduction to Ajax

Mastering Ajax, Part 1: Introduction to Ajax

Something I'm going to need to read. :) IBM offer some good further reading at the bottom of the article too.

And all that Malarkey

And all that Malarkey

A nice brit site advocating standards and some great css advice chucked in for good measure. A good option for this week's homepage.

Jon Burgerman | Webshite

Jon Burgerman | Webshite

Fantastic character design, from a Nottingham based artist, and a really friendly chap to boot.
Well worth a look.

24 ways...

24 ways

Beats an advent calendar. Unless its a chocolate one :)
24 ideas for creating better web pages by some outstanding writers on the subject. A real treat. Some CSS and AJAx stuff in there too.

Prototype JavaScript Framework: Class-style OO, Ajax, and more

Prototype JavaScript Framework: Class-style OO, Ajax, and more

Very handy - I shall be keeping this close at hand I think.

Web 2.0 is all about the user?

Cliff Gerrish's OPML blog: Wednesday, September 28, 2005

An interesting view that sees Web 2.0 as all about the user inteface.

Some people seem to think it's all about the data and how flexible it is and others seem to think it is all about the user. Frankly I don't think you can have one without the other, they must both be utilised to make thebest of the web we can.

Still exciting stuff for me.

What is Web 2.0? by Andy Budd

What is Web 2.0? by Andy Budd

Another strong presentation that looks at the Web 2.0. What I think it highlights is that this is an advance in the way we use existing technology. But how we must not forgot the lessons we have learned.

:phunk tastic

:phunkstudio

These guys produce some amazing work. they keep creeping up on me everywhere and grabbing my attention. Really great vector work, that inspires.

Candykiller - Issue Number One by Brian Taylor

Candykiller website

This little beauty arrived in the post today. A treasured bit of eye candy to see my through Xmas and all the hideous decorations some people see fit to put on the outside of their houses. I don't care how awful your living room looks but don't inflict your tat on the rest of us. Tsk!

Buy it from here:
Candykiller - Issue Number One by Brian Taylor


(I think I'm getting into this whole blogging thing - I'm even ranting now)

Photographs from Hubble never fail to inspire me.

Alexandru's blog - New trends in e-commerce

Interesting blog from Alexandru over at Interakt:
Alexandru's blog - New trends in e-commerce

Color Scheme Generator 2

How cool - it includes what the colour scheme will look like to people with different visual disabilities too. Most cool.
[ws] Color Scheme Generator 2

AJAX and the accessibility (again)

When introduced to AJAX it was like a red rag to a bull. So what about the whole accessibility issue with javascript, has everyone just forgotten the huge amount of issues we've had trying to resolve this?

Well since Web 2.0 offers really only 2 types of interface technology; AJAX or Flash, neither of which are perfect in terms of accessibility, it looks like those fine people at WAI really need to get their skates on and release a new verion of the WAI standards that will help deal with these issues.

For me the best solution is create the best possible application without resorting to JavaScript and ensuring that the functionality is there and then adding enhancements through the use of AJAX. However this could be limiting. Flash has enhanced its accessibility, but I am limited in my experience of this within a dynamic application.

The DDA looms ominously, without the specific details that case law or the guidelines Section 508 offer. So we wait and see what will happen. Ideally accessibility technologies will develop to cope with these new developments; however such things take time, so how do you balance the desire to be cutting edge and reach everyone fairly?

Thankfully WASP have created some useful resources around DOM Scripting, which if done smartly can be accessible:
Dom Scripting taskforce

As this upbeat disscussion on Accessify determines:
Accessify Forum

Mike Chambers: Flash and Web 2.0

I've been reading a great deal about Web 2.0 recently. Because like it or hate it, it is the future, which is probably why there is so little clear explanation of what it really is. Like all good fortune tellers keeping the assumptions open to interpretation allows a greater chance of success.

However in reading about Web 2.0 some technologies get mentioned heavily and other get completely side stepped. In all the discussions about the future of the web everyone seems to be turning a blind eye to Flash. I have to wonder why this is. A technology that offers so much in terms of rich user interface experience is getting completely overlooked, especially in favour of AJAX.

Perhaps people are cautious about the strength of Flash development after Macromedia have been bought out by Adobe? This blog from Mike Chambers takes a look at Flash and Web 2.0 and I think makes some good points about the strengths of Flash.

For me Flash offers a far superior coding environment for ActionScript than any development platform I have found for JavaScript, and is far more consistent across platforms. So why has a tool that can offer so much more than funky animations been so misrepresented and overlooked? Perhaps once the merger with Adobe is complete we will see Adobe pick up the slack and address what could essentially be a marketing issue.

