There's been much concern about filtering out 411 about the content of the final Harry Potter book.
The idea is to shut down potential 'channels' that could bring in the harmful information. It's been recommended to avoid news web sites, where eyes might chance upon a headline or blurb that gives the ending away.
If you use a news aggregator to gather your news, and only a news aggregator to gather your news, and if that aggregator allows for Filtering of articles based on keywords, then you could set it to keep out any "Harry Potter" stories.
In that way, a news reader, by virture of what it can keep out, would have a persuasive reason for adoption to those not yet hip to its ability to fetch. I know of no other News Source that would allow such customization of experience. In traditional media, there are 'self constraints.' We take it on good faith that Brian Williams will not suddenly blow the whistle.
Years from now, we might remark it as odd the dependence on voluntary restraint of a broadcaster. But that is how it is now. It means that we have a personal relationship with Mr. Williams. That is to be treasured because down the road, with comupter interfaces, you will have control but you'll be dealing only with systems, not persons with feelings, integrity, and values.
Ah, people. The opposite of the self-restrained advocate is the malevolent bellower intent on "runing it" for you.
In New York City, there are millions of human 'channels' and among them must be at least a few thousand MBs.If you travel with the Potter book you are a target.So, what can you do?
You can disguise your Potter interest by swapping book jackets. For example, replace Deathly Hallows with Great Expectations. If you cross paths with an MB, he could still try to ruin it for you, but unless you don't know Miss Havisham is the benefactor, you'll be unharmed?
But the jacket throw-off could backfire among benevolent restrainers. After all, the BR, wishing not to ruin someone's experience, will restrain when he detects the presence of fellows with potential for harm, but if he does not detect such danger, he may feel free to talk. Imagine being alone in a subway car, with your disguised book. The BR enters with a pal, eager to chat about Deathly Hallows. The BR scans the car, sees only you with the classic Dickens tale, and begins to talk about the "Hallows" subject matter. Your life is ruined.
Ah, then you would argue that the BR should have checked with you first or made a pre-statement (warning). Indeed, the BR in the above case, in practice is no different than a MB. It is not intent, but actions, that connect us in the big communication system. A failed MB is then more advantageous for your needs than a mistaken BR.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Moron Water
Following up from most recent post, here is more on using water.
When you must add water into or onto an object where there is a threat of adding too much, then you should use a measuring pitcher (cups are for solids; pitchers, liquid).
If no measuring pitcher, then use another intermediary vessel--you'll have control if not accuracy. Add water from control device incrementally.
If you do not have or wish to employ an intermediary vessel, but are 'winging it' directly under water source (sink tap) then:
First, turn on the water source and set to a flow rate you deem prudent. A slow rate gives you control.*
Then, place the receiving object beneath the tap.
Keep the object beneath the tap until it collects a sufficient water amount.
You can remove, mix, and return to tap as you need.
[*More can always be added (so long as there's a water supply) but you do not want to have to Remove Water, and in many cases you can't.]
Success! Your casserole is going to turn out just fine! If you are going to be Adding Water regularly, then you might consider springing for a good measuring pitcher and cleaning it so that it is ready for use.
When you must add water into or onto an object where there is a threat of adding too much, then you should use a measuring pitcher (cups are for solids; pitchers, liquid).
If no measuring pitcher, then use another intermediary vessel--you'll have control if not accuracy. Add water from control device incrementally.
If you do not have or wish to employ an intermediary vessel, but are 'winging it' directly under water source (sink tap) then:
First, turn on the water source and set to a flow rate you deem prudent. A slow rate gives you control.*
Then, place the receiving object beneath the tap.
Keep the object beneath the tap until it collects a sufficient water amount.
You can remove, mix, and return to tap as you need.
[*More can always be added (so long as there's a water supply) but you do not want to have to Remove Water, and in many cases you can't.]
Success! Your casserole is going to turn out just fine! If you are going to be Adding Water regularly, then you might consider springing for a good measuring pitcher and cleaning it so that it is ready for use.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
At the Hand Wash
A well designed wash area will not leave you wet. But many patron bathrooms (I use this term instead of public restrooms, which are usually larger, and free to non-customers and customers alike), even when amply supplied with drying devices, cause an irreversible water flow ("Water Trickle") onto the arm.
