Search this Blog
Pages
Categories
- Accessibility
- Application Usability
- Healthcare Usability
- Information Visualization
- Marketing Usability
- Mobile Usability
- Product Design
- Product Development
- Prototyping
- Real-World Usability
- Search Engine Optimization
- Social Networking
- Technology
- Uncategorized
- Usability Bloopers
- Usability Consulting
- Usability Humor
- Usability Testing
- User Centered Design (UCD)
- User Experience
- Users
- Web 2.0
- Web Content
- Web Usability
- Welcome
- World Usability Day
Archives
Category Archives: Real-World Usability
We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint
It’s official – “PowerPoint makes us stupid.” In an article for the New York times, many high-ranking officials are taking shots at Microsoft’s PowerPoint program. Gen. James N. Mattis of the Marine Corps, the Joint Forces commander, said at a … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology, Users
Leave a comment
Reaching Retirees: Web Design for Senior Users
Good article by Design For Use on web design for seniors. Here’s the summary: “With the aging population and increased reliance on internet resources, improving the online experience of senior and retired users can facilitate greater success and knowledge about … Continue reading
Google Goggles – Amazing New Mobile Technology
Google has announced a new mobile tool that enables users to search using pictures instead of words. Called Google Goggles, it uses the phone’s GPS and compass to help determine search results. This free app works only on Google Android … Continue reading
Theo Mandel’s “Golden Rules of Web Design” Keynote Presentation – User eXperience Russia, October 2009
Theo Mandel, Ph.D. was invited to give a keynote presentation at the User eXperience Russia conference in Moscow, Russia, on October 26, 2009. Mandel’s keynote, “The (New) Golden Rules of Web Design,” is an new presentation based on a chapter … Continue reading
UX Problems at American Airlines
Dustin Curtis wrote a blog article about American Airlines’ poor website design. He received an e-mail from an Interaction Designer within the company explaining the corporate culture at American Airlines with regard to the website. The designer was promptly fired … Continue reading
Why Agile Needs to Start in Academia
Thought-provoking article about getting geeks and artists together during college rather than afterwards on the job. Some institutions offer interdisciplinary programs, but more should be done to get students used to working in multi-disciplinary, cooperative work environments. >
Improving the Patient Experience (Bridget Duffy, Gel Health ’09)
Bridget Duffy Former Chief Experience Officer Cleveland Clinic After breaking her leg, Bridget Duffy got a close look at the patient experience – by being a patient herself. At the first Gel Health conference, Bridget discusses what she learned – … Continue reading
Hilarious Google “Opt-Out” Parody
The Onion, a famous print and online parody newspaper, has a hilarious news video parody of Google’s “Opt-Out” policy. >
Why Adults Have Fed Twitter €™s Growth
Very interesting results from a study on twitter usage. It turns out older people are using twitter more than young people – not the results you would expect from a new social networking experience. “The tech industry has been perplexed … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Social Networking, Technology, Users
Leave a comment
Above and Beyond: Airplanes ARE social media
It’s time for user experience designers to break out their wings! Airlines are beginning to realize that air travel is a shared experience where travelers can share informaton and experiences and the airlines can learn more about their customers! Jay … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology, Web 2.0
Leave a comment
Healthcare Usability: Physician Resistance to German e-health Cards
While hospitals are implementing EMRs throughout Germany, they are resisting the German government’s push to roll out health cards for individuals. So far, they have refused to purchase the systems necessary to read the cards, saying that the paper process … Continue reading
Usability Problems with “Cash for Clunkers” Forms
New York Times (August 20, 2009) reports automobile dearlers are having trouble using the rebate forms the government designed. Yet another example of unusable forms!! “In many cases, the administration says incomplete forms or errors in the information submitted by … Continue reading
Classic “This is Broken” Seth Godin Video
Seth Godin, bestselling author, entrepreneur and agent of change in his Gel 2006 video. Why are so many things broken? In this entertaining talk – one of the favorites of Gel 2006 – Seth Godin gives a tour of things … Continue reading
Let’s take back the beep from cell phone companies
Please join David Pogue’s effort to organize users everywhere to tell cell phone companies to turn off their gratuitously long voice mail intro-messages (“At the tone, please record your message. When you have finished recording, you may hang up, or … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Users
Leave a comment
Techno-Surfing and Whirling Dervish Drivers
Are you driving and talking on your cell phone? Have you seen someone texting while driving? Here’s a new article and research from the New York Times: “Americans are so addicted to techno-surfing that they €™ve gotten hubristic about how … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology
1 Comment
The iPhone Myth: Mobile Web a throwback to the ’90s
Interesting article in USA Today on Jakob Nielsen’s group (NNG) research on the mobile web. Their results show it is much slower and less accurate to use the web on a mobile device: A study to be released Monday by … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology, Users
Leave a comment
Gadgets that Kill: Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks
Despite human factors and other research that highlight the dangers of using cellphones while driving, few laws are being passed to address the deadly problem. Extensive research shows the dangers of distracted driving. Studies say that drivers using phones are … Continue reading
Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology, Users
Leave a comment
Usability and Emotional Design
For the marketing types…tongue-in-cheek look at usability and marketing. Also a website at www.usability4evil.com  Chris Nodder, Nielsen Norman Group chris@usability4evil.com Our knowledge as usability practitioners can be used for evil as well as for good. As evil usability practitioners, our … Continue reading
Finally – Usable, Real-World Products!
Ping Pong Door! Designed by Tobias Fränzel, this innovative door turns into a ping pong table when needed. After the game is finished, it goes back to being a regular door. Everything the techie or apartment-dweller needs! www.toxel.com/tech/2009/07/07/ping-pong-door-by-tobias-franzel/
National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind File Discrimination Suit Against Arizona State University
It was bound to happen soon…Companies and universities implementing new technology that should enable all users to use the technology, yet has not fully addressed accessibility issues…and they are now caught in the act and are rightfully getting sued. In … Continue reading
Posted in Accessibility, Real-World Usability, Technology, Users
Leave a comment