What happens when you force an interface improvement...

... people rebel!

Microsoft Office 2007's 'ribbon' interface was carefully thought out to be more task oriented and allow users access to the features they need most based on the task they are performing within a document - the motivation being research showing that vast swathes of the 20,000-something featureset were being totally ignored by most of their user base.

While I like it overall (especially the live previews which aren't strictly a part of the ribbon), I can't be the only person who's struggled to find that hitherto easy-to-find command, eventually unearthing it in the miscellaneous task list (the one furthest to the right). I know I'm not, as a new plugin has been launched for the tool: it reverts the menus to Office 2003 style, while keeping the other features.

While I find this latest evidence that people will always find a way to undo your best-intentioned efforts pretty funny, there's a serious side to this: give users the option. Always.

And work on the things that don't work first: Office - sort out your page and list styling tools, and then give us an integrated interface for all the dialogs and options - not a fancy new ribbon hiding all the hell of nested numbered titles setup just as before....

:)

skinterface

If it's not already called this, it should be. A competition entry (probably a way off due to power and processor problems) involves a flexible, touchscreen interface (composed of a blood-powered cell, processor and silicone touchscreen interface which stimulates a matrix of charges spheres).

The interface, as well as being powered by your own blood (which it could perhaps monitor for health issues), would have a bluetooth interface allowing you to control all manner of devices through it.

Price? Availability? I really want one - but i think it might be some time off.... :(

Social Networking goes video?

So there's a new thing on the social networking scene called LiveVideo.com, which you'll no doubt be hearing about, unless like me social networking seems so 2007.

Launched today, Brad Greenspan (MySpace founder) has created a site which seems to offer a social networking platform (with all the usual bells and whistles, like live chat etc) based around video. Get a webcam, create a channel on your own or jointly, see if anyone bothers to turn on I guess.

Maybe I'm cynical, but despite the boasted features (below), I can't really imagine myself ever doing this. But then I guess I'm not one of those people who tries to get on a reality TV show...

The press release boasts that users will be able to:

    -- create their own LiveTV show and broadcast it to the world;
   -- watch LIVE shows streaming from across the globe;
   -- Social Stream: Socialize with your friends through an integrated Video
      Chat Room even as you watch Shows together in a unique one of a kind
      shared experience
   -- participate in virtual classes, listen to live speeches and/or engage
      in live interactive game shows;
   -- upload videos up to 200MB with stereo sound;
   -- upload photos and arrange them into professional quality slideshows for
      family and friends;
   -- video chat with up to 10 other people at one time;

Sorry I've been off the radar

I have recently (around the time of the last post before my hiatus) signed up to go permanent with Glasses Direct - not glamorous perhaps but an interesting role in a company with a lot to prove.

Anyway, I've been going hell-for-leather and have let this stuff drop off the map a bit; expect a quieter but more regular stream of posts for the foreseeable....

wizkid

Here's a cool new bot I've just seen - WizKid. It's basically a PC with a camera and motor array as an input device. By default it displays a live video of you, with your face and hands highlighted. It superimposes interactive areas onto the video, so that you can hit them virtually to do things.

It also follows you around by twisting its screen to keep you (one or several of you) in picture, also mapping your friends and guessing at your interrelationships. It learns behaviour and can be used for lots of things we currently have to pick up a device to do, like play music, which needn't be the case.

It's on the Christmas list...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219093019.htm

WOW - I gotta get one

I can't wait for this to get out the research and into our hands.

The Brain-Computer Interface that these guys are working on sounds awesome - just let me hook it into my software so i can use it to control my PC. The end of RSI or sitting at my desk: bring on the hammock!!

Interesting interview with Tog - Apple's first usability professional

Another one now working for the Nielsen Norman Group, Bruce Tognazzini was Apple's 66th... oh why don't you just read the post.

Interesting post though, and I agree that 'The worst single fault is throwing away the user’s work.' and 'even a really bad designer, with sufficient user-testing, will eventually be able to cobble together a decent design - the infinite number of monkeys theory - the worst crime is to not test at all.'

His comments on new and old technology, especially the way old tech doesn't die, it just finds a niche and keeps going (think fax machines) are on the money too.

Shame he's plugging his course at the end though - and it was going so well....