Here’s how:
1. Wash area is in small 'one man' bathroom, as you might find in a restaurant.
2. Wash area uses paper towel dispenser (it is irrelevant how the sheets are dispensed).
3. Dispenser sits on the wall next to sink, about shoulder to head high.
4. User is wearing a long sleeved Oxford shirt.
5. After washing, user raises arms to retrieve paper sheets.
6. Position of arms (vertical) causes water from hands and wrists to trickle down, under the sleeves of shirt.
The problem is the location of the paper towel supply. It is too high. A smart user knows to arrange drying material before starting the wash. That is, to pre-pull or pre-prompt (depending on manual or automatic). The effect is to minimize the post-wash 'wetfetch' period.
But despite this planning, the user is penalized because the very act of collecting the pre-pulled towels causes the Water Trickle. A user can get around this, if there is a place BELOW chest-level to place the towels. If a restroom is small, of the restaurant one-shooter variety described above, then it should:
1. Set some loose (freed) towels on a low-level, near the sink.
If such a bathroom neither has a ready supply at low-level, nor has ample space on or near sink for the user to place pre-collected towels, then the user may avoid Water Trickle:
1. Manually or auto ready a good stretch of sheets.
2. After washing, reach for the towels avoiding raising arms.
3. Tack horizontally, hands first.
4. OR: One efficient maneuver is to press hands together as in prayer--ELBOWS OUT.
5. Then raise hands toward towels, like a pincer.
Good luck.
Home bathrooms have it right regarding the level of the towel. The rack is positioned at just the right height, allowing for a quick dry-off....so long as there is a clean towel to which the user believes he is entitled to use.
Here’s how:
1. Wash area is in small 'one man' bathroom, as you might find in a restaurant.
2. Wash area uses paper towel dispenser (it is irrelevant how the sheets are dispensed).
3. Dispenser sits on the wall next to sink, about shoulder to head high.
4. User is wearing a long sleeved Oxford shirt.
5. After washing, user raises arms to retrieve paper sheets.
6. Position of arms (vertical) causes water from hands and wrists to trickle down, under the sleeves of shirt.
The problem is the location of the paper towel supply. It is too high. A smart user knows to arrange drying material before starting the wash. That is, to pre-pull or pre-prompt (depending on manual or automatic). The effect is to minimize the post-wash 'wetfetch' period.
But despite this planning, the user is penalized because the very act of collecting the pre-pulled towels causes the Water Trickle. A user can get around this, if there is a place BELOW chest-level to place the towels. If a restroom is small, of the restaurant one-shooter variety described above, then it should:
1. Set some loose (freed) towels on a low-level, near the sink.
If such a bathroom neither has a ready supply at low-level, nor has ample space on or near sink for the user to place pre-collected towels, then the user may avoid Water Trickle:
1. Manually or auto ready a good stretch of sheets.
2. After washing, reach for the towels avoiding raising arms.
3. Tack horizontally, hands first.
4. OR: One efficient maneuver is to press hands together as in prayer--ELBOWS OUT.
5. Then raise hands toward towels, like a pincer.
Good luck.
Home bathrooms have it right regarding the level of the towel. The rack is positioned at just the right height, allowing for a quick dry-off....so long as there is a clean towel to which the user believes he is entitled to use.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Craigs List: Red Marker in hand, where do I circle?
It's not easy to criticize Craig's List. Most everyone wants to meet Craig, lock his head endearingly, and order him rounds of Brooklyn Lager. And his list? Oh gosh... the original copy should be under glass alongside the Constituion. Three Cheers for CL! Buyers love it. Sellers adore it. Designers cite it as an example of 'what works'... made by people 'who get it.' Get what? Clean, simple, oh so elegant design. Outkast perhaps had CL in mind when writing"So fresh and so clean clean." But there is room for improvement.
Users who want to save a Posting to read later have only one choice: "Email this Posting to a Friend." Savvy users know that they can Email themselves. But what a chore! It's a 6 step process::
1. Click link "Email Posting to Friend."
2. Input Friend address,
3. Input Your address.
4. Click Submit button.
5. View Confirm page.
6. Click to return to listing (or use Back button 2 steps).
What a drag. After doing that for each Posting, you can then log into your email, and check out the posts. And what if you seek to view the postings offline? Often when reading posts, I like to make a copy for my Desktop, to view in Word. How do I accomplish that? Well, by Copying and Pasting of course. And yes, there is room for error! Often I forget to grab the headline, or contact info. My bad, right?
Or, maybe it's Craig's bad. Maybe his list is not perfect. Perhaps endless rounds of free beer are not the best medicine for designing user interfaces. Welp, Craig. Let me be give it to you straight (as unpopular as that term may be among your list's social set):: it is high time you make it easy to SAVE POSTINGS.
