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On being an academic, a farmer, a scientist, an educator, a mom, ...

My name is Katrin Becker. This is my blog.
It is about Computer Science, Educational Technology, Digital Games, Academia, and sometimes Rural Life and other notions.
Comments are welcome but will be edited as necessary to maintain relevance.

““Slave is an Ephebian word. In Om we have no word for slave,” said Vorbis. “So I understand,” said the Tyrant. “I imagine that fish have no word for water.””
by Terry Pratchett Small Gods

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Fail: How NOT to do user experience design (I)

October 16th, 2009 by Katrin Becker

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really weary of dopey interface design decisions on the web. I’ve got 30 years in CS – I have a pretty good idea about what’s possible, what’s easy, and what’s hard. DO HCI people not pay attention? Here’s an example (from Scoop). Click on the “click to enlarge” link (or the picture itself). Does that look bigger to you? What’s wrong with these people?

Neanderthals Hunted, Raped And Ate Humans

Friday, 18 September 2009, 12:58 pm
Press Release: The Mandus


Click to enlarge

Now, the web isn’t the only place where people don’t bother to think about user experience design. It happens ALL the time, everywhere.

Watch this space for more…..

Posted in Doing it Right on the Web, Fail, HCI, User Experience Design | No Comments »

Look out SMART Technologies – the writing may be on the wall, and it isn’t yours.

March 30th, 2009 by Katrin Becker

In Today’s MIT Tech Review: A Better, Cheaper Multitouch Interface

A new pressure-sensitive pad could improve large and small touch screens.

I’ve thought for some time that the SMART Technologies’ White Board which is marketed so vigorously to Alberta schools relies on physical technology that has become obsolete. Note the Wii mote stuff developed by Johnny Chung Lee. That technology’s been known for a few years now.

As if that’s not enough, Ken Perlin and his crew have come up with this. SMART Tech isn’t even mentioned in the article.

C’mon SMART, any chance you can try and live up to your name?

Posted in Computer Science, Educational Technology, HCI, Higher Education, Software Industry | No Comments »