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"Advances in science and technology can launch from unassuming springboards," says a recent article in Scientific American, chronicling how brilliant thinkers "reached back to childhood to help them develop tiny transistors, study particle separation, make microfluidics devices, and fight cancer." More specifically, they reached for Etch A Sketch, Legos, Shrinky Dinks and balloons. The modern era is intrigued by the possibility of finding answers in unexpected places. In fact, the allure of genius ex machina has gone so far as to revolutionize corporate innovation processes at large; they now accommodate - nay, solicit - user input. Sponsor Guest author Kim Gaskins is a writer for Latitude, an international research consultancy exploring how Web technologies can further enhance human experiences. Visit life-connected.com for other Latitude studies or to learn more about working with Latitude. Dave Stanton of the Poynter Institute leads an SxSW session: "My Three-Year Old is my Usability Expert." Are you the parent of a child 12 years old or under? Click here to take a survey about how kids perceive the Web. Recently, PayPal's Developer Challenge crowdsourced ideas for better integrating payment into developers' own applications. And last year, Netflix awarded $1 million to the team that improved its recommendation algorithm by more than 10%. (Over 50,000 contestants entered the challenge.) With so much impetus behind technological advancements, some innovative minds -- particularly in the areas of design and usability -- are looking back to a kind of vintage simplicity in distilling the problem and solution principles underlying their creations. Last month at SXSW, Dave Stanton , a cognitive researcher and Technology Fellow at The Poynter Institute , ran a session entitled "My Three-Year Old is my Usability Expert." In certain contexts, children's natural limitations turn to strengths. "Children are terrific UI testers because they haven't developed the language necessary to parse text instructions; they have to rely on visual cues," explains Stanton. "Children can help us balance intuitive interfaces with the domain-specific attributes designers use to convey personality." My 3-year-old daughter is my usability expert Young children adopt a fundamentally different approach to technology. We can see this at work in simple ways - in the toddler who, accustomed to her mother's iPhone, instinctively approaches a laptop by swiping a finger across it. "We are moving toward more naturalistic interfaces utilizing feel, sound and sight for both user input and device feedback," describes Stanton. "I'm excited to see the elegant modes of human-computer interaction we can uncover by studying how children leverage these mechanisms in problem-solving scenarios." In conjunction with ReadWriteWeb, Latitude Research is taking children's unique approach to technology one step further. "This project is a step toward understanding how children can help us generate abstract solutions with potential real-world applications," Stanton says. As part of an open innovation study (whose lead analyst is Jessica Reinis ), we're asking kids, age 12 and under, to create ideas for future Web technologies (or, more likely, to demonstrate the underlying, creative-thinking principles which beget these types of innovations) by drawing the answer to a simple question: What would be really fun or interesting to do on your computer or the Internet that you can't do right now? "The difference between today's children and yesterday's was what technologies were available to them as they tried to make sense of the world around them," said ethnographer and social media researcher danah boyd , when we asked her how pervasive digital culture might be affecting younger generations. "But youth accept whatever contemporary technology is available and try to see if it makes sense in their lives. Adults are the ones who have to shift their understanding of the world based on technology." Naturally, we're interested to see how Web solutions can be informed by more technologically "intuitive" sensibilities when child becomes creator. Screenshot of the Latitude/RWW study: Kids' Future Requests for Computers and the Internet. To participate in the study, click here . Latitude's open innovation privacy policy is available here . Photo by cell911 . Discuss
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Kids on the Web: Innovation From Unlikely Experts
