“Ethnography” Talk by Dan on Nov 14

I just wanted to give everybody a “heads up” that Dan will be speaking to the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA) on November 14, which is World Usability Day.

He will be talking about “Ethnography in Product Design and Development.”

The meeting will probably be held at the Art Institute of Dallas (located at Park Lane and Central Expressway, aka 75) , starting at 6:30 or 7:00.  I will post the official announcement as we get closer to the day.

Please come join us.   (posted by Janice Quick)

P.S.

Usability is the degree to which something – software, hardware, or anything else – is easy to use and a good fit for the people who use it.

UPA is a national organization with a DFW chapter for those who promote and advance the development of usable products.  Members come from across the broad family of disciplines that create the user experience.

Word Usability Day is a series of events to promote the benefits of usability and user-centered-design.

How do we give credit for photos and artwork?

Dan, I had a question and I thought others in the class might have similar questions.

You talked a lot about music and how important it was to not violate copyright laws.  What about Photography and Art?

1. On a blog.  If I do a review of a photography exhibit and copy one of the photos from a web site to include in the blog, what do I need to do to give credit to the artist?

2. On a podcast.  If we do an enhanced podcast so that we can show a screen shot or photo while the audio plays, do we need to say where the photo comes from.  For example, if I talk about an ipod and grab a picture of an ipod from Apple’s site, is that ok?  If I talk about a car key with the built-in remote that opens and locks the car, and I grab a picture from the Ford site, is that OK?  

Just wondered how careful we have to be with photos, screens shots, etc. that we get off the Internet.  Thanks.

Janice

CD Reviews from New Sources

Last week Janice informed us about the Nashville music scene, this week she’s listening to Americana or Roots music.

I looked at other types of podcasts, but I wanted to find something that I
would actually listen to more than just a couple of times.  But apparently,
that would be music.  So here it is.

http://www.americanaroots.com/content/CD-Reviews/Randalls-Random-Reviews/

In this particular podcast series, radio personality Ray Randall reviews
just-released CDs from famous artists, like Radney Foster, Emmylou Harris,
and the DeRaillers, to some not so famous artists (at least not to me), like
Todd Snider and The Ginn Sisters.

My question is: You listen to music podcasts because it interests you and you can listen to more than one or two episodes. Have you looked for public history or geneology podcasts yet? Do these not hold your interest? What would hold your interest?

Nerdbooks and Podcasting Solutions

Janice was kind enough to send us information on a new bookstore that has the required reading, Podcasting Solutions. From Janice:

Here is the information for nerdbooks.com — http://www.nerdbooks.com —

As of Saturday, Sept 2, pm, they had 5 copies of Podcast Solutions for $
15.49.

1681 Firman Dr.
Richardson, TX
972 – 470 – 9600
Mon – Fri  9:00 – 6:30
Sat  9:00 – 5:00

(From the UTD campus, go east on Campbell, turn right on Collins, cross 75,
go about 1/2 mile or less, turn left on Firman.  The store is on the left
about a block down.)

You have three options:

1 – You can order it online and have them mail it to you for an applicable
shipping charge.

2 – You can order it online and then go pick it up at the store.  If you
choose this option, somewhere in the shipping instructions you tell them you
want to pick it up.

3 – You can go to the warehouse store in Richardson. The person there will
help you find the book and pay for it.  The price is still the same, but you
avoid the shipping charges and the delay.

Blogging and Storytelling.

Janice Quick ran across this article from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. And, yes, it does encompass two of my favorite subjects: blogging and storytelling. Thanks, Janice. I’m adding it to the suggested reading list.
Pew Internet & American Life Project:  Bloggers: A Portrait of the
Internet’s New Storytellers. (published July 19, 2006)

http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/186/report_display.asp

Janice Brings on the (Alternative) Country Music!

Janice Quick

I love seeing the students reach out and find podcasts, or videocasts, of their interest, many of which I have not found myself. Janice contributes one about unheard and unsigned musicians living in Nashville.

The Nashville Nobody Knows – www.nashvillenobodyknows.com

30 minute podcasts each month spotlighting Nashville musicians who are not
famous, but should be.  It is a great collection of alternative country
music.

The podcast is produced and hosted by Candace Corrigan, herself a songwriter
and producer for public radio and telelvision.

I found this podcast through podcastalley.com by drilling down through the
Music/Radio genre.
The great thing about discovering a podcast is that you get to go back and
listen to all the archived podcasts.

Janice, I agree with your last statement. And I’ve wondered: If a podcaster gets a following, and we download their shows each week, or month, would we be willing to pay a small amount for access to archives without having to download them?

Janice Quick’s Blog: the Patton Family

Janice Quick

Janice has set up here blog here. Janice has an interest in geneology and public history, so I am interested in seeing what he will do with the blog. If you have not figured out how to upload pictures, we will need to do that in class. Pictures will help all of us to get to know the family. Also, what’s the reaction of the family to the blog — if there is one yet?

User Experience and Art blogs

Janice Quick 

UIE Brain Sparks – http://www.uie.com/brainsparks

Brain Sparks is Jared Spool’s blog.  He is a nationally known User
Experience guru.  I especially like him because of the way he articulates
his ideas – although usually based on actual research, he states things
simply, uses common sense, and is frequently funny.

Eye Level – http://eyelevel.si.edu

Eye Level is a blog produced by the Smithsonian American Art museum.  It’s
colorful, eye catching, gives a good summary of a piece of art, and then
provides links into the museum site for more information.

Personal Synopsis: Quick

Janice Quick

I’m Janice Quick.  I am currently registered as a Humanities non-degree
student, but I may switch to the MAIS (Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies
program).  I am interested in combining history courses and technology
courses.

My goal is to learn about new media for two reasons:  One, I’m interested in
history and would like to see better history, museum, digital archives, and
photography sites (such as WPA photography) on the Internet.  Two, because I
am in the corporate world, I feel the need to keep up and expand my
knowledge.

My experience with new media – i.e. blogs, podcasts, wikis – is very
limited.  However I have more experience with the Web.  I work as a User
Experience consultant for EDS.  I design the information architecture (i.e.
wireframes) for web sites and /or conduct usability tests to determine
whether users can successfully use sites or not.  Because our design teams
have visual designers (i.e. graphic artists) and programmers, I do not have
much experience in these areas.