Challis Hodge’s UXblog

WAA Introduces Standards for Wireless Ads
The Wireless Advertising Association has unveiled a comprehensive set of standards for mobile and wireless devices. The new standards cover three key platform areas: Short Message Service (SMS, also known as text messaging), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP, or the wireless web), and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs, such as the Palm Pilot and PocketPC). Check out the standards here.

David Gelernter’s Desktop
David Gelernter has designed a new interface “in which every information asset in your life [is] treated like an email.” Gelernter’s system, dubbed “lifestreams,” became the basis of Scopeware (which is produced and distributed by Mirror Worlds Technologies). This browser-based interface turns all your files, regardless of the application they are produced in, into a line of index cards streaming into the distance. Each card comes with a thumbnail picture of the first page of the document, a summary of its content, and relevant metadata, like when it was created. Users can browse this stream of cards or search by keyword, topic, or file type. Scopeware is an elegant alternative to the current desktop, an interface that, in Gelernter’s view, is still mired in a bygone era when megabytes were scarce and CPUs lethargic. More here.

Microsoft Wisely Drops Smart Tags from Windows XP
Microsoft has decided to exclude Smart Tags–a technology that could alter the Web-surfing habits of millions of consumers–from the version of Windows XP that will ship later this year. Smart Tags would allow Microsoft to link any word on any web site to any new site Microsoft chooses. More here.

Microsoft Developers Network Smart Tags

Usability of Interactive Television
“This is the dissertations write up of a project to examine the usability factors of interactive television. A typical usability evaluation was undertaken on a current iTV site, followed by a redesign of the site and reevaluation.” More here. Thanks WebWord!

useit.com WebTV Usability Review
BayCHI-UE BOF WebTV Meeting Minutes
Yahoo WebTV

Constructing User-Centered Websites: The Early Design Phases of Small to Medium Sites
Good paper by Michael Bernard on the basics of user-centered design. Michael points out the flaws in what I call “designer-centered design” and client-centered design.” Read the paper here.

“Stupid” Web Tricks Can be Downright Smart
Don’t get too proud of your Web creation. Its beauty is in the eye of the beholder! More.

TRUSTe Hopes to Develop Web Privacy Symbols
TRUSTe will announce an Internet privacy-compliance program on Tuesday with the hopes that it will serve as an effective way to summarize the often-lengthy, legalese-choked documents many Web sites post to explain what they do with the names, addresses, and other data they collect from visitors. A set of symbols would summarize online privacy policies, enabling Internet users to quickly assess the data practices of Web sites they visit. Read more.

HP & Ericsson Will Wire Taxis in Singapore
HP says it’s teaming up with Singapore’s CityCab Pte Ltd and cellular phone maker Ericsson to equip taxis in with mobile devices “to bring a wireless, interactive experience to passengers and taxi drivers.”

Not a whole lot of discussion about how useful the services will be to the driver or passenger. Wireless experience is meaningless if it doesn’t address a need. Read the article here.