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Back in February at the Future of Web Apps (FOWA) conference in Miami, Union Square Ventures ' Fred Wilson presented on his 10 Golden Principles of Successful Web Apps . For those not fortunate enough to attend the conference, a video and transcript of the talk and subsequent Q&A session with Wilson is now available online for the general public to learn what one of the leading east coast investors advises startups do to succeed on the Web. Sponsor So what does Wilson say is the single most important feature of the Web apps that win? Speed. He says that while more dedicated users will provide some leeway for speed issues, the average user (his go-to users are his wife and kids) will make quick and lasting judgements of a Web app based on its speed. "When we see some of our portfolio company's applications getting bogged down, we also note that they don't grow as quickly," Wilson said. "There is real empirical evidence that substantiates the fact that speed is more than a feature. It's a requirement." This reminds me of an idea I've been pondering from time to time about Web apps, and that's the perception of speed. The design of a Web app can go a long way in how users perceive its speed. Luke Andrews of Dabble DB spoke about this very topic at last year's mesh conference , a Canadian Web conference. In his talk, Andrews mentioned how Google just feels faster than Yahoo because the homepage isn't as busy with supplementary items. When the design of a Web app is slick, clean and uncluttered, it translates as speed in our brains. If you saw a Corvette sitting at a red light next to a boxy station wagon, you would assume the Corvette is the faster car just by looking at it (even though the engine could be poorly maintained and slower than the possibly souped up station wagon). Aside from a well designed site, Web apps can also implement small features to their site to bump the perception of speed. Another item Andrews pointed out in his talk was how when we as humans are asked a question, before we begin to respond, we make it clear that we have acknowledged the question with either a nod or a stroking of our beard. Web apps need to do the same thing; if something takes some computing time to complete, let users know with a "Loading..." animation. By providing users with an immediate visual response to their input, you boost their perception of the speed of your Web app, but nothing can truly substitute the real thing. Clean design and well thought out UI can only go so far, so as Fred Wilson advises, make sure speed is not just a feature, but a requirement. Photo by Flickr user Nathan Bittinger . Discuss
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Make Those Web Apps Run Fast! (Or At Least Fake It)
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We've talked a lot on ReadWriteStart about how design is an important facet of the development of a web applications for startups. Last week we provided some advice on how to deal with irate customers who hate your design changes, and earlier this month we talked about how small design tweaks can have big impacts of the use of your site. Sponsor The main theme of these posts is that good design is worth the time and effort because it goes a long way in attracting and maintaining users, but really, who is to say what "good design" is? A recent entry on the blog ignore the code by Swiss software engineer Lukas Mathis raises an interesting point about user interfaces and how some users prefer that they maintain their complexity . They like complicated user interfaces? It seems strange, but Mathis argues that mastering a cluttered interface gives users a sense of superiority. One example of this that Mathis points out is the Bloomberg Terminal, a complexly designed business interface whose users might revolt if it were simplified, as some studies have shown. "Some complex user interfaces may also give people the perception of having more control," writes Mathis. "Another reason why people sometimes avoid simple devices is that they perceive them as being made specifically for children, or for 'stupid' people." So how does this apply to Web startup culture? What it says is that not all users are the same. Not everyone is looking for the cleanest and simplest design; some want more features and more complexity. The thing to remember is there is a difference between having a complex interface and having a complicated interface. Even the simplest of interfaces, Twitter , has begun to add more complexity with new retweet features, lists, trending topics, and more. Aesthetically, "good design" means design that is appealing to the eye, and is easily navigated visually. With this idea, it is important that complex interfaces are well designed so that the users who prefer simplicity do not feel overwhelmed. So "good design" may be simply design that is both aesthetically refined, and that also serves to aid both novices and power users in easily finding the features they want without feeling over or underwhelmed - balanced, and right in the sweet spot. I would love to hear what people think of this idea, so please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Discuss
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Finding the Balance of Design and Functionality
