Comments for Designing for Experience

Comment on Design for participation by Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:54:48 +0000

Sounds good to me. Who designs these ballots? Somehow I get the feeling it’s the same folks who create tax forms. Maybe if we had more designers as elected officials, our interface with the political process would improve.

Comment on Facebook gets groups, when will twitter? by aaronh

aaronh — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:57:41 +0000

You know it’s interesting… twitter seems simple enough, but only AFTER you start using it. I have described it to many people, a portion of whom are very tech savvy, and they just don’t get it and if they have an inkling it’s still only after they try it do they get it. Most don’t end up keeping up with twitter, but they get it, it’s just not for them (or they don’t have a big enough network). It makes we wonder if twitter is really that simple or not.

Comment on Facebook gets groups, when will twitter? by Jay

Jay — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:25:59 +0000

I agree with Kevin. I am constantly amazed at how developers are their own worst enemy as they slowly (and sometimes quickly) dilute the core of their original concept. Case in point - LinkedIn.com. They just added several new applications. While it appears that some of the applications compliment the original concept of LinkedIn, others appear to take away from its value.

I think that one of the fundamental reasons why Twitter works is because it is so simple, as Kevin stated above. TwitterGroups, TwitterApps, TwitterMeetings, TwitterWhatever. At some point, Twitter can lose it’s identity. Can someone explain what myspace or facebook are in simple and concrete terms. Are they simply social networking apps? Has the meaning of social networking evolved? How many people do you hear say that they don’t use facebook anymore? Why is that? I propose that it is because no one can figure out what it is or does now.

I hope the keepers of Twitter are content with letting Twitter be Twitter.

Comment on Facebook gets groups, when will twitter? by Kevin Makice

Kevin Makice — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:04:56 +0000

While I agree that there are benefits to having group control, I hope Twitter never adds them.

The proliferation of microblogging and lifestreaming tools over the past year has largely been a response to what is missing on Twitter. However, I contend that one of the reasons Twitter is successful is its simplicity. It does not try to do to much or impose too many constraints. The nature of the beast would change considerably and possibly for the worse if we also had to manage groups.

A more useful upgrade, in my opinion, would be a better way to search and process other members. It is not easy to tell which of your followed authors are also following you, or even to just search for a specific user within your own follow net.

Some people I know have created multiple Twitter accounts to follow different kinds of groups (school vs. friends vs. professional, etc). For me, that would add a level of complexity and identity juggling that makes the service less appealing. I like the fact that I can just be me, and whoever wants to see that can.

Comment on A usability screen recording tip by aaronh

aaronh — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:17:00 +0000

I LOVE Jing and it is cross platform, though I have started to use skitch which is faster and easier and mac only, so sorry about that.

Comment on A usability screen recording tip by Marielle

Marielle — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:10:17 +0000

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for your response! My experience with camstudio is limited, but positive. It does not allow recording the webcam at the same time, unfortunately. But sometimes it’s desirable to use a separate video camera anyway (better view on body posture, etc).

I really like Jing, for quick screenshots and short video captures. But I’m certainly going to try out Screenflow as soon as I have a mac

Comment on New IDEO home page ugly and confusing by New IDEO website at iainclaridge.net

New IDEO website at iainclaridge.net — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:24:39 +0000

[...] For the first time in seven years, global design consultancy IDEO have a new site and it sure is a beauty. However, not everyone shares my opinion - as you can see here. [...]

Comment on A usability screen recording tip by aaronh

aaronh — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:07:21 +0000

@Marielle
I have heard good things about camstudio, as in vague generalities, but I don’t actually know someone personally who uses it regularly.
Adobe breeze has been mentioned to me for screen recording, but I don’t believe that will also record another video stream (the webcam for facial expressions).

Everyone I know uses camtasia or morae, and I’ll say that for quick and easy still images as well as video of the screen Jing (www.jingproject.com) is a great thing (also from Techsmith). Honestly Screenflow seems to be one of the best inexpensive pieces of software around.

My new mantra is that Mac is worth it because you can always run windows via parallels or bootcamp. If anyone out there has experience with camstudio I would like to hear about it.

Comment on A usability screen recording tip by Marielle Winarto

Marielle Winarto — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:28:07 +0000

As I understand, Screenflow is Mac Only. Do you know if there is a suitable Windows (or linux…) alternative? There is Camtasia of course, and the open source Camstudio, but they’re not Screenflow…

Comment on Why Dr. Horrible is horribly important by Norin

Norin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:39:11 +0000

Dr. Horrible can be watched on myspace video now as well… not sure how long that will last, but it’s a free place to see it if you haven’t already.