When scanning Print ads, users circle ads. We should be able to do so here too. Here's what I suggest:
1. The mouse is a Red Marker. (This is easy to accomplish. Yes, it is a graphical enhancement, but it doesn't affect load time or screen appearance, just the mouse).
2. To 'circle' an ad, the user can 'make a circle' (in practice, click anywhere on the headline) or click a "save post" link atop and below the posting.
3. A right column on Screen: displays saved ads.
4. Right column contains links:
Send saved ads to Email.
Save to Desktop (Word or Text Doc)
Delete (checked) listings.
Oh, Craig. You can get this right. Hasn't EBay given you any advice? No. Just a lot of beer. What?! You prefer Anchor Steamer?! I, I didn't know. I just assumed you dug Booklyn Beh. I forgot you're from San Fran. Well, you've got kindred spirits out in Booklyn. Make it easier to save posts, and you will be all the more loved!
Users who want to save a Posting to read later have only one choice: "Email this Posting to a Friend." Savvy users know that they can Email themselves. But what a chore! It's a 6 step process::
1. Click link "Email Posting to Friend."
2. Input Friend address,
3. Input Your address.
4. Click Submit button.
5. View Confirm page.
6. Click to return to listing (or use Back button 2 steps).
What a drag. After doing that for each Posting, you can then log into your email, and check out the posts. And what if you seek to view the postings offline? Often when reading posts, I like to make a copy for my Desktop, to view in Word. How do I accomplish that? Well, by Copying and Pasting of course. And yes, there is room for error! Often I forget to grab the headline, or contact info. My bad, right?
Or, maybe it's Craig's bad. Maybe his list is not perfect. Perhaps endless rounds of free beer are not the best medicine for designing user interfaces. Welp, Craig. Let me be give it to you straight (as unpopular as that term may be among your list's social set):: it is high time you make it easy to SAVE POSTINGS.
When scanning Print ads, users circle ads. We should be able to do so here too. Here's what I suggest:
1. The mouse is a Red Marker. (This is easy to accomplish. Yes, it is a graphical enhancement, but it doesn't affect load time or screen appearance, just the mouse).
2. To 'circle' an ad, the user can 'make a circle' (in practice, click anywhere on the headline) or click a "save post" link atop and below the posting.
3. A right column on Screen: displays saved ads.
4. Right column contains links:
Send saved ads to Email.
Save to Desktop (Word or Text Doc)
Delete (checked) listings.
Oh, Craig. You can get this right. Hasn't EBay given you any advice? No. Just a lot of beer. What?! You prefer Anchor Steamer?! I, I didn't know. I just assumed you dug Booklyn Beh. I forgot you're from San Fran. Well, you've got kindred spirits out in Booklyn. Make it easier to save posts, and you will be all the more loved!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Pandora: How Long Can We Sing this Song?
Pandora is a wonderful service. If you haven't already begun using this nifty Music Genome based personal radio player, you ought to.
Today I point out one glaring problem with the player :: it does not list the running time of the songs it plays. This information could appear within the individual song box which contains the album art, song title, album title and artist. Or it could appear in the Music controller, which is just a Play / Pause toggle button. Since most media players include total time, as well as elapsed AND time remaining, Pandora would be wise to do so. Hec, even to just mimic iTune's interface.
Another omission is Year of Release. It would be nice to know the year when each song was produced or released. For select songs, it appears in a Detail Page. But for some reason it doesn't appear for most songs. And it never appears in the song's box (above). Pandora invites users to "Guide Us." But, Pandora could do a little more guiding itself.
Today I point out one glaring problem with the player :: it does not list the running time of the songs it plays. This information could appear within the individual song box which contains the album art, song title, album title and artist. Or it could appear in the Music controller, which is just a Play / Pause toggle button. Since most media players include total time, as well as elapsed AND time remaining, Pandora would be wise to do so. Hec, even to just mimic iTune's interface.
Another omission is Year of Release. It would be nice to know the year when each song was produced or released. For select songs, it appears in a Detail Page. But for some reason it doesn't appear for most songs. And it never appears in the song's box (above). Pandora invites users to "Guide Us." But, Pandora could do a little more guiding itself.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Talkin Wall Street Journal Blues
The WSJ Online has long been cheered for its ability to charge and collect subscription fees, and for its heaps of information. I'm glad to fork over $10 per month. The site refreshes and reloads every few minutes with breaking news that often directly effects my investments in Big Business.