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Most hosted blogging platforms offer their customers a set of standard templates with relatively few options for customizing these sites. Starting today , however, bloggers on Google's Blogger platform will be able to take full control over the layout of their sites thanks to Google's new Blogger Template Designer without having to edit a single line of HTML and CSS code. The Template Designer will give Blogger's users the ability to change the layout, fonts, colors and background images of their blogs through an easy to use WYSIWYG editor. Sponsor For now, the Template Designer will only be available through Blogger in Draft , Google's experimental section for new Blogger features. Features Every template allows users to choose different body layouts with up to four columns. Google partnered with iStockphoto to bring more background images to Blogger. For now, Google won't allow users to upload their own background images yet, but advanced users can always use the CSS code to point to their own images. In the template designer, users can also change the size and number of the columns on their blogs and edit the design of their blogs' footers. Change your Color Palette With One Slider One of the niftiest new features in the Template Designer involves the option to change the complete color palette of your blog with one simple slider. Based on your choice, the application will simply set all the colors of the fonts and other design elements on your site based on your preference while still ensuring readability. As Siobhan Quinn, Google's product manager for Blogger told us yesterday, Google's users really want to be able to customize their sites and make them look as unique as possible. Just offering a set of rigid templates, Quinn noted, simply isn't enough to give users the feeling that a site is truly theirs. Until now, customizing Blogger sites - while possible - was a bit of a hassle and making any major changed involved editing the HTML and CSS code by hand , which a lot of Blogger's users weren't quite ready to do. Other blogging platforms like WordPress.com and TypePad and also allow their users to individualize their blogs to some degree. On WordPress, however, editing the CSS code comes at a price ($15/year) and unless you are an advanced user, changing the layout of your blog on most hosted blogging platforms is going to involve a steep learning curve. According to Google, Blogger currently has over 300 million active users and more than 388 million words are published on Blogger every day. Discuss
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Making Blogger Blogs Prettier: Google Launches New Template Designer
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Navigating SXSW is overwhelming to say the least! To help you out ReadWriteWeb has been breaking the events, panels and parties down into vertical reviews. This post provides what we think are some of the best for marketers and online strategists. We'd also love to hear your recommendations in the comments. Online strategy is multi-faceted. You need to know as much about marketing and understanding people and their motivations as you do perfecting the online experience, understanding the next technology breakthrough on the horizon and being an excellent conversationalist - while still being able to measure the impact of it all. So this list provides a smattering of some of the best to see in all four. Sponsor This is part of a series of ReadWriteWeb guides to SXSW Interactive 2010. If this guide isn't your cup of tea, be sure to check back for more information soon! How Your Brand Can Succeed in the New Web With Brian Solis. "Engage is the new book by Brian Solis that will debut at SXSW. Representing the third book on new media and its impact on society, culture and communication. Engage will help anyone not only understand the changes in the media landscape but also how to lead it. Brian Solis will be joined by a special guest to discuss the new book and answer questions followed by a book signing." The Future of Influence "The ability to share online has allowed consumers to control and filter the Web. For brands and publishers, tapping into Influence is critical to social media's future. What is influence and how is it measured? Leading voices in social media from multiple backgrounds will define the value of influence, discuss best practices, and predict future impact. Data will be shared! This panel is sponsored by ShareThis." With Tim Schigel, Paul Berry, Dave Knox, Mike John-Baptiste, Shiv Singh. Extending Your Brand? There's an App for That "For many, brand extension into the digital realm means a Web site, a banner ad, a viral campaign. But applications can extend conversations and perceptions of a brand, as well as add to discussions and ideas in compelling new ways. How can applications help your brand and idea be more authentic, genuine, user friendly, and just plain old fun? Learn from the folks that are making it happen. This panel is sponsored by Microsoft Silverlight." The Human Experience With Gary Vaynerchuk. The content of this presentation has not been announced, but knowing Gary and his successful track record in growing business through the use of social media, this one is not to be missed. Program or be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age With Douglas Rushkoff. "Winner of the first Neil Postman award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity, Douglas Rushkoff is an