Category Archives: web stuff
conversational registration form
The text could probably be a bit easier to read but I like this Mad Libs style form from moof.
[via konigi]
The text could probably be a bit easier to read but I like this Mad Libs style form from moof.
[via konigi]
During some downtime on my recent trip I was watching old skateboarding videos on YouTube and was prompted to check The Pirate Bay to see what albums by fIREHOSE were available. I didn’t get very far.
I was a bit surprised but evidently Danish courts ruled that ISPs must block the site.
If I had to choose between really big bike racks and thepiratebay.org I might choose really big bike racks but not at the expense of being able to access perfectly legal websites.
Here are two new to me display/organization techniques.
#1: Stylous.com let’s you chose facets by clicking pictures.
[via]
#2: I find fancy architecture firm websites to be some of the least usable websites around. This might not be an exception, but the websites from diller scofidio + renfro achieves a CoolIris type effect (by using Flash).
[via]
Here’s a way that you can see if your webpages are doing what you want them to do.
As the name suggests, the 5-Second Test involves showing users a single content page for a quick 5 seconds to gather their initial impressions. Five seconds may not seem like a lot of time, but users make important judgments in the first moments they visit a page. Read the article [5-Second Tests] for more details.
If you’re looking for a place to start, why not with your homepage? In just a few minutes you can see if the message you think you’re broadcasting to people is what they’re actually seeing. If not, schedule some time to make an adjustment (bigger font size? more contrast? less words?) and take another 10 minutes to retest. Better? hint: Yes.
This is even perhaps more applicable when you’re in the planning/building process. Do some 5 second tests with drawings or Photoshop mockups. Little fixes early on can save you from having to correct things that are nearly cemented in place.
You can do 5 second tests with almost anyone as your testers, but if there are absolutely no people around (or you just want to do something different) check out fivesecondtest. You can upload an image and have random people on the web give you their results. A great way to get a feel for how to conduct a test might be to make a designer happy and do a few tests.
For even more lightweight usability testing goodness, take a look at the NPYL Labs’ infomaki.
I’m happy to finally be able to announce that the DCPL is now part of the Flickr Commons. The library’s photos just went public.
Among the photos there are images of buildings around DC, some colorized images, and portraits of people (many of which have awesome mustaches). One set of photos I like are the four cornerstones marking the boundary of Washington, DC.
If you want some information about what part of the DCPL’s massive photo archive is going into the collection you can visit the Flickr Commons project page on DCPL LABS.
Better yet, take a look at the post titled “Photo Contest: DC Then & Now” to see how the library is encouraging people to interact with its photos.
The quick summary: to enter the contest, people can submit photos related to the DCPL Commons to a Flickr group called DC Then & Now. The intention here is to get people interacting with our stuff and gently guide them to participating in something online that might be new to them.
Once again, this was a great team effort. Mark Greek uploaded the colorized images, Bill McClendon rescued image metadata, and Chris Tonjes assembled the team and signed off on the project.
Enjoy the photos and add some tags and geocode data if you into that kinda thing!
