Web 2.0 Blog

iPhone and Pervasive Computing

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

With the recent release of the iPhone 3G I felt a post about the likely implications for the future of the web, regarding this device was relevant. Having been briefed about the iPhones capabilities, it seems apparent to me that this is the furthest point in pervasive computing that technology has taken us so far. For those unfamiliar with the term 'pervasive computing' or ubiquitous computing', it is basically the post-desktop model of human-computer interaction whereby the computing system becomes integrated into every day life. Whereas the traditional desktop HCI model was easier to predict how, when and why the device ... Read Article »

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How NOT to do a sign-in screen

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Following a recent optimization campaign, I was met by this terrible signing in interface courtesy of web advertising site Clickey.com. I felt I should point out the problems with it as it is a usability problem that should not be occurring in today's web environment. Firstly the terminology is way off. A task which involves registering for an account or adding your domain should not be referred to as 'Request a password'. The password is merely a formality when registering at a website, it should not be promoted as the prominent reason and result of the task. Then, check out ... Read Article »

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Designing Usable Buttons

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

As a web developer I use the Internet a lot as you might expect and I also have to fill out a lot of forms. Form building should be a University course on its own, but I'd like to relay some guidelines for button usability as a lot of people are making some basic mistakes. 1. Appearance If you're going to be using an actual button on your site for any purpose, make it actually look like one and it will greatly improve your chances of the user clicking on it. It all goes back to the basics of affordances. A chair ... Read Article »

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Gestalt Law of Similarity in Web Design

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

Similarity in accessibility design is concerned with how a user perceives objects in a group that are alike, are related in context. For example, the diagram below would be perceived as alternating columns of circles and squares, rather than rows of alternating squares and circles: The same laws can be applied to web design. When creating interfaces for websites, the use of similarity can make individual elements on a page more accessible by grouping them based on their sharing of the same features. For example, the website Blogotion separates its content with similarity. The links across the top sharing a blue container ... Read Article »

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Web 3.0 - The Semantic Era

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

As Web 2.0 applications continue to dominate user's time and investments in 2008, I've been doing some reading about Web 3.0 and what it holds in store for the future of web development and it seems there will be four very important milestones reached. Portable Web Traditional websites are designed with the intention of being viewed by users accessing them with desktop PCs and standard GUIs. With the evolution of Web 3.0, websites are no longer confined to the screens of a desktop computer but are also accessible via mobile devices such as mobile phones, iPods, Blackberry's, IPTVs. This throws up a ... Read Article »

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