I just love it when a theory comes together (no, not my theory, I'm not that clever).
A pattern of network(s), be it mathematical, sexual, social, internet... WHATEVER, all look the same. http://archive.newscientist.com/secure/article/article.jsp?rp=4&id=mg17423384.700 (sorry, secure hyperlink so you'll have to copy and paste) This article aptly titled "The World's a Net" from New Scientist last year is where I first heard of the Barabásian theory, but have since seen it in presentations of others in various forms. The memes are flying! Ben Fry from MIT has also been exploring the same patterns through how people use a website and visualising complex data structures inherent within the human genome.
This Diagram is one Deborah sent me illustrating how she's approached the effort to integrate User Centred Design with SCRUM.
We're going to continue the conversation in the comments section underneath this entry. Feel free to join the discussion.
Recently I have been asked to undertake some work for someone on a freelance basis. On inspecting the brief, it struck me that perhaps there was a lot of work represented for a company that did not yet exist. The company was to be founded on the web site and stock tracking software we were to build. Without going into the details, it seemed that the business model was just not going to work. So I said so, to the chagrin of those present who'd be happy to take the opportunity to make some money.
It is the web industry's responsibility to not just do what people ask. I believe that if you suspect a client is setting themselves for a fall, you should advise them so, even if it means losing an opportunity to make good money. It is a false economic opportunity as the more clients that are burnt by dot com failures, the less people will trust the industry's potential for investment. This ultimately leads to fewer jobs for the professionals working in the industry. Greed now equals recession later. You only need to look toward the 1980s to see this lesson in a slightly different form.
So, now I'm out of pocket because they're looking for someone else who'll just do the damn job and not be difficult and ask too many questions. Nice guys do seem to finish last. I hope for the client's sake it's a success. I fear it won't be.
Links to Information Visualisation things from Stamford university and Cybergeography's equivalent. This site also has lots of lush topics like 'Network Topology Maps' and 'Global Internet Diffusion'... ooer, don't that sound fancy?
Here is some info on FAQs that Steve Schang pulled together... and was kindly posted to an IA list I subscribe to by Samantha Bailey
FAQ Research
No empirical research identifying best practices in FAQs was found. Anecdotal evidence for FAQ design was identified in several message threads on the SIG-IA and SIG-CHI listservs. In addition FAQs are mentioned in Jakob Nielsen‚s "Top-Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2002" and the Yale Web Style Guide.
FAQ Themes identified:
A usability test of Internet savvy users showed that most of them could not accurately define what an FAQ was. Resulting in the designers spelling out "Frequently Asked Questions" in the site's navigation.
SIG-IA FAQ Design Tips
Advocates linking to pieces of the FAQs to users at the moment they may have the question.
SIG-IA FAQ Strategy
Yikes! Michael Hanscom got fired for blogging about his work. Damn, I always though Microsoft were the Gistapo, but this just goes to show they don't *uck about with this kind of thing. Just as well I refer to my workplace as 'The Corporation'... which is so cryptic, I mean, really...
A checklist for when writing for the web from Clearwater Communications. Its a concise and evolving list of sound concepts.
'Tis the season for farewells. On Friday evening we sent off Gideon who's leaving The Beeb to go work for a fashion outfit called Chunk. It was a messy, debauched and fun evening that led from pub to bar to club.
Mark McClure, who worked with us to help design Connector, also had a leaving do as he is Australia bound in a few weeks. The Easton pub is a very nice discovery. I'll be frequenting it more often.
This Article is about faceted classification... more specifically, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology.
Articles written by William Hudson who runs a UCD list over here in the UK are here and worth a read.
Just got back from the USA. Am feeling jetlagged and grumpy as British Airways did a fairly average job of getting me from there to here. Stuck faffing about on the runway for 2 hours in Denver becuase they knew that a strong tailwind would save them a few hours on the journey. What with that, hardly any water service on the trip itself, mistimed inflight video (so you got to see half of a movie before it was switched off for descent) with constant announcements interrupting it and finally 'congestion' at heathrow terminal delaying us another 20 minutes... and then another 10 because the ground crew pissed off before attaching the gangway... I feel that their good reputation is ill deserved. Give me Malaysian Air any day.
Met a nice chap on the shuttle who was also headed for London. We got chatting about free wifi and where to get it in London among other things. It prompted me to do some research. Here's what I found.
News story on ZDNetUK on WarChalking
Matt Jones (founder of WarChalking)
And finally, a bunch of other good resources from Gavin.
