UI and the Rest

Everyday I seem to run across numerous articles that cover the topic of _____ killer; it’s usually about iPhones or the Flash Platform.  For well over a decade I have had different job titles: webmaster, web developer, user interface developer; now, user experience developer.  While the job title has changed my core responsibilities have not.  I build user interfaces for applications, hand held mobile or web based.  Because of this core responsibility I have to use all sorts of tools to create the appropriate experience that meets the customers requirements.  With that being said lets get started. (more…)

Posted: 1st February 2010

Now that I have your attention let us begin theorizing what it means for a company to stay on top once they get on top.  In the technology industry companies rise and fall very quickly; some never even rise at all, but all eventually fall; even if it’s not off the mountain.

Let’s take a quick look at MySpace and Facebook.  MySpace came first, and they raged as everyone was joining and making their home pages.  Then came Facebook, they had a different angle but still the same premise.  MySpace has more US users than Facebook, but Facebooks growth is almost 4% per month vs. MySpace, who is at less than 1% per month *.  Does this mean that MySpace is dead?  No, not at all but the perception is that they are falling.  When it comes to social media sites in the main stream media you only seem to hear about Facebook and Twitter.  MySpace seems to come up in “To catch a predator” episodes, although not anyones fault.  The point is that MySpace came on strong, like morning wood, they grew and stayed up for quite awhile.  But, over time morning wood falls and the stamina to stay up is no longer there, thus leaving the door open for another young company with wood; that is were Facebook came in. (more…)

Posted: 31st January 2010

In a previous post I mentioned how Google Wave may be too much for people at first. Well it seems that thought has occurred to others as well. In an article posted on eWeek’s Google Watch a mention was made of the ‘Complete Guide to Google Wave’. It seems that the technology is giving some users fits. Hmm… go figure.

There has been other news of Google giving developers and providers an opportunity to build and distribute their own Wave Servers. Google believes that by doing this they can create the same environment that Email servers did in the past. I would have to agree with this belief, and on top of that, I believe that this will put the technology out in front of more users. Hopefully the kids. After all most of us were part of the generation of setting our parents VCR clocks for them, let the kids of today get us Waving. The kids are alright.

Posted: 4th November 2009