July 2008

Computer Mouse R.I.P. In Five Years?

by Paul Sherman on July 25, 2008 · 1 comment

in Everything Else

Gizmodo cites an article from the Australian site PC Authority that claims the computer mouse is going the way of the dodo.

The main thrust of the argument is that alternate input devices and modes will soon supersede the mouse.

I’m not saying that the computer input domain isn’t ripe for a paradigm shift. It is. But five years seems a little soon.

Then again, what’s that quote about humans always overestimating how much change will occur in the short term, but underestimating change in the long term?

Mouse RIP: Computer Mouse R.I.P. In Five Years, Experts Say :: Gizmodo
Computer Mouse Heading For Extinction :: PC Authority

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H8ing Linux

by Paul Sherman on July 25, 2008 · 0 comments

in Web

Just found a good article at ZDNet that talks about the LinuxHaters site. It’s not really a site for true haters, it’s more a site where people can socialize and discuss particularly egregious usability or functionality issues Linux has…and the community can figure out what to fix.

If it helps drive out usability problems from Linux distros, I’m all for it.

Tough Love: Linux Needs More Haters :: Between The Lines :: ZDNet.com

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Voting and Usability Double-Shot

by Paul Sherman on July 25, 2008 · 1 comment

This week was a good week for usability and voting. The New York Times ran an editorial about the importance of usability testing when deploying new voting systems, and BusinessWeek.com reviewed the book “Design for Democracy” by Marcia Lausen. Marcia is one of the leaders of the AIGA’s Design For Democracy initiative.

Several people from my “home” professional association, the Usability Professionals’ Association, also participated in D4D. One of them is Whitney Quesenbery, who leads the UPA’s efforts in this area through the UPA’s “Usability In Civic Life” program.

A Lesson Not Learned :: New York Times
Design for Democracy Solves Election Problems :: BusinessWeek.com

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Let’s Go O.T. Again

by Paul Sherman on July 18, 2008 · 0 comments

in Everything Else

Let’s go off-topic again with another stunning visual of the Earth and Moon, this time from the Deep Impact spacecraft.

This is a movie of the Moon transiting across the face of the Earth, seen from 31 million miles out.



Thank you Bad Astronomy for sharing this.

HOLY FRAK! Moon Transits Earth! :: Bad Astronomy :: Discover Magazine

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microBlog » Thank you, Adobe Reader 9!

by Paul Sherman on July 5, 2008 · 1 comment

in Everything Else

If you remember back a year or so ago, I took issue with the customer experience associated with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Look here for my original nanorant. I believe I quoted someone who referred to Adobe Reader’s update manager as an “attention whore“.

The blogger over at microBlog has written an extremely sarcastic review of Adobe Reader 9′s bad customer experience. My favorite lines:

I had just slurped down the dregs of my coffee when the installer finished. I was so thankful when it told me I needed to restart my computer, welcoming the extra time to drink coffee, as well as the pure delight I knew I’d get from starting all my applications again.

Check it out.

microBlog » Thank you, Adobe Reader 9!

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