tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32422662009-12-03T13:41:49.226-06:00This is a place for things I find interesting or have to say related to usability, web design, information architecture and user experience practices. I sometimes also just ramble about other stuff as well... <P>Lyle Kantrovich <P> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/kantrovich" ><img src="http://www.linkedin.com/img/webpromo/btn_viewmy_160x25.gif" width="160" height="25" border="0" alt="View Lyle Kantrovich's profile on LinkedIn"><br>See how we're connected</a>Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.comBlogger393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-84776220033397340742009-01-09T13:53:00.002-06:002009-01-09T15:42:54.744-06:00

Have they broken Google Search?It seems that Google has made a major change to how search queries work. So much of a change that for "power users" of Google search, they may have just "broken" their search engine. Google's boolean search capabilities are relied on every day by researchers, scientists, marketers and other web users.I've been using Google since it was first in "beta" and as long as

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-24389305722500999822008-11-20T09:19:00.003-06:002008-11-20T11:34:41.236-06:00

The One-Click Rule of Web DesignI been thinking the 3-Click rule is outdated and needs to be updated. Let's face it, three clicks is way too many. Why should we optimize for three? I think we can do better than that.Therefore, let me introduce you to the One-Click rule. "Users should be able to get to everything in just one click (or less)."Just some of the benefits of this rule are that users

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-15057981051248528752008-10-31T11:04:00.000-05:002008-10-31T11:04:42.296-05:00

New Sketching toolDiscovered this via Twitter (thanks Kevin!)Balsamiq MockupsBalsamiq MockupsRelated Concepts:Prototyping, sketching, wireframe, mockups, storyboards, prototype, visio

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-50715395927831024812008-07-22T16:02:00.000-05:002008-07-22T16:02:47.887-05:00

Keep your condoms out of my information designInteresting discussion on use of imagery in charts on Presentation Zen: When bar charts go bad...resisting the urge to post sarcastic comments...Be sure to note the "Click for larger size" link. :)

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-71823110414201739542008-07-18T14:00:00.001-05:002008-07-18T14:03:27.973-05:00

Goodbye to faulty software?This article I discovered via ACM entitled "Goodbye to faulty software?" highlights how often researchers just don't "get it". Here are a few key quotes:"Will it ever be possible to buy software guaranteed to be free from bugs? A team of European researchers think so.""The key lies in an esoteric reformulation of mathematics called ‘type theory’ based on the notion of

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-21453197290442019742008-06-30T10:36:00.001-05:002008-06-30T10:37:01.989-05:00

How To Be A Good Product ManagerJeff Lash is a fellow "UXer" who's made the leap into product management. His blog, How To Be A Good Product Manager, is a great resource. Posts like "Stop gathering requirements" and "Do not be afraid to remove features" are refreshing.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-85763100643523094912008-06-09T17:54:00.001-05:002008-06-09T18:01:27.879-05:00

That's Some Kinda Thumb Drive!Device Daily covers 10 Weird USB Drives.My favorite is the syringe shaped one. I'm sure some of my pharma and medical clients would love those!

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-62497846498819361302008-06-02T15:19:00.005-05:002008-12-09T01:54:48.323-06:00

11 Ways to Improve Your Website...or 11 Ways to Create a Bad Online Reading ExperienceI had just finished reading a great story from Joel Spolsky on his experience procuring new office space in New York, when I saw a link to "More from Inc.com." The list of links was right after the final paragraph of Joel's article, and one link in particular caught my eye: "11 Ways to Improve Your Website"I

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-79109331314690690902008-05-07T10:38:00.004-05:002008-05-07T13:36:27.064-05:00

Topping the list of things neither you nor your CIO ever want to know...How To Master Microsoft Windows System Restore Points (CIO Magazine)The fact that a magazine aimed at CIO's and technology leadership feels this kind of article relevant strikes me as a very telling statement on the state of technology today.See also:- Anti-virus tools- Backup software- Version Control tools- PC Data

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-75897218845819573502008-04-21T12:07:00.001-05:002008-04-21T12:10:58.155-05:00

Stupid Phrases Only a Tech Analyst Could Love"Consolidated Web 2.0 Market" - Where do they come up with this stuff?"The buying market for Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, wikis and social networks will grow to $4.6 billion in 2013, predicts a Forrester Report released today.""the number of vendors offering Web 2.0 software will likely shrink during the next few years as vendors such as IBM and

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-61240312804662899052008-04-18T10:10:00.005-05:002008-04-18T10:47:04.259-05:00

Disconnect for a day!Reading this article:Movement grows for digital day of rest, I had to chuckle. Every year I make a point to vacation in a place where I absolutely can't get online. My favorite is the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota (Quetico on the Canadian side)...it's glorious. No electricity, no Internet, no cell phone coverage in most areas, no running water, no TV, no radio...I

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-23665231550607815862008-04-10T18:00:00.001-05:002008-04-10T08:41:41.693-05:00

