dechezette

11 May 09

Companies Continue to Skimp on Search

I’m constantly surprised at the lack of attention that large companies put into their search experience - even the “technology leaders”. Search is a major interaction that many have with a company’s brand, yet search results are treated as a undifferentiated list of links (read: Google).

Many companies cite the huge undertaking it would take to properly tag their mounds of content. Fair enough. But why not try to be a little creative with this problem. Let your employees and visitors help you. Employees whose jobs are linked to the retrieval of this content will certainly be incented enough.

Search results need to be looked at as an opportunity not a utility. Publishers and retailers get this. Funny how those selling them the solutions don’t.

04 May 09

Moto’s Scalable Multi-Touch

Last week Moto released a video and some specs on their new scalable multi-touch technology. Unlike Microsoft’s Surface technology, Moto’s Sensing Screen doesn’t require a bulking projection set up — it’s thin and can scale up to 50”. They’re also claiming that it’s less expensive to produce as well. Pretty exciting stuff.

More info is on Moto’s website.

13 April 09

A UI an Infant Can Master

My son Roman is 11 months old. In my efforts to keep him entertained in the mornings while mom is trying to catch a few extra winks, I will occasionally let him toy with my iTouch. He very quickly picked up the swipe and flow interaction of the UI. He also very quickly figured out the function of the main button.

Obviously I’m impressed with the little guy for figuring this out at such a young age. But I can’t help but be impressed with Apple as well. After doing a little poking around on YouTube, I found that there are many videos of toddlers with their parents iPhones. Kudos to the UI team at Apple.

18 March 09

The Dell Studio Hybrid

This great piece of industrial design managed to fly beneath the radar for some time - beneath mine at least. Last summer Dell launched their stylish and environmentally conscious Studio Hybrid. Designed by San Francisco-based New Deal Design this is one of the first non-Mac computers that I’d actually consider putting in my living room - or anywhere for that matter.

10 March 09

Designing OS X

Typically Apple’s reputation for innovative design is associated with industrial designer Jonathan Ive. Oft overlooked however is the design of the Mac’s operating system. Cordell Ratzlaff led the team at Apple that developed the design and interaction model for OS X. He’s interviewed in the book Designing Interactions about this and his other exploits at Apple. You can view an excerpt of a video that’s included on a DVD here.