There are a couple Interface Issues to call out::
1. iFrame on homepage doesn't Auto-Reload. While the homepage refreshes itself--and timestamps itself, its right column iFrame, which contains each user's "My Journal," a personalized collection of links and news, does not. My "My Journal", lists certain stock prices. When I see the time stamp on the homepage, and then look at my stock list, I am inclined to assume I have the latest prices. The iFrame should reload. Also, the list of stocks should be Time Stamped as well. No reason this important piece of info should not be included atop EACH quote.
Example: "price as of 3:24pm"
Some other news sources just give the vague, relative "up to 15 minute delay." Useless. Just give me the time at which that info was collected so I can compare it to present:
Example: "Time is 3:24pm EST. Price as of 3:18pm EST"
The WSJ does give the time stamp when you search a company's quote. Just not in the "My Online Journal" portfolios.
**
The second 'issue' regards the online journal using the exact copy as the print version. It is common for the Editorial Board to refer to an accompanying column. They accomplish this, in print, with a parenthetical "See Above" or "See Below." Example: ("for more on why lower taxes are always best, see Mitch Wagner's piece above")
Ummm, hello? On the Internet, that is exactly the kind of reference that could be LINKED. The accompanying piece is not "above" or "below"--it simply is where it is, and can be goten to through a hyper link. By leaving it as is, the Online Journal turns the paper's helpful hint into a confusing challenge. Perhaps the Journal could hire someone to vet the articles for possible hyperlinks.
**
The third problem is a style 'issue.' At the top of each page, there is a link to see a Print Friendly version. This helpful feature is cleverly sponsored by "Toshiba" which apparently is hoping to make inroads in the printing 'space.' (Hey, good for them. Why desert an entire industry to HP just because HP is kicking butt. DONT give up!) Congrats to the WSJ account exec who brought in that deal... Anyhoo: the problem with the Print Version of a Page is that it needlessly includes some Elements that SHOULD NOT PRINT!!
Prime Example: Video Player. Many articles have an embedded Bright Cove video player to play a clip related to the 'piece.' If the user aims to Print the Piece, then she does not need to see a picture of a video player. This element should not be displayed.
Maybe the new owner of the WSJ will demand a new style sheet. Or, maybe the web team will insist on complete Independence from Ownership, as a condition for signing onto any deal. Yeah, that seems fair-- a CSS oversight committee.
There are a couple Interface Issues to call out::
1. iFrame on homepage doesn't Auto-Reload. While the homepage refreshes itself--and timestamps itself, its right column iFrame, which contains each user's "My Journal," a personalized collection of links and news, does not. My "My Journal", lists certain stock prices. When I see the time stamp on the homepage, and then look at my stock list, I am inclined to assume I have the latest prices. The iFrame should reload. Also, the list of stocks should be Time Stamped as well. No reason this important piece of info should not be included atop EACH quote.
Example: "price as of 3:24pm"
Some other news sources just give the vague, relative "up to 15 minute delay." Useless. Just give me the time at which that info was collected so I can compare it to present:
Example: "Time is 3:24pm EST. Price as of 3:18pm EST"
The WSJ does give the time stamp when you search a company's quote. Just not in the "My Online Journal" portfolios.
**
The second 'issue' regards the online journal using the exact copy as the print version. It is common for the Editorial Board to refer to an accompanying column. They accomplish this, in print, with a parenthetical "See Above" or "See Below." Example: ("for more on why lower taxes are always best, see Mitch Wagner's piece above")
Ummm, hello? On the Internet, that is exactly the kind of reference that could be LINKED. The accompanying piece is not "above" or "below"--it simply is where it is, and can be goten to through a hyper link. By leaving it as is, the Online Journal turns the paper's helpful hint into a confusing challenge. Perhaps the Journal could hire someone to vet the articles for possible hyperlinks.
**
The third problem is a style 'issue.' At the top of each page, there is a link to see a Print Friendly version. This helpful feature is cleverly sponsored by "Toshiba" which apparently is hoping to make inroads in the printing 'space.' (Hey, good for them. Why desert an entire industry to HP just because HP is kicking butt. DONT give up!) Congrats to the WSJ account exec who brought in that deal... Anyhoo: the problem with the Print Version of a Page is that it needlessly includes some Elements that SHOULD NOT PRINT!!
Prime Example: Video Player. Many articles have an embedded Bright Cove video player to play a clip related to the 'piece.' If the user aims to Print the Piece, then she does not need to see a picture of a video player. This element should not be displayed.
Maybe the new owner of the WSJ will demand a new style sheet. Or, maybe the web team will insist on complete Independence from Ownership, as a condition for signing onto any deal. Yeah, that seems fair-- a CSS oversight committee.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)