Re: [IxDA Discuss] Soliciting opinions on voice recognition software for general computer interfaces
The command line can be very effective and efficient for some activities. There was a lot of research in the 1980s about how to develop an effective and usable command line and some research showing that a well-designed command line can be as usable as a menu or direct manipulation system for some task. Mark notes that command lines are coming back into style and in fact, many of our systems are hybrid interfaces with a combination of: Direct manipulation interfaces Menu interfaces Command line interfaces Form user interfaces Voice user interfaces\ .. Chauncey On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 1:27 PM, Mark Young m...@vizmo.com wrote: It is like the command line. Have you noticed that the command line is coming back into style? Take a look at how people use the search box and how it is evolving. Try out Google Voice Search on a handset and imagine what more it will be able to do in 5 years. What do you think will happen as our PCs become more integrated with our homes? How will you perform input when you're working in your kitchen? Even if we have GUIs that follow us around we'll need help for hands-free situations - voice input is the best option in that case. How will visually-impaired people use computers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36596 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Mobile (Cellphone) Activated Streetlamps
The web page only has part of the story that was reported on BBC World in Hong Kong...The 'service' isn't only aimed at the older people, though the web did give that impression. On the TV report, it showed different age groups using the service. All of the six digit codes are listed on a central web page, but as Tamlyn commented, people tend to walk the same streets, so people will probably write down the code that they need on a piece of paper (or something similar) until they can remember them. I think that the idea of using bluetooth is interesting but considering that most people dont know how to enable bluetooth, make their device discoverable or add/pair a device, I dont think that it is practical. Plus there are privacy considerations for bluetooth usage. If the lamps have a button on the side to switch on for that section, they are a potential target for vandalism; In the UK a few years ago, teenagers would use superglue on the buttons for pedestrian crossings to keep the buttons constantly depressed, much to the annoyment of drivers. I think that the buttons on the street lights could suffer a similar fate. I do think that this is a great idea, and I do believe that it will be a benefit to the council and the environment. If there is no-one around at 3am, why have the lights on??! It is ideas like this which will help the environment. Hats off to the village of Doerentrup! -Karl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36621 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] People are Used to it
Jared, This digital download is now the bestseller on Amazon. I suspect that it became so after your comment yesterday. Larry On Dec 27, 2008, at 11:00 AM, Jared Spool wrote: If you want to understand how consumers view features versus usability, I'd start with the Harvard Business Review article, Defeating Feature Fatigue. http://tinyurl.com/88phdp Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] People are Used to it
Oh, I'd love to think I have that much influence, but I fear it's a bestseller because it's a good piece. :) How are you doing? I hope the recent Yahoo! personnel changes worked out the way you'd hope. Jared On Dec 28, 2008, at 11:22 AM, Larry Tesler wrote: Jared, This digital download is now the bestseller on Amazon. I suspect that it became so after your comment yesterday. Larry On Dec 27, 2008, at 11:00 AM, Jared Spool wrote: If you want to understand how consumers view features versus usability, I'd start with the Harvard Business Review article, Defeating Feature Fatigue. http://tinyurl.com/88phdp Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] dd character sheet as a persona model
On Dec 27, 2008, at 11:47 PM, Angel Marquez wrote: I was thinking you would do your research, create personas based on your findings, find their real life equivalents, and use something similar to the character sheets to track their behaviors during usability testing with prototypes etc.. THEN Use those stats to fine tune the design while collecting the character types and offering them to the cyber community. It was a fleeting morning coffee thought though... It's an interesting notion. I like the idea of tying together with some uniform structure all phases of the deliverables, from early design through refinement and launch. At an abstract level, I think that's what you're describing. I'm a big fan of functional-level personas: personas that are created and curated with specific functionality in mind. Using this approach, when you're designing the print functionality of your product, you'd create and use different personas than if you're creating a data-merge capability. This way the personas and scenarios are tightly tied to the functionality you're focusing on. I like functional-level personas better than design-project-wide personas because it's easier to have them inform the specific design requirements. No doubt, they take more time and effort (at least to get started -- over time the team creates a substantial library of personas which can be rejuvenated for new functionality). I think the initial cost is worth it, but I know a lot of folks disagree. I think in my approach of these lower-level personas, sharing them with the cyber community is less valuable, since it's unlikely that they are expressed in any applicable form for people not working on the localized project. However, there's a lot to be said for some relative of the DnD character sheets to help with the curation of the ever growing library of user research data, personas, and their match with the library of patterns and components. Don't give up on this idea. I think there's something to it. :) Jared Jared M. Spool User Interface Engineering 510 Turnpike St., Suite 102, North Andover, MA 01845 e: jsp...@uie.com p: +1 978 327 5561 http://uie.com Blog: http://uie.com/brainsparks Twitter: jmspool Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Yahoo! to 23andMe (was Re: People are Used to it)
Jared, I was one of the personnel changes. After transitioning my responsibilities to some great people, I left Yahoo! November 7 and started at 23andMe four days later. Larry Tesler P.S.: 23andMe has openings for designers. Multiple design skills preferred (visual/interaction/visualization). Interest in personal genomics required. Candidates are invited to contact me at la...@23andme.com . On Dec 28, 2008, at 9:13 AM, Jared Spool wrote: How are you doing? I hope the recent Yahoo! personnel changes worked out the way you'd hope. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Soliciting opinions on voice recognition software for general computer interfaces
Right, It's certainly not a panacea, provide it and use it where it makes sense. Phone based systems are one example- not always necessary but sometimes quite useful. 'mark Sent from my iPhone On Dec 27, 2008, at 9:03 PM, Krystal Higgins kryshigg...@kryshiggins.com wrote: The biggest reason my company will not use voice recognition is because it reduces confidentiality of information, passwords, NDA items, etc. Unlike email, where you can restrict receipt to a select list of people, sound will travel. And it's unreasonable to give us separate offices or require us to move to a meeting room for every message or task. Of course, for more public environments--or offices where there is already a telephone-oriented conversation structure--this may not be a issue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36596 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Mobile (Cellphone) Activated Streetlamps
