Usability is Design

Still kicking on with A3 and usability testing, it is a very time consuming process complicated by other people's timetables and un/reliability... throw in the mix, finding the time to navigate new software needed for screentesting and trying to come up with something even slightly professional... never enuff time...
However, I came across a short blog entry titled, "Usability is Design"...from Mike Cherim, and a lot of it made sense... I think he has a site called the Green Beast or something... great slogan for a T-shirt too... so here is the link, http://green-beast.com/blog/?p=169

Numerals over Text

I recently came across this link to another good article...this is a short article outlining the theory of using numerals over text on webpages... I had often wondered which was the best practice... mainly because in the past I have been 'pinged' by tutors for using numerals 182 over text...in say an essay...so now I know the opposite is true for webpages. Apparently, "...numerals often stop the wandering eye and attract fixations, even when they're embedded within a mass of words that users otherwise ignore."
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/writing-numbers.html

Camtasia Studio

In my lead up research to completing this unit, I was made aware that we would need to do some video testing... and since my last video died a natural death, and I did not want to purchase another until I get just what I want...I started looking into screen capture software. I have been a long time user and big fan (read 'HUGE') of Techsmith's 'Snag-it' software, so naturally I had a look at (and purchased) Camtasia Studio... well I was rapt to find that in Reading Steve Krug's book on Usability, that he highly recommends it... I have been playing around with it, and it seems to be very user-friendly....but I have to get real serious soon as the A3 deadline looms...progress report soon...

Usability for Bloggers

In my ongoing Usability research I seem to come up with a lot of collateral links that are very handy and interesting reading... this one is from Tom Johnson, who has included in his blog a post on the top 'Twenty Usability Tips for your Blog'...can be found at http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/04/09/twenty-usability-tips-for-your-blog-%e2%80%94-condensed-from-dozens-of-bloggers-experiences/
there are some very good tips here for serious bloggers or even those new to the experience (not that there can be too many that fit into this category by now)...

Usability link

I came across a good link to an article that proved to be very interesting reading. It was in regard to usability testing and the way in which a little psychology can make it a more valuable and intuitive experience. It may be more than is necessary to know for fulfilling a Unit requirement, but it is interesting all the same. I prefer total honesty over some type of psychological manipulation...but that is just me... some of the ideas do make sense however... here is the link... http://www.uxmatters.com/MT/archives/000183.php

Progress Report

OK... thought I had better check in and give a status or progress report. In the last week or so I have accomplished quite a bit... I have finished reading the Krug book, 'Dont make me Think'.. what a well written book and so easy to read. It is full of simple ideas that make so much sense. Secondly, I can report that I finished and uploaded my Assignment 2 on time despite the Easter break. I am only 80% happy with it, so I figure that gives me about a 60-70% grade.(We'll see) Thirdly, I uploaded my website usability questionnaires from webct, module 4, in relation to several websites. In an effort to display these for easy reading, I have uploaded them to my companion website at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/keith.riley/ned23.html
they are located on the right hand side of website as hyperlinks, I have also uploaded them to my student presentation area on webct. Finally, I have made a start on Assignment 3, which is quite involved. Interestingly, at the start of this unit I purchased and downloaded Camtasia Studio from Techsmith, as I have been a long time user and fan of 'Snag-it'... and Krug gives it a huge plug in his book, especially the advanced version titled 'Morae' from memory... well, no rest for the wicked, ...