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Designing User Experiences, Products, & Services
Solar Roadways Prototype
@panah mentioned Solar Roadways. I commend the Department of Transportation and the engineers at Solar Roadways for their effort to transform the transportation network. In this video we see the combination of solar technology with information systems. Safety and messaging — smart application. I wonder if advertising will be off limits for roadway systems.
xfinity myRemote Prototype is Not Just For iPad
In May, one of the most under-appreciated company blogs @ComcastVoices published this video of the xfinity myRemote prototype. This is a very impressive prototype and an excellent example of a major corporation giving a sneek peek at a beta product. Many people missed this point…
It’s a Web App
Amid the ridicule in comments on YouTube, @ComcastVoices mentioned “It is browser based, so long as your laptop is running a compatible browser Xfinity Remote should work” and “The Xfinity Remote will work on both the iPod Touch and iPhone. In fact it’ll work on any device that is IP enabled and running a compatible browser.” Scott McNulty @blankbaby mentioned “…this Xfinity Remote shown here is browser based, so when it is available it should work on your DROID, iPhone, or other smartphone with a compatible browser.”
I took the liberty of highlighting a few items above to focus on two points:
- The myRemote web app will run just about anywhere, not just on an iPad.
- Hand-held mobile devices will function as a remote control.
Mental Models
When people saw the video on YouTube, they commented and reacted in a really interesting way. They took their mental models of the current TV remote control and openly criticized Comcast. Since they haven’t actually used anything like the myRemote on iPad before, they relied upon their history of experience and made some uninformed comments. They just couldn’t see themselves using a device the size of the iPad during their TV-watching experience.
Some of the supporting comments were from people who could easily see themselves using an iPad to control the TV experience and interact with friends. Several people asked when the myRemote system would be available. @ComcastVoices has yet to answer.
My Desires
I’m looking forward to the release of myRemote. Since I often watch TV with a laptop, it would be great to have another method of controlling my media player/cable box. While I’m having conversations on Twitter or via IM, I could exchange thoughts and possibly change the way I work. I view the iPad as a device that might be perfect for my living room.
My guess is that Comcast is close to launching the myRemote (if it hasn’t been released already– they do limited roll-outs). It will be a great experience on the iPad. However, I’d love to see Roberts demo it on an iPhone or DROID.
State of the Internet by @jess3
JESS3 / The State of The Internet from JESS3 on Vimeo.
Jesse Thomas has done an amazing job at designing an experience that quantifies the activity on the Internet. Although it picks out only a few of the popular web sites, the numbers are presented in a compelling way.
The quantities in this video are staggering. But after a few minutes I became somewhat numb to the large numbers. Perhaps it was an effect from the music. I came away wondering “Where is all this headed?” Will the birth of new sites and services signal the death of others? Certainly.
WordPress 3.0
WordPress 3.0 powers this website. Here is the video with more info about the new features:
UX Maps
Show Us Your Maps!
In preparation for my upcoming presentation on Mapping the User Experience, I’m giving you this opportunity to share your favorite examples of UX Maps. If you are not sure what defines a UX Map, that’s OK. We’ll dig into it this week and try to add clarity.
For now, think along the lines of:
- Concept Maps
- Site Maps
- User Flows
- Structure Diagrams
- Mood Maps
Let’s See the Good & The Bad
Tips for commenting:
- Provide a little context about the project
- Tell us why you feel it’s helpful or not when communicating design
Following the presentation, I’d like to keep the conversation going and possibly set up a Ning site for everyone who’s interested in this topic.
Thanks!
Mapping the User Experience Event
In “Mapping the User Experience,” I will provide a framework for mapping concepts to create visualizations, spatial representations, or relationships which would otherwise take much effort to describe only in words.
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Time: 6:00PM – 8:00PM (Social time from 6:00-6:30PM)
Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/yeh4xxd
RSVP: http://phillychi2010-1.eventbrite.com
About the Presentation
I will also discuss a variety of map types, including site maps, user flows, brainstorming notes, click paths, and application components. To help demonstrate the value in each type, I will walk us through using concept maps to:
- Create meaningful relationships and structure, where we catalog and classify functions, pathways, behaviors, hierarchies and events;
- Gather requirements, plan, and consolidate information for a project
- Discover complex concepts and think visually
ProtoShare adds the Sandbox component
As a UX Designer, I’ve been fortunate to be able on use ProtoShare for wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. I’ve observed it’s development from a nascent, slow tool to a more nimble, robust package that supports team workflows. Recently, they’ve added a Sandbox component to allow users to use XHTML, CSS, & javascript into their prototypes.
This video is simply a quick overview. It might inspire you to think about how you can evolve your wireframes and prototypes.
Why is this event important?
1. The makers of ProtoShare, Site9, have taken a bold step toward bringing their offering to a level that will raise the eyebrows many UX designers who collaboratively prototype.
2. ProtoShare users are now able to integrate popular resources such as YUI, jQuery, and mooTools.
3. UXD pros will have more control over components and their behaviors — this improvement will enable more sophisticated design options.
I’m planning to…
give the HTML Sandbox component a try on my next project. Given that it’s still an experimental component (like the iPhone beta components) I will expect to run into a few problems. As a Product Advisory Board member, I will be sure to give the development team my share of observations and recommendations.