author, teacher, and documentarian who focuses on the ways people, cultures, and institutions create, share, and influence each other's values." I Don't Trust You One Stinking Bit "What gives people confidence on the Web? Bringing together experts in social capital and online trust, we help you build the company your users can love and call their own." With Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. Monkeys with Internet Access: Sharing, Human Nature, and Digital Data Clay Shirky hasn't announced the content of his presentation yet. He "divides his time between consulting, teaching, and writing on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies. His consulting practice is focused on the rise of decentralized technologies such as peer-to-peer, Web services, and wireless networks that provide alternatives to the wired client/server infrastructure that characterizes the Web." The Young and the Digital With Craig Watkins. "In 2006, S. Craig Watkins participated in the MacArthur Foundation's well-funded digital media initiative alongside a select team of scholars and tech experts. The goal was simple: to understand young people's emphatic embrace of social and mobile media. Watkins went on to build a small research team that skillfully collected over 500 surveys and conducted 350 in-depth interviews with young adults, parents, and educators." Design and Usability, The UX of Mobile "The term 'user experience' used to be an afterthought in mobile application design. The iPhone changed all that and has set a new benchmark for user experience on mobile devices. This panel will serve as a primer for anyone interested in learning how to apply UX principles to the creation of applications for iPhone, Android, and mobile websites." With Barbara Ballard, Tom Limongello, Scott Jenson. The Ten Commandments of User Experience "User experience is the result of your interactions with a product or service, specifically how it's delivered and its related artifacts according to the design. In this presentation we will explain how following the 10 commandments can boost your project's ease of use, appeal, conversion rates, and more." With Raina Van Cleave, Nick Finck. Persuasive Design: Encouraging Your Users To Do What You Want Them To! "So you've designed a great product, fixed a stack of usability problems and spent a fortune on marketing. The only problem is, people aren't using it. In this session you will learn how to get your users to do what you want them to through good design, human psychology and a touch of mind control." With Andy Budd. My Three-Year Old Is My Usability Expert "Children are perfect testers for the innate usability of visual structures. Learn how neuroscience and cognitive psychology research can make your designs and interfaces more intuitive." With Dave Stanton. Can the Real-Time Web Be Realized? "The emergence of the real-time Web enables an unprecedented level of user engagement and dynamic content online. However, the rapidly growing audience puts new, complex demands on the architecture of the Web as we know it. This panel will discuss what is needed to make the real-time Web achievable." With Scott Raymond, Brett Slatkin, Dare Obasanjo, Marshall Kirkpatrick, Jack Moffitt. Time + Social + Location. What's Next In Mobile Experiences? "As more devices become location aware, social uses will continue to evolve beyond just who and what,to WHEN. Adding the temporal dimension creates new opportunities for social interaction. Learn about ways to leverage and use technology to add features at the intersection of temporal, social, and location." With Naveen Selvadurai, Josh Babetski, Greg Cypes. ActivityStrea.ms: Is It Getting Streamy In Here? "From Facebook's newsfeed to Twitter's relentless real-time updates, the metaphor of the "stream" has taken social networking beyond blog posts and on to rich social activities. Learn about ActivityStrea.ms - the open format adopted by Facebook, MySpace, and Windows Live - and how it's fundamentally changing the social Web." With Chris Messina. HTML5: Tales from the Development Trenches "HTML5 is coming. Originally called "Web applications 1.0", it brings new semantics, JavaScript APIs for drag and drop, offline storage, generating images, plugin-free video and form validation. It's upset semantic Web advocates, accessibility evangelists and baffled developers. Cut through the crap: learn what it is and what it does." What Are Analytics? A Guide To Practical Data "Analytics are often a confusing and convoluted mess, but that doesn't mean that they have to be. The Guide to Practical Data will help ensure you're reaching your full analytical potential. Learn how to analyze public and proprietary data to accelerate the success of any initiative." With Margaret Francis, Blake Robinson. Those are our SXSW Interaction recommendations for marketers and Web strategists. If you've got suggestions or feedback, let us know in the comments! See you in Austin! Discuss
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SXSW 2010 for Marketers & Online Strategists
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