Ethics in HCI
From the CHI2001 panel. I’m in full-on usability testing mode right now — 4 tests in the last 2 weeks — and happen to work in tandem with a Usability Specialist from an Ergonomics/Human Factors background (no, we didn’t all get degrees in Human Factors). We argue constantly about nearly everything, but I value it [...]
Back from Iowa
I went home this weekend for a long-overdue visit. Yes, I ate corn (popcorn) and BBQ (chicken). No, I didn’t wear my overalls, thanks.
Dissecting the Hyperchunk
The true “hypertext” is dwindling…in place of the hypertext, we have what might best be termed the “hyperchunk” – the succinct slice of high-quality information designed to be stored in a database, linked from all over, understood quickly and in relative isolation, and often acted upon within a few minutes. The article goes on to [...]
The Two Dimensions of Design-Related Research
Check out page 7 of InCA 2001.issue1 [.pdf] (don’t worry, I think it’s worth the effort). It’s a diagram that lists various user-centered design techniques across two axes: person vs. artifact focused, and rational vs. empirical. I like this diagram because it forces you (or at least me) to evaluate which techniques I use and [...]
BayCHI tonight
A heads-up for anyone in the SF Bay Area: tonight’s BayCHI meeting is “Understanding User Experience: Using Ethnography, Contextual Inquiry and other Qualitative Methods”, and looks to be pretty good. Say hi if you’re there.
Online Communities: The Art of the Mix
How can I listen to these mixes? You can’t through Art of the Mix. Best bet is to contact the person and arrange a trade. Don’t be afraid! Most people are more than willing to engage in the thrill of long distance exchange. The entire concept of trust and interest comes into play and is [...]
Mankind Takes a Fall in New Museum Displays
On wunderkammern and museum displays. There’s a shot or two couple from the American Museum of Natural History, where I worked a couple of years ago (Remember the scene in “Election” where Matthew Broderick is leading the tour group? My desk was mere feet from there). The museum itself was quite an exhibit — you [...]
Focus Pocus
Focus groups have lost their focus. Once a cutting-edge technique for probing the psyche of the public, they’ve outlived their usefulness. They are like a tired magician performing the same tricks week after week in the Catskills. Call ’em focus-pocus groups, for after a company has conducted hundreds of focus-group interviews, its likelihood of uncovering [...]
Interface is…
Interface is… by nadav won 2nd place in the 5k, and I can see why — it’s a nice minimalist piece of graphics with just a bit of text. The themes he ponders lend themselves to abstraction, and the result is cohesive, thoughtful, and elegant.
explodingdog
Hi my name is sam, i draw pictures, from your titles.