I think I might have failed the Turing test.

 

Jakob Nielsen is considered the web’s usability guru by many web designers and therefore very influential when it comes to perceived best practices in this domain. Last week he shared his thoughts on web application design, specifically the top 10 mistakes made by web UI designers.

No matter how experienced you are, or how many sites and web apps you've created, or how much you think you know about web design, this article is still worth a read and some digestion.

One piece of advice to really take to heart is this well known (but regularly overlooked) gem:

“…Whatever you do, at least promise me this: Don't just implement feature requests from "user representatives" or "business analysts." The most common way to get usability wrong is to listen to what users say rather than actually watching what they do. Requirement specifications are always wrong. You must prototype the requirements quickly and show users something concrete to find out what they really need.”

If you follow this simple principle, the chances of creating mystery meat navigation will diminish with every new data point gathered and considered.

Top-10 Application-Design Mistakes

Summary:

Application usability is enhanced when users know how to operate the UI and it guides them through the workflow. Violating common guidelines prevents both.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/application-mistakes.html

Photo by Sheila Webber: Euphorbia, Feb 2008.

Information Literacy: strategy and research is the title of a free seminar day on Friday 14th March 2008 in Sheffield. The seminars are organised by the Centre for Information Literacy Research, Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield. The morning seminar is Strategy for information literacy. The focus of the is session is on strategic issues, with a strong opportunities for participation in all three sessions.
- Professor Sheila Corrall: Strategic engagement with information literacy in higher education
- Sheila Webber and Bill Johnston: Towards an Information Literate University
- Strategic approaches for information literacy with Dr Patricia Senn Breivik.

The Afternoon seminar is Information literacy research. This session opens with a keynote setting the context for research and practice in information literacy. Presentations of research studies follow, highlighting three specialist areas and illuminating important areas of research in the workplace and in higher education. The afternoon concludes with a reflection and debate on the challenges and excitements of researching information literacy.
- Dr Patricia Senn Breivik: A global agenda for information literacy
- Chris Rhodes and James O’Brien: The IL research agenda as seen by legal information professionals: report on a Delphi study.
- Maryam Nazari: Conceptions of geospatial information and the implications for information literacy education
- Dr Alexis Smith Macklin: A Problem-based learning (PBL) approach for teaching complex information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills.
- Professor Nigel Ford and Sheila Webber: Research approaches to information literacy: dilemmas, delusions and delights.

More information at http://dis.shef.ac.uk/sheila/14March2008.pdf

How to book: You can apply for a place in the morning seminar, the afternoon seminar, or both seminars. There is a limit of 25 people in the morning and 40 in the afternoon. The morning numbers are more limited to encourage active debate in a smaller forum. The seminars are free. Tea and coffee are provided as indicated, but lunch is not. If you wish to attend, please email Maryam Nazari at maryamnazari76@gmail.com, making it clear which part(s) of the day you wish to attend.

Since I blogged an Economist online debate a few weeks ago I've been emailed when a new one popped up. This one might be of interest: here is the blurb that was sent me
"The Economist Debate Series presents another debate proposition that is highly relevant to educators and students. The debate proposition states: "This house believes that if the promise of technology is to simplify our lives, it is failing." What do you think? Does technology make life simpler, or does the connected nature of our modern lives keep us in a constant state of information overload? Are students suffering because of the presence of technology? We probably all remember simpler times before our lives were saturated with text messages, emails and Google alerts, but were those better times? We invite you and Information Literacy Weblog readers to weigh in with your personal experiences and points of view on the topic." How can you resist, eh. The opening statements are posted and voting begins today.
Photo by Sheila Webber: Crocus, Feb 2008

On Tues 26 Feb, 12 noon Second Life time (8pm UK time) there is a Discussion The Information Literate University in Second Life, the virtual world. Sheila Yoshikawa (i.e. me) will briefly explain the concept that has been developed by me and RL Bill Johnston, and develop a discussion on what this could mean in RL and SL. Venue: Infolit iSchool (45, 202, 22). By popular demand a Notecard (handout) is available from a poster at that location in advance (i.e. now!) (rather than just being available during the discussion)

Study skills for dyslexic students is a useful site at Sheffield University. Actually I think this site could teach something to non-dyslexic students as well. The graphics are nice (I think) and it is audio-led. The topics covered include writing skills, referencing, paraphrasing & synthesis and literature reviews.
http://dyslexstudyskills.group.shef.ac.uk/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Fallen cherry blossom leaves, May 2004

This morning I experienced my first earthquake, although I didn't realize it at the time.

You see, I was doing email and checking out blogs from home, in front of my laptop and suddenly felt weird for about 3-5 seconds. It was like that feeling you get when you've been on a boat for a few hours and then step foot on land...that kind of sea-rocking sensation you get as your body adjusts to terra-firma.

As the weirdness hit, I tried to fix my eyes on to something steady - the corner of my laptop - and could have sworn I was watching it sway ever so slightly. In a few seconds, the sensation went I away.

I looked at my espresso cup and thought - "wow, that's good stuff!"

Then on my drive to work, I heard the news on the radio of a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Wells, Nevada that took place around the same time as my weirdness moment, some 170 miles away from where I live (Sandy, UT). Well, I put two and two together...

No-one was hurt in Wells, but a fair amount of damage was caused.

 

There's an interactive map here with reports written in by readers of the Salt Lake Tribune describing where they were when they felt it.

The IFLA library success stories database has descriptions of projects or initiatives in various sectors, countries and fields. There are only 2 that are indexed as "information literacy" but others to do with e.g. "Libraries as e-learning centres" http://www.tribalpixel.ch/ifla/index.php
Photo by Sheila Webber: Blackberry leaves in light snow, February 2008.