Re: [IxDA Discuss] Developing an effective User Experience/Usability strategy

Suggest one of the hardest components of a strategy is "implementation" and getting people in an organization to embrace it, live it and play it out across all the channels (especially in larger organizations) Maybe its better to start on a"smaller piece" first and let the strategy blossom from th

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

On Mar 19, 2009, at 9:09 AM, Jake Trimble wrote: Has anyone seen any attempts to replace the standard floppy disk Save icon? Seeing as most people haven't touched a 3.5" floppy in a decade, is anyone addressing this archaic icon and how we can replace the current mental model associated with it

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Developing an effective User Experience/Usability strategy

> > * The immediate opportunity > * The customer's situation > * The competitive landscape > * Revenue streams and models, with plausible estimates (or benefits > if there's no direct revenue) > * Risks > * Peripheral opportunities > * Intersection with related elements such as brand identity, > ma

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sound design tools?

www.extrememusic.com www.flashkit.com Sent from my iPhone On Mar 19, 2009, at 12:31 PM, Jeff Garbers wrote: I had a lot of luck with a wide library of sounds here: http://www.soundrangers.com/ As others have said, if you really want to make something from scratch, this isn't what you nee

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Online Message Center Examples

I was just looking into this myself, and a lot of social media sites have internal messaging systems (that seems to be the most common term used to describe them). Jon Yesko pointed me to Flickr's, which is nice--simple and straightforward. Facebook has a decent one too. 2009/3/19 iamshimone : > H

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Developing an effective User Experience/Usability strategy

Hi Mario, It's rare to find examples of particular design strategies for study outside a university program, probably because organizations consider them confidential. And so a common understanding of what design strategy is doesn't seem to exist in our field. The best analogous field you can loo

Re: [IxDA Discuss] UI Performance Testing Methodology

Hello Baruch, Could you describe a bit more what you mean by performance testing of the user interface? There is benchmark usability testing, but also performance testing of widgets under different loads and system testing of various types of responsiveness. Thanks, Chauncey On Thu, Mar 19, 200

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Alan Cooper talks about this at length in About Face (chapter 17 is "Rethinking Files and Save"). Regards, Adam On Mar 19, 2009, at 11:49 AM, Coryndon Luxmoore wrote: Strictly speaking save as a function is a holdover from the day that computers were not capable of retaining a running list

[IxDA Discuss] Online Message Center Examples

Hi all - I'm looking for any resources, examples, literature, articles etc. around the idea of an online message center. eTrade and Wells Fargo (I'm sure others) use message centers in place of direct email communication. This is a very powerful security tool - all messages are posted in a central

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Tools for animating the user experience

Ah my extra 2 gigs memory module was broken. It's working like a charm now! :) Experimenting with the architecture of my flash file right now. Thinking of using the main timeline as a place for application entry points (like, new user, already registred user, stranger, coming from iphone etc..). An

[IxDA Discuss] UI Performance Testing Methodology

Lookng for any resources available on methodologies for performance testing, focusing specifically on the User Interface...preliminary searches bringing up very little. Hoping someone can assist...thanks in advance! Welcome to the Int

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Dead technologies live on in symbols. Get used to it! Seriously, here in Australia I see pictograms of a castle keep to signify to tourists a historic site - our country is not old enough to have real castles, but this european symbol tells international travelers that something of historic intere

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Has anyone ever eulogized a metaphor before? Sounds fun enough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40180 Welcome to the Interaction De

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Another approach would be to replace the "save" metaphor with a "checkpoint" (I'm not wild about that word, but it'll work for now). The system would save continuously, and whenever you wanted to note a significant revision, you'd click "checkpoint". The app would let you add notes (as searchable

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sound design tools?

I had a lot of luck with a wide library of sounds here: http://www.soundrangers.com/ As others have said, if you really want to make something from scratch, this isn't what you need, but if you want at least some basis for manipulation you can find a lot of good stuff here... cheap. . . . . .

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

In the version control universe, you would "tag" your file(s) to identify a particular snapshot of your work (e.g. "version 1.1") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revision_control#Baselines.2C_labels.2C_and_tags On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:49 PM, Coryndon Luxmoore wrote: > Strictly speaking save as

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Examples of UI fading in and out over content?

On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 5:44 AM, James Haliburton < james.halibur...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks for all the examples contributed here! > > Can anyone see any downsides fading out the controls of your content? > > One problem would be if the user wasn't made aware that the controls were there in th

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Examples of UI fading in and out over content?

James, From the examples that have been given, I would say that the set of controls is typically very low complexity. The other trend is that this pattern is used when the content takes up all of the available screen space: video, slides, photos, etc. Best, Jack On Mar 19, 2009, at 5:44

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Strictly speaking save as a function is a holdover from the day that computers were not capable of retaining a running list of all edits and storing them in real time. So in my mind the question is if we remove the need to save a file how do I mark a significant point in the creation of a f

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

I had the same conversation with a friend just yesterday. We've seen icons with a down arrow pointing at a hard disk or computer (which also seems to mean export), but the best I've seen is a down arrow pointing into a folder. As a thought experiment, we wondered what if the world didn't have flop

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sound design tools?