When I worked at Motorola we had a system for activating the ceiling lights in our office spaces (I do believe the inventors got a patent on it too). Anyhow the lights were wired in banks or groups of lights and each group had a 5 digit number printed on it. The lights would go out after 6 or 7 pm an night and remain off till the next work day. If you were in late or came in later, you could dial up a DTMF based actuator system, punch in the code and turn on your lights. They were good for about 4 hours or so then. It was an easy way to save some green. But thinking of this system with the street lights, that's quite another system. Why not have more of an automatic or follow me type system? Use either BT or WiFi with a transmitted beacon from your mobile and have the lights come on automatically. Each light would stay on for say 1 minute or so after it loses your beacon system. That way the lights may go on for you without having to press any buttons. 'mark Karl Proctor wrote: The web page only has part of the story that was reported on BBC World in Hong Kong...The 'service' isn't only aimed at the older people, though the web did give that impression. On the TV report, it showed different age groups using the service. All of the six digit codes are listed on a central web page, but as Tamlyn commented, people tend to walk the same streets, so people will probably write down the code that they need on a piece of paper (or something similar) until they can remember them. I think that the idea of using bluetooth is interesting but considering that most people dont know how to enable bluetooth, make their device discoverable or add/pair a device, I dont think that it is practical. Plus there are privacy considerations for bluetooth usage. If the lamps have a button on the side to switch on for that section, they are a potential target for vandalism; In the UK a few years ago, teenagers would use superglue on the buttons for pedestrian crossings to keep the buttons constantly depressed, much to the annoyment of drivers. I think that the buttons on the street lights could suffer a similar fate. I do think that this is a great idea, and I do believe that it will be a benefit to the council and the environment. If there is no-one around at 3am, why have the lights on??! It is ideas like this which will help the environment. Hats off to the village of Doerentrup! -Karl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36621 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Mobile (Cellphone) Activated Streetlamps
As I get older (and my night vision gets weaker) I think I will try use a head lamp more often. I've started keeping one in my car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36621 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] People are Used to it
It is good to have the kind of free conversation and transference of ideas we've had in this thread. I picked the remote control idea because it is easy to wrap your head around. And so most of the conversation has been about physical products. But I've seen the same reluctance to embrace new ideas and concepts and enhancements even on websites. Where new features are rolled out once a month or week, but simple enhancements are poo pooed. Take news sites for example. The vast majority of them still focus on their front page more heavily than their article pages. Even when the numbers clearly show that 99% or more of their visitors enter through the article page. And a large percentage never make it to the front page even if they progress beyond that one page. A larger emphasis on how to move from one article to another the reader would be interested in would be wise. But these sections tend to play catchup with other sites at best. Take http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/24/AR2008052400036.html for example. The best targeted set of links on this article page are the google ads. And there is one link at the bottom of the page to a story about how lame Playstation Home is. With two small headlines for more game related items. (Clearly, the story is tagged with games and that is it.) This is generally the norm. Why haven't news sites figured out what Amazon has? That even many blogs have figured out? And still, I click the link to go to their main site, and the ONE thing they know about me, that I care about the wii, is irrelevant to them. Their front page could have been told via session cookie where I had just been. Known the last 8 articles I saw were all about games, and made the front page mostly about games, with the main headlines to keep me situationally aware. So if there were a terrorist attack, I wouldn't just be told about Playstation Home. What is the excuse for this? Other than that people are used to it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=36646 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Cross-post: plugWorkshop at Interaction 09 | Vancouver -- Introduction to Interaction Design (1/2 day)/plug
Howdy people, I wanted to send out a notice to you all that as part of the list of spectacular workshops for Interaction 09 | Vancouver (http://interaction09.ixda.org/) I'm going to be teaching a 1/2 day workshop, Introduction to Interaction Design. http://interaction09.crowdvine.com/talks/show/2576 I am approached often with the question, Where can I start ... with becoming an interaction designers? Or IxD is coming up more and more in my practice as a User Experience professional so where can I learn more from the beginning. This workshop is put together to provide this all important starting point in Interaction Design. This workshop will be 1 part interaction design theory and 1 part design practice. But throughout, the real purpose of the workshop is to enable students to gain the tools to self-educate through the early stages of their interaction design practice. $50 early registration discount ends on Dec. 31st Enjoy! -- dave -- Dave Malouf http://davemalouf.com/ http://twitter.com/daveixd http://scad.edu/industrialdesign http://ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Mobile (Cellphone) Activated Streetlamps
Using time delay light switches in common areas of residential buildings is common in Germany, so it's interesting to see that this approach has been take outdoors. Fumbling around for the light switch (which is usually illuminated but not always easy to find) is a little annoying, but they turn off the light after a few minutes, so it saves lots of energy in a very low-tech way. LED streetlights are another great way to save energy and money as well: http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20081217/a-bright-future Motion detectors would have been an even easier way to turn on the lights, but street lights often have just one switch per street; they're not individually addressed. Motion detectors are being installed in many newer buildings, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them on newly paved streets in the near future. SMS (text messages) was likely chosen as a means of controlling the lights because it's so readily available – every handset can send one. People from all walks of life have been using text messages with command-line-style codes to download ringtones, images and games, or to register for events, order items and so on, for nearly ten years. Experience-wise, it's not a very elegant means of controlling street lights, but it gets the job done. For those of you who speak German, here's more on how the service works: https://www.dial4light.de/dial4light/d4lDefault.do Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
