Tabbed browsing acclimation
I recently completed some usability testing on an e-learning training module. This e-learning is launched in a browser and utilizes on-screen controls within the browser window to handle the navigation...
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Usability Moments
Jared Spool and Robert Hoekman, Jr. were asked recently on the Userability Podcast (Episode #14 – Growing in UX) what they might recommend to the caller as “a course of study to become a user...
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Pushing Dunbar’s Number
As of today, here is what my follower and following count on Twitter looks like: Something definitely happened to my attention once I began following 120-140 people: Monitoring my Twitter feed became...
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Dragon Dice Probability
I just wrapped up Level 4 (or week 4, for you non-gamers out there) of the Game Balance Concepts course that I’ve been taking. This week was all about probability and randomness. Here is one exercise...
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Habanero Haze
Every August, the local pizza shop with national acclaim, Flying Pie Pizzeria, offers something legendary: the Habanero Pizza. Colleague Kevin Selmasska and I journeyed to the Flying Pie to test this...
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Stop Asking Me to Join Facebook!!!
Sigh… I didn’t want to write this post. It is risky. With more than 500 million active users as of July 10, Facebook is one of the most popular websites in the world. In fact, it was second only to...
View ArticleGamification. Really?!?!
I have become quite intrigued with the concept of “gamification” and the potential of a “gamepocalypse.” Lets start with some definitions: Gamification: “The integration of game mechanics or game...
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Triple Habanero!
As you might recall from a previous post, my friend Kevin and I went to Flying Pie Pizzeria to attempt the single Habanero pizza. We went in looking for a challenge, but instead, we found a pizza that...
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Micromax: Another User Research Success
The August 16th – August 29th Bloomberg Businessweek included a technology piece titled “Giving Indians the Phones They Want” (posted online as India’s Mobile Phone Hitmaker). This article profiled a...
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Ambient Adaptation and Storytelling
Recently I’ve had the good fortune of being exposed to a few games that break away from the designs seen in the current crop of “popular” gaming options. Limbo (XboxLive Arcade): Limbo begins with no...
View ArticleGamification is Legit – Time to Learn More
In a previous post I started talking about gamification, sharing some popular definitions and some links to start exploring the concept. Well, the tide of discussion about gamification hasn’t receded:...
View ArticleDesign Lessons from a Zombie Apocalypse
I can’t blame Halloween for the fact that I woke up thinking about zombies. Sure, if there is any day where it is completely legitimate to think about ghouls and ghosts, then today is the day....
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UI15 Notes
div.wp-caption { float: left; } The learning at User Interface 15 was intoxicating. While nothing can take the place of “being there,” I thought you might enjoy looking at my very raw notes from a...
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Visual Thinking FTW
My wife Diane and I were out to dinner with our good friend Jake. All three of us like our tech, with Jake and myself capably wearing the title of “geek” due to our proclivities around things shiny and...
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Boise UX Book Club
We are starting a UX Book Club in Boise! Selecting a book, establishing the date/time/location for the meetup(s), and getting the word out – all without a support structure in place – could be like...
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The Best Games of 2010: Part 1
If you’ve been to my blog before, it should be apparent that I love games. And when I say love, I’m not referring to a shallow, escapist enjoyment sorta love. I have a deep, thoughtful, and in many...
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The Best Games of 2010: Part 2
Today I’m finishing up my discussion of the best games of 2010. Hopefully you didn’t miss the first part of this discussion. In the interest of full disclosure, I must share an important caveat: there...
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Boise UX Book Club – February
We have settled on a date, time, location, and book for the very first meeting of the Boise UX Book Club! When: Friday, February 25th 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Brick Oven Bistro The Book: Storytelling...
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Good, Evil, and the Cost-Benefit Analysis of Interaction
Weekends are great. They provide me with the opportunity to end my slumber with a period of “restful alertness” where I can lie still in my bed and just think about things. It is during this time that...
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Can I Haz Social Gaming?
Currently I’m embarking on a fortitude-testing quest: I’m exposing myself to social casual games. Why? Social gaming is now (arguably, of course) the world’s most popular form of gaming. My first...