A Flickr Collection of Search PatternsLou Rosenfeld of Bloug fame alerted me to a great collection of screenshots from different web sites that focuses on different search and search results patterns. It's cool to see a set of examples that allows designers to see how other sites provide search interaction without having to "root around" on the web. Peter Morville deserves credit for putting this

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-86817888987825745512008-04-09T15:09:00.000-05:002008-04-09T15:09:34.412-05:00

What does it take to delight customers?My good friend Dan from Apogee in Hong Kong posted a nice, succinct article on how to delight your customers. Of course, it's not a big stretch from delighting customers to delighting employees, volunteers, members, or other "users". But if you're reading this you probably already realize that Dan's maxim can be applied broadly when designing.You'll note

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-71462792164714066722008-04-04T12:10:00.000-05:002008-04-04T12:10:24.350-05:00

The Simple Truths of ServiceThis is an inspiring video about a grocery store bagger named Johnny, and how he changed his world.The Simple Truths of Service

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-79898970541134771672008-01-16T15:41:00.000-06:002008-01-16T15:43:42.471-06:00

User Experience Specialist: One of Best Careers for 2008U.S. News & World Report has announced31 Careers With Bright Futures for 2008, saying the careers chosen "offer strong outlooks and high job satisfaction."Here's their two-part profile of a Usability/User Experience Specialist career:- Executive Summary - US News and World Report- A Day in the LifeOf course, UX and usability jobs vary a lot.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-85043116515731972672007-07-24T15:25:00.000-05:002007-07-24T15:25:56.579-05:00

A funny readIf Architects Had to Work Like Programmers is a good, short read poking fun at how business clients sometimes treat technology folks.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-66977364882911148132007-06-05T15:15:00.000-05:002008-12-09T01:54:48.506-06:00

Last Name First - Stupid Web FormsNorthwest Airlines provides a great example of one of my pet peeves: forms that ask for information the way the company (or their computer) wants it rather than the way a real human is used to providing it.Northwest's online Check In form should be really simple. You only have to enter three (3) things to check in for a flight. What surprised me so much that it

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-41605509534528025712007-06-01T15:23:00.000-05:002007-06-01T15:26:55.336-05:00

Make It a Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodI just read 15 Reasons Mister Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever. For those of you who grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, it's well worth the read. If you don't know much about Fred Rogers, you should read it. He was an amazing person, and helped shape many a young child's mind. Mr. Rogers provided a safe, peaceful, comforting learning experience

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-31228695846220432622007-04-27T14:23:00.000-05:002007-04-27T14:23:08.062-05:00

Google Image LabelerA great example of getting users to provide metadata ("tags") if you make it fun. The Google Image Labeler makes tagging images into a game you play in real-time with another user online. You get "points"...and maybe some entertainment along the way.Hmmm...does it have potential for use on intranets of large companies? Possibly.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-10177677079880845432007-04-17T21:24:00.000-05:002007-04-17T21:24:51.285-05:00

A New Approach to Writing for the WebNo one belongs here more than you. Stories by Miranda JulyYou could say the author takes a new interpretation of the term "web appliances."

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-19693162335936410342007-04-17T16:05:00.000-05:002007-04-23T09:54:38.278-05:00

Sitemaps are Stupid(Guides are good)I've thought that sitemaps are a Bad Idea for about 10 years now. Ten year later I finally got around to writing a blog post about why I think they are stupid. Here are a few things to consider:1. A sitemap is usually just a replication of the existing site navigation. A sitemap (aka "site map") takes all the main navigation items, and maybe a second level of

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-15113875976501060942007-03-30T09:13:00.001-05:002007-03-30T09:14:04.751-05:00

ThatsalottaroadsignsSigns Originally uploaded by acmelucky777.21 North going once, twice...sorry ma'am, you just missed your exit.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-20356600495197549482007-03-29T16:26:00.001-05:002007-03-29T16:32:46.886-05:00

Friendly Wizard of the DayUnused icons where? Originally uploaded by allan.rojas.The desktop cleanup wizard will zap those pesky unused icons that you worry about every day.Now if they'd just come up with an "Email Inbox Cleanup Wizard" that throws all your unopened, unanswered and/or unwanted email into a folder on you desktop...THAT would be really helpful.

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-30987129669466284162007-03-29T09:33:00.000-05:002007-03-29T10:09:57.020-05:00

Command Line vs. Graphical User Interfaces(or "Do you know what you want, or would you like the soup of the day?")A recent poster to a usability email list pointed out that command line interfaces can be more efficient than GUIs once they are learned. He had even found a web site that offers a command line for web browsing. http://www.yubnub.org/. This brought to my mind a few analogies that

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242266.post-27480713745585517002007-03-22T12:27:00.000-05:002007-03-22T12:27:59.351-05:00

Samples and StatsThere's some good stuff in this UXmatters article: User Research Doesn’t Prove Anything. The sections on sampling and statistics are very nice summaries for UX practitioners. I've met many UX practitioners who either:- never learned these subjects in school- forgot the relevant lessons- think that you can gloss over these points in businessBeing accurate is important. There is

Lyle Kantrovichnoreply@blogger.com0