Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Blinkety-blank Nice little piece on assorted UI annoyances; but the best part is the linkage to the reincarnation of the blinkenlights posters: IBM developerWorks: Watchen das blinkenlichten. In software design, as in other areas, ideas that seem brilliant at first can be disastrous in practice. In this month's THe cranky user, I'll point out software features that are little more than a flash in the pan, and suggest a functional alternative. [Tomalak's Realm] I first saw the blinkenlights sign on a tour of the computer facility at The Aerospace Corporation in the early 60s. My Dad still has an original over his desk. And I really didn't appreciate the attraction of the blinking lights until I took a tour of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View last week. Now I . . . must . . . have. . . one. . . 7:41:21 PM    Questions? Comments? Flames? []

More books, I need more books. . . ! Lou (that's Mr. Rosenfeld to you, Fred) plans to start publishing UX books. Sounds to me like a very practical venture: keep 'em short, focused, to the point. He's right—I certainly shy away from the 500-page tomes that are out there. No time, no shelf space, and I won't lug a ten-pound volume to the office, either. My New Gig. . . I'm starting a new publishing house dedicated to user experience design books. Short and highly practical titles focused on specific methods and practices, rather than technologies or broad perspectives. I'm convinced that the age of the 500 page "what and why" book is over; for the most part, we get it already. We know what UX and related fields are, and why they're important. What we need moving forward are brief 100-150 page books that show us how to use methods to make and defend our design decisions.... [Bloug] I don't suppose he could have some samples ready for DUX. . . 4:13:56 PM    Questions? Comments? Flames? []

GNH About time: Bhutan focuses on "gross national happiness" not GNP. Mark Frauenfelder: Craig says: "[NYT] article on Bhuddist economics in the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. A nice example of someone making sense: Around the world, a growing number of economists, social scientists, corporate leaders and bureaucrats are trying to develop measurements that take into account not just the flow of money but also access to health care, free time with family, conservation of natural resources and other noneconomic factors. The goal, according to many involved in this effort, is in part to return to a richer definition of the word happiness, more like what the signers of the Declaration of Independence had in mind when they included "the pursuit of happiness" as an inalienable right equal to liberty and life itself. Link (thanks, Craig!) [Boing Boing] Score another point for Buddhist economics. 12:51:23 PM    Questions? Comments? Flames? []

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