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The Kingdom of Loathing
About two years ago I found myself enamored by an online game: The Kingdom of Loathing. The Kingdom of Loathing, or “KOL,” as it is called by its fans, is a largely text-based online fantasy adventure....
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Boise UX Book Club – April
We’ve settled on a date, time, location, and book for the 2nd meeting of the Boise UX Book Club: When: Friday, April 29th 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Brick Oven Bistro The Book: Tapworthy: Designing...
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Boise UX Book Club – July
Here are the details for the 3rd meeting of the Boise UX Book Club: When: Thursday, July 7th 11:40am – 1:00 pm Where: Darla’s Deli (Penthouse of the CW Moore Plaza at 5th & Front) The Book: Remote...
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My Social Gaming Experience: Part 1
In early March I began an endeavor to experience social casual games. Now, approximately four months later, I’m ready to weigh in on my experiences. Why now? Simply put, I’ve now been able to...
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My Social Gaming Experience: Part 2
(Did you already read Part 1 of this series of posts?) When I began my foray into social games two that I immediately gravitated to were City Story and Zombie Cafe. As a big fan of the old SimCity...
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My Social Gaming Experience: Part 3
(Did you miss Part 2 or Part 1 of this series?) Today we pick apart my experience with Zombie Farm. I played Zombie Farm regularly (2-5 times per day) for nearly two months; significantly longer than...
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Boise UX Book Club – October
The fourth meeting of the Boise UX Book Club is coming soon! When: Wednesday, October 5th 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Chicago Connection on 4th and Bannock The Book: Responsive Web Design by Ethan...
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Boise UX Book Club – December
The fifth meeting of the Boise UX Book Club is almost here… When: Friday, December 2nd 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: LuLu’s Pizza on 2594 N. Bogus Basin Road The Book: Content Strategy for the Web by...
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Boise UX Book Club – February
Join the Boise UX Book Club in February for lunch and good UX discussion! When: Thursday, February 2nd 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Papa Joe’s on 1301 S. Capitol Blvd. The Book: Seductive Interaction...
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Fundamentals of Interaction Design
Many months ago I sucked up my trepidation and signed up for the Type Boot Camp sponsored by the team at Sprowt. I was happily blown away with the quality of the workshop, the instructors, and the...
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The Journey Begins…
Today I registered as an iOS Developer. And so begins my journey at re-learning how to code (it has been an awfully long time) and putting my proverbial “money where my mouth is” when it comes to the...
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Boise UX Book Club – April 2012
Our April session of the Boise UX Book Club is now officially planned! When: Friday, April 6th 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Brick Oven Bistro 801 Main Street (downtown) The Book: Search Patterns by Peter...
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Letterpress!
Yesterday I participated in a three hour letterpress workshop via Idaho Poster & Letterpress. This was the first time that I’ve been able to compose and print something using an actual press. I’ve...
View ArticleLearning Objective-C
As noted in a previous post, I’m taking some time to re-learn programming. I selected Objective-C because of the relevancy to iOS development and because of the ubiquity of this language. I’ve now been...
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June #BoiseUX Book Club scheduled
The June session of the Boise UX Book Club is coming up soon. Get your copy of the book and get ready! When: Friday, June 1st 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: The Hemingway Room at the Reef 105 South 6th...
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July #BoiseUX Book Club
The July session of the Boise UX Book Club is coming up soon. Come talk UX! When: Tuesday, July 24 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: The Alaska Center 1020 Main Street Boise, ID 83702 Lunch? Since The Alaska...
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September #BoiseUX Book Club
NEWS FLASH: September brings falling leaves and cool UX discussion! When: Thursday, September 20th 11:30am – 1:00 pm Where: Sushi Joy 2275 W Main Street Boise, ID 83702 The Book: This month we will...
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Leap and Look
Recently I’ve been thinking about a pattern of behavior: Stepping to the plate with a bold commitment, and then working behind the scenes to ensure that the expectations of the commitment can be met...
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