Practically everything is available here: http://www.sounddogs.com/ And you can dl low-res versions to test before buying. Don't buy a whole library. Alternatively, you could hire a sound design specialist... I know, UX designers don't hire specialists... seriously, though, I know a few fantasti

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Idea Generation Activities

Hi Alan, I highly recommend you start by writing down a brief. It may seem totally old school, but it helps keep teams (and clients) from straying too far from the stated goal. It can be just one-page and, well, see wikipedia for the rest... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_brief Once you ha

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Idea Generation Activities

Hi Alan, I don't have a specific technique to suggest, but you might browse through the conservatively titled list of "All Known Idea Generation Methods" compiled by Jack Martin Leith. I think it currently stands at around 150 entries. All Known Idea Generation Methods http://www.jackmartinleith.c

[IxDA Discuss] Developing an effective User Experience/Usability strategy

Is there any information out there on how to design/write an effective UX/Usability strategy? I believe there are no specific generic models out there for study (I am probably way off on this). Are there any existing resources OR is this an org specific thing? I would appreciate any comments, ide

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Many printers do not resemble whatever print icon a particular app may provide. Apple's Mail app uses a paper airplane to mean Send. It is a loose metaphor to be sure--and lacks any association whatsoever to the accompanying sound effect. But it is understandable and probably more recogni

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sound design tools?

If you're producing spot effects you're better off with a wave editor. On a PC Sound Forge is the king of sound editors and on the Mac there really isn't one that shines out. http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/soundforgefamily.asp In past I've used the quick and dirty wave generators in

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Examples of UI fading in and out over content?

Thanks for all the examples contributed here! Can anyone see any downsides fading out the controls of your content? While it is a nice transition which supports a rapidly shifting context (control content to consume content) - what we lose is glancability of controls. That is, if the set of cont

Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Interesting point. Strikes me as a metaphor which has become slightly divorced from its original meaning. Most users would automatically associate it with "save", although they're probably not thinking, "that must be save, because it looks like a floppy disk". You might argue that the same has hap

[IxDA Discuss] The Save Icon "rut"

Has anyone seen any attempts to replace the standard floppy disk Save icon? Seeing as most people haven't touched a 3.5" floppy in a decade, is anyone addressing this archaic icon and how we can replace the current mental model associated with it? ___

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sound design tools?

Not sure what platform you are looking for (PC/MAC) but I've been using Cakewalk products for years and they have really good soft synths as well as sample libraries. Another great tool you may want to consider on the PC side is FL Studio. Good luck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Idea Generation Activities

I agree completely. Thanks for bringing light onto that omission. It was something that was implicit in my thoughts, but not explicitly written down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40167

[IxDA Discuss] JOB UX Design Engineer, Boston area, FT For caro...@bestica.com (recruiter)

Are you a top UX pro who is a great designer with CSS, JQuery, and Javascript expertise ? Do you have the breadth and creativity to create many unique and vibrant themes. Can you strut your stuff in a portfolio that will excite us to meet you? We're looking for a top-notch designer, CSS and JQu

Re: [IxDA Discuss] New Features for Clinical Research Website

Thanks Matthew, This seems like a great resource. While i have not got into mental models, I have come down to creating affinity diagrams for grouping things. Though currently these are more on the lines of what services competing websites are offering and what the users are using these for, I am

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Idea Generation Activities

You have some very interesting examples. One thing I noticed is that they all focus on your company or your competitors. If you want to come up with good experiences for your users, then they should be central to your discussions. -Jeremy Kriegel www.methodsansmadness.com . . . . . . . . . . .

[IxDA Discuss] [EVENT] Austin IxDA - Reminder - Networking Mixer

REMINDER. Meet new friends and old ones for BBQ, beer and talking shop! Date: Thursday, March 26th Location: Green Mesquite on Barton Springs, back patio Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm Please RSVP at ixdaaustin.ning.com - you'll have to sign up on the site if you haven't alread

Re: [IxDA Discuss] New Features for Clinical Research Website

If you haven't already, I'd suggest doing some research along the lines of a mental model. Indi Young wrote an excellent book on the topic. http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/books/mental-models/ You'll get a picture of what your audience's goals are and you can steer your project in a direction that

Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Possible Spam] Represented (designer\'s) Model

2009/3/19 Alan Cooper > Dave, > > Here are some excellent books that I recommend. They don't address > mental models directly, but then what would be the fun of that? They all > shed light on the inescapable fact that "mental models" are things > inside the head of human beings. > If you don't

[IxDA Discuss] European Standards for User Interface Design

Hi, I am currently working as an interaction designer in India. We have come up with this query while designing few of our websites for european audiences. Are there any standards/Guidelines followed while designing GUI for european union ??? How are they different from the US Standards..? any li

[IxDA Discuss] New Features for Clinical Research Website

Hi guys, I am working as an Interaction Designer for a Clinical Research Website and we are now ready to add some new features to it. While we are pretty happy with the basic functionality that the website offers, we are looking to add some social type of elements as well as media. I want to know

[IxDA Discuss] Early Bird for UX Workshops with Louis Rosenfeld and James Kalbach ends April 2

Hello, I'm pleased to announce three interesting workshops about User Experience in May 09 in Hamburg (Germany): May 18: 'Enterprise Information Architecture' - Louis Rosenfeld May 19: 'Commercial Ethnography' - James Kalbach May 20: 'Personas and Mental Models' - James Kalbach Early bird pri

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Examples of UI fading in and out over content?

This is an interesting article about 'contextual interfaces' http://alexiskold.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-rise-of-contextual-user-interfaces/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40142 __

[IxDA Discuss] Idea Generation Activities

I'm thinking about leading some discussions to help my team and company generate ideas about what sort of experience we want our users to have when they interact with a new version of our software. Have you ever participated in, or led, an activity that you found really helpful in generating these

Re: [IxDA Discuss] Examples of UI fading in and out over content?

Good topic. I am not a big fan of Microsoft but,,Windows operation system has function of auto hide-taskbar. So as the inactive icons at bottom right corner. By the way, in Office Word 2007, the scale tab won't be present until your mouse point stop at left side/top for one or two seconds. . . .