Thinking of life as a game makes it more fun. Some of the most interesting (and successful) people I know think of life as though there were points to be won or lost for the sheer entertainment of playing. And…
The Giver Should Be Thankful
There’s a Zen story that taught me a lot about the nature of giving and receiving: While Seisetsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura he required larger quarters, since those in which he was teaching were overcorwded. Umezu Seibei,…
Web Apps and the Uncanny Valley
Bottom line? Here are my guidelines for web app design without Uncanny Valleys:
1. Do include features like drag ‘n drop, cut ‘n paste, right-click context menus, etc.
2. Don’t make your user interface look too much like a Windows or Mac application.
3. Do copy some of the common design features of modern apps, like a File/Edit menu where appropriate.
4. Don’t forget it’s a web app, and don’t try to convince the user that it’s not.
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Impossible
My favourite work tool is a notebook and a pen. (Lately it’s a DeSerres notebook, which is kind of like the Moleskines but a more convenient format, and a Uni-Ball JetStream pen, which is like a gel but without the…
Google Docs or MS Word?
Recently our business has been experimenting with using Google Docs, and we’ve been having some limited success. I’ve noticed there are a lot of articles on the web about Google Docs, and they all seem to either praise the system…
Is the Tipping Point Toast?
A rebuttal to the Tipping Point brings up interesting points, but seems to miss some important points. Malcom Gladwell’s famous book The Tipping Point put forward the idea that small numbers of people have unusual influence on the spread of…