Mike Chambers: Flash and Web 2.0

Digital Web Magazine - Web 2.0 for Designers

Yet another good article from Digital Web here:
Digital Web Magazine - Web 2.0 for Designers

Interestingly it talks about how Web 2.0 moves away from front end design and focuses on better communication between computers.

This is a very big part of Web 2.0, but it ultimately ignores that the information is being spat put somewhere in the form of a user interface and the challenge now is to amalgamate all these different sources of information into a coherent usable interface. It is naive to dismiss the design in favour of the technological advances, since for the best overall result both need to be developed.

That said this article aims to give a kick to designers who turn a blind eye to standards and the need for technically competent designers.

Just found this shot I took in Devon this summer. Just the kind of beautiful image I need on these dull December days.

Digital Web Magazine - The End of Usability Culture

For a fantastic article on what Web 2.0 offers in terms of usability versus design, I've yet to see better than this article from Digital Web Magazine:
Digital Web Magazine - The End of Usability Culture

I am in the rare position of being both the usability expert and the interface designer for my company and this article covers some of the very issues I looked at in my last strategy report.

Namely the conflict between usability and design and the need for pragmatism in the use of both and it goes furhter in that it reflects my current desires to improve my design skills again. It also mentions the role library science has played in information architecture.

It looks at the history of the web and uses that as a springboard to look forward at web 2.0.

Work Xmas do's (and don'ts)

Do get drunk enough to flirt with the office fitty.
Don't mix alcohol and anti-depressants (the dying fly dance is not a good look).

Do make sure you dance like nobody's watching, but
Don't let it get caught on film.

Do eat your own body weight in cocktail sausages and hula hoops.
Don't try the dodgy looking veggie buffet option.

Do remember that badly lit swede looks like chips.
Don't get extra helpings.

Do something daft enough to have a great story before you go home.
Don't flick paper into other peoples food if you've finished eating yours.

Do spend the full £5 on your secret santa.
Don't buy candles and bubblebath - or at least include the fruit and nut.

Do wear your best bra.
Don't wear your best shoes.

Birmingham Business Park

AJAX and accessibility

As AJAX is the latest and greatest in web interfaces we should not forget the lessons we have learned about accessibility.

Here are some excellent discussions on the issue.

Accessibility: AJAX Access

Adactico

Ajaxessibility

Usability and accessability with Ajax

I am the one and only...

No not Chesney Hawkes.

I am the first and currently only HFI Certified Usability Analyst in the UK.

It hasn't got me a pay rise, or made anyone think that my design suggestions are that much better than they were. so what was the point? Well it was has definitely given me is the confidence to support my suggestions with reasoned arguments when meeting resistance to change or irrational decision making.

British institutions dropped the idea of creating a certification after initial market feedback suggested that established usability professionals were not interested in professional certification. This seems a shame as usability is far too often the remit of the academically inclined, many of whom will have an MA and would most likely see little benefit in a professional qualification in light of their academic ones. Whilst I think there is no replacement for experience I would welcome a professional qualification that represents a standard of quality; based on work produced. Such deliverables are not easy to achieve but are essential to any level of credence as a usability engineer or interface designer.

What Is Web 2.0

So what is all this fuss about Web 2.0? And what does it offer in terms of user experience?

For me it is the term that defines the move from Geocities to Blogger. The web like all technology is developing and as we become better at understanding it and what we want to do with it, like any market its supply and demand. We are becoming more sophisticated at delivering to meet that demand.

Since the beginning of the web, our fundamentally social nature meant people have wanted to put themselves online and connect with others in one capacity or another, at first primarily through personal websites such as Geocities, but now through blogs; which offer an online diary service.

So where's the difference? Well Web 2.0 is generally services that offer a far richer user experience, through the latest technologies, and integral to many of these so called Web 2.0 services are the fact that they require a social network and interaction to succeed. Napster allows you to share music, Flickr to share photographs and BitTorrent to share whatever you like, whilst Wikipedia relies on community contributions.

Community is not the defining feature of Web 2.0 however, more a reflection of how we want to be able to use the web. Other web 2.0 services, such as Google maps, don’t rely on community but offer a rich user experience, particularly through innovative interfaces.

Web 2.0 is making best use of technology to offer the user an engaging experience; the key to which is the user interface and the experience from that. As a web designer or interface designer it is up to you to step up to the mark.

What is Web 2.0?