UT Libraries Technology Pros

Google retires the + operator

To get us thinking about ways we can/should design for mobile first. Particularly note the Scan to Check out, Image as Input, QR Code stuff near the end of PDF.

It's funny because it's true

It's got some classics like Morville's User Experience Honeycomb as well as some others I wasn't familiar with.

An inspiring use of graphic repetition. Some of my bookmarks may not immediately "make sense" as to their significance. The design process though, is not a logical one; and inspiration passes through our own filters.

This is an example of how there are rules in design, but with experience, they can be bent or even broken. The leading on this paragraph is so tight, that the ascenders and descenders of letters are touching each other. Accessibility is our goal, of course. I just wanted to share this as an example that is inspiring to me.

Video is linked to map locations

An interesting article on brainstorming. READ WITH A GRAIN OF SALT because it is an opinion piece. Brainstorming DOES work - I have personal experience with it doing so when I worked with a multiple CLIO winning advertising team. The way that the New Yorker writer defines brainstorming is very limited; but the article does have some insight into the creative process using measurable results.

The premise is misleading, but the article has some useful tips and information. The article should clarify that: "Everyone can be creative at something; but that something might not be a way to earn a living." A comedian once said, "A dodo bird can be beautiful and useful and important...but you don't encourage the dodo bird to fly."

Repetition, even in graphic design, is okay, I promise. It's the way human beings learn. The perception is that if something is included on the page once, especially in an obvious fashion, there's no reason to repeat it elsewhere.

Free hosted project management tool.  Watch the video, it looks pretty awesome.

This will be important to keep in mind as we create usability tasks for the website testing.  We can't give the answers away in the way we word the questions!

Some experiments CSS 3 patterns.

This is a pretty neat browser for tablets. Lots of customization features and more intuitive than Safari. It's definitely worth a download. They have a free version and a "Pro" $0.99 version. I've used the free version. The pay version has a few extra features that are really not necessary to use a browser; they're really "bloatware" features.

You have to view this in iTunes or a mobile device. It's an interesting collection of iconic images/designs that this museum feel are classic in the sense of their longevity. The include a short video with each entry and talk a bit about their selection. They even include the Kalashnikov rifle as on of their iconic designs.

We are not the demographic of this site. So, even if the topic doesn't appeal to all of us, the success of the site is well documented. Since the site's creation, the Royal Marines and Royal Navy have seen huge increases in qualified candidates and in meeting their recruitment goals. The case study of this site dealt with two main issues brought from the Client: 1) LOTS OF INFORMATION: One of the major successes of this site is that the target audience said they felt they were given all the information they needed to make their decision on joining the Royal Marines. 2) INTERACTIVITY: The site is PACKED with interactive elements: tests, maps, checklists, etc. ALSO OF NOTE: Gotta love the "English manner" in the way they tell you about cookies from their site (at the top of the homepage when you first arrive at the site). Click on "More About Cookies" and see how much info they provided.

the code repository for that tool

Neat!  I want the 3d display! [grin] but the bricks to build massive displays look really cool.

An interesting read.