Category Archives: Users

New Users for the iPad – Iggy (a cat) investigates an iPad

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Theo Mandel

You knew this would happen sooner or later. Now that there is a large touch-based tablet, little kids and pets are now experimenting with this new user interface! YouTube is now getting flooded with videos of pets playing with an … Continue reading →

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We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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Reaching Retirees: Web Design for Senior Users

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Theo Mandel

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 →

Posted in Accessibility, Real-World Usability, Social Networking, Technology, User Centered Design (UCD), Users, Web Usability | Leave a comment

Reverse Psychology – Microsoft makes Game out of the Office Ribbon

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Theo Mandel

In the spirit of the developer’s credo – “That’s not a bug, that’s a feature!” – Microsoft has created a game that gives users points for finding and using commands on the Office Ribbon toolbar. Usually companies don’t point out … Continue reading →

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“Mad Libs” Style Form Increases Conversion 25-40%

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Theo Mandel

UI designers are always looking for new ways to do common tasks better and faster. This new style of filling in forms may prove to be one of those new twists that makes people think, “Why didn’t I think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Application Usability, Marketing Usability, User Centered Design (UCD), Users, Web 2.0, Web Content, Web Usability | Leave a comment

Theo Mandel’s “Golden Rules of Web Design” Keynote Presentation – User eXperience Russia, October 2009

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

Posted in Real-World Usability, Social Networking, Technology, User Centered Design (UCD), Users, Web 2.0, Web Usability | Leave a comment

Google Releases News-Reading Service

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Theo Mandel

Google, long seen as an enemy by many in the news industry, is making a bold attempt to be seen as a friend with a new service it hopes will make it easier for readers to read newspaper and magazine … Continue reading →

Posted in Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking, Technology, Users, Web 2.0, Web Usability | Leave a comment

Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Theo Mandel

Intriguing article in Wired Magazine on the history of controversial Craigslist.org, the largest community site in the US. From the interface design and usability perspective, Craigslist is notoriously well-know for its old-style, link-heavy, basic interface that does not make using … Continue reading →

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Why Adults Have Fed Twitter €™s Growth

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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Let’s take back the beep from cell phone companies

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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The iPhone Myth: Mobile Web a throwback to the ’90s

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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Gadgets that Kill: Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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Hospital system tries letting patients read physicians’ notes

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Theo Mandel

Electronic medical records and a push for consumer involvement make it more acceptable — and imperative — to release more information, say Beth Israel project backers. Interesting study on how to improve the patient-physician experience. Also interesting to see the … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare Usability, Users | Leave a comment

National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind File Discrimination Suit Against Arizona State University

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Theo Mandel

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 →

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Solution, or Mess? A Milk Jug for a Green Earth

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Theo Mandel

Who says you can’t improve on years of well-established tradition? Wal-Mart and Costco have adopted a new gallon-sized milk container that looks to save the companies lots of money. However, there may be some usability issues they’ve overlooked! A New … Continue reading →

Posted in Real-World Usability, Technology, Usability Bloopers, User Centered Design (UCD), Users | 4 Comments

Psychology: The Crowd Within

Posted on June 28, 2008 by Theo Mandel

“A battle of ideas is going on inside your mind” From the Economist.com, an interesting article about problem solving behavior” “Until now, psychologists have assumed that when people make a guess, they make the most accurate guess that they can. … Continue reading →

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What the Internet is doing to our brains: Is Google Making Us Stupid?

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Theo Mandel

Good historical article on how technology changes our lives and how we work. Very informative story about Friedrich Nietzsche, who bought a typewriter in 1882, and the changes that came about in his writing style as a result of using … Continue reading →

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Lazy Eyes: How we read online

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Theo Mandel

Fun, somewhat tongue-in-cheek article about reading/browsing online vs. paper. He uses Jakob Nielsen’s writings as examples and goes from there. Worth a read on Slate (Aricle by Michael Agger).

Posted in Technology, Usability Bloopers, Usability Humor, User Centered Design (UCD), Users, Web Usability | Leave a comment

Lamenting the Lost Art of the Office Telephone Conversation

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Theo Mandel

Very interesting article in the New York Times on the shift from telephone calls in the workplace to e-mail correspondence and cell phone conversations. While it makes the office a quieter workplace, workers have lost the fine art of handling … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Users | 1 Comment

Consumers earn Free Stuff with “Free Love”

Posted on February 25, 2008 by Theo Mandel

FREE LOVE: the ongoing rise of free, valuable stuff that’s available to consumers online and offline. From AirAsia tickets to Wikipedia, and from diapers to music. This is the new consumerism on the Web. Read about it at http://www.trendwatching.com/briefing/. FREE … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Users, Web Usability | 1 Comment