Friday, June 21, 2002

Tricks of the Web??? I guess I must be in the technical audience because I knew all 7 tricks and use them regularly.  Just goes to show that the biggest danger when working on usability is making unwarranted assumptions about users. developerWorks: Seven tricks that Web users don't know. About what developers assume non-technical web-users will know, but they really don't. [The Desktop Fishbowl] 3:28:25 AM     Return of the Visual Thinking Tools I'm reading A Field Guide to Visual Thinking Tools by David Hyerle as part of my ongoing research into the Future of Creativity. (a little grand but it's my current project and likely to be my Masters thesis)  Anyhow, I experimented with a couple of computer based visual thinking tools about a year ago.  This book got me started thinking about using a mind map style diagram to organize my upcoming presentation.  So I picked up my legal pad and began sketching.  But how do I share it on the internet.  Thus my search for a tool. The ubiquitous tool is Inspiration.  I used it a bit last year and had no real complaints.  For $69 its a good, inexpensive package. FreeMind is an open source Java visual mapper for any kind of hierarchical data.  I've yet to use the product but the price is certainly right. Axon Idea Processor was the one new discovery I made tonight that definitely looks like it needs more investigation.  I was especially impressed with the screen shots showing the detailed outlines in addition to the pretty pictures. Here's a web site that has links to a few more tools that might be worthwhile.  The ODP also has a page on mind mapping. 2:24:47 AM     My Tribulations with RealOne I'm getting more than a little bit ticked off by the RealOne media player that I downloaded a few days ago.  It is almost as aggressive at claiming file type associations as any bad Micro$oft application.  I normally use FreeAmp for listening to music and downloading mp3s.  In fact FreeAmp used to be the only application that would download complete albums from emusic.com.  I installed RealOne because I wanted to experiment with RealAudio streams over cable broadband. I should've known that it would be a disaster based on the number of time the old RealPlayer used to ask me to upgrade.  The sad thing is I liked the new graphic design of the new player.  It's a lot easier to use than the old design and much closer to the Microsoft media player design.  It appears that streaming media applications are becoming independent browsers.  Now if only they would stop trying to steal my file associations.  I've changed them twice now and one more time will be the end. Real is trying to outplay Microsoft using the same bullying tactics that got MS into legal trouble.  I doubt the government will ever decide to sue Real since they don't yet have a monopoly, however they sure do know how to alienate technical customers. 1:55:55 AM

© Copyright 2002 Todd Suomela. Last update: 6/27/2002; 12:36:50 AM.