Turn Usable Content into Winning Content

Added on 14 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
“Findable. Scannable. Readable. Concise. Layered. We know much these days about how to make Web content usable—thanks to experts such as Robert Horn, Jakob Nielsen, Ginny Redish, and Gerry McGovern. What we don’t understand as well, however, is how to make content win users over to take the actions we want them to take or have the perceptions we want them to have. We don’t understand how to make Web content both usable and persuasive. I, by no means, intend to imply that we should sacrifice the usability of content to make it more persuasive. Truly winning content must be both.” (Colleen Jones – UXmatters)

Incantations for Muggles: The Role of Ubiquitous Web 2.0 Technologies in Everyday Life

Added on 8 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
“(…) when people engage with technology, amazing things happen. The magic isn’t the technology. It’s the stories and connections, the sharing and ideas. It’s the way these technologies serve people’s lives. More importantly, it’s the way technologies serve the lives of ‘everyday people’, not just technologists.” (Danah Boyd – O’Reilly ETech 2007)

The future of XML

Added on 8 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
“The wheels of progress turn slowly, but turn they do. The crystal ball might be a little hazy, but the outline of XML’s future is becoming clear. The exact time line is a tad uncertain, but where XML is going isn’t. XML’s future lies with the Web, and more specifically with Web publishing.” (Elliotte R. Harold – IBM developersWork)

My Vision Isn’t My Vision PDF Logo

Added on 6 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
Or, ‘Making a Career Out of Getting Back to Where I Started‘ – “This was a golden time. My experience with this system surpassed even the motorcycle ride up to Ottawa – including those glorious hilly curves through the countryside. And given my relationship with Mabel, that is no faint praise. But truth be told, even this is an understatement. I am still striving to be worthy of the folks who gave me this, my first introduction to what has become my career. And, as the title of this essay suggests, since then, a huge part of my professional life has been an attempt to get back to where I started. My only hope is that I succeed. I at least owe them that. And the recognition. And thanks.” (Bill Buxton – HCI Remixed)

Better Than Free

Added on 4 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
“Where as the previous generative qualities reside within creative digital works, findability is an asset that occurs at a higher level in the aggregate of many works. A zero price does not help direct attention to a work, and in fact may sometimes hinder it. But no matter what its price, a work has no value unless it is seen; unfound masterpieces are worthless. When there are millions of books, millions of songs, millions of films, millions of applications, millions of everything requesting our attention — and most of it free — being found is valuable.” (Kevin Kelly – The Technicum)

Manifesto of the UI

Added on 1 February 2008 Peter Bogaards
“I’ve been thinking more and more lately about the state of user interface and it’s evolution path — it’s something that I can’t get out of my mind. Over the past few years (we’re talking less than 5), we’ve seen user interfaces across the digital world morph from a static experience into highly dynamic interactive experiences. Web sites like Facebook and MySpace have proven that interactivity and the ability to relate real world ideas to the digital realm wins over features and functionality. Applications like iTunes have shown that how data is presented and you interact with that data is more important than how your computer processes the same data. As such, I’d like to pose a simple question to those front end developers out there: What do you think the future of UI technology will look like?” (Kyle Neath – Warpspire)

The Architects of the Information Age PDF Logo

Added on 31 January 2008 Peter Bogaards
Editorial Insert in the January 21 edition of Fortune Magazine – “Understanding the way information is used is particularly crucial in relation to the Internet: Sites that help users find what they need quickly and easily tend to win customers. Sites that frustrate users lose them—fast. So, to get their data game-plan right, savvy companies are turning to the increasingly important field of information architecture.” (The Information Architecture Institute)

The CMS Myth

Added on 24 January 2008 Peter Bogaards
“Many organizations now rushing to adopt web content management systems (CMS) to support their online strategies think it’s the silver bullet to solve their website challenges and power content-rich applications. But web developers, online marketers and other front-line web pros speak of a fundamental disconnect in the promise of CMS vs. reality. Industry research and harsh anecdotal evidence indicate that 50% or more CMS projects ‘fail’ in some way: botched implementations, soaring project costs, launch delays, ruined SEO and more. Therein lays the central tenet of The CMS Myth: When it comes to web content management success, it’s not just about the technology. In reality, CMS success hinges on your plan, your people, and your process behind your web content management initiative.” (About The CMS Myth)