Posts written by Frankie Pagnacco

Silver Surfers - computer wiz or novice?

By Frankie Pagnacco on 27 November 2009

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Silver Surfers – computer users with a disposable income and the desire to spend it – are often seen as a seam to be mined. Cue rubbing of hands.

We’ve all heard the stories of the computer wiz grandmother. This category of Silver Surfer is easily catered for because they are confident computer users and integrate more easily into mainstream internet and software use. Here the designer’s considerations lie in integrating the diverse issues related to older users into their designs. But the emphasis tends towards getting them connected so that they can spend, spend, spend. A rich seam indeed.

But what of the novice computer user over 50? Less on the radar are the type of older user who want to do two or three simple things like keep in touch with family, share photos and browse the internet for personal interests. They are concerned with trustworthiness, security and reliability. They also don’t necessarily want to go to a class to learn how to use a computer but want it to be clear what does what, for instance, what is clickable. They may also not be very keen to spend online.

Well, it’s gratifying therefore to see the launch of SimplicITy, a new PC that caters to all these needs as its primary concern. It has no start up screen, no need to log in (so no need to remember pesky passwords) and there are six basic options: email, browse the web, chat, about me, video tutorials (presented by Valerie Singleton no less) and documents. The email option breaks down clearly into the choice of read, write and address book. The system runs on Linux which is said to be immune to viruses and therefore safe and reliable.

Even though the cynic in me believes that getting people connected to the internet these days seems to be about relieving them of their money in one way or another, I nonetheless look forward to following SimplicITy’s successes in the future.

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Forensic authorship analysis

By Frankie Pagnacco on 9 November 2009

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I was intrigued to discover recently something called forensic authorship analysis. Basically this is analysis of patterns and styles of writing for crime solving purposes. And now that texting accounts for a large part of our written communication, analysis of people’s messages has actually helped solve crimes.

Part of the reason for this is that texting has developed into a fairly freeform language allowing for individual styles. So when murderers send texts from their victim’s phones after they’ve done the deed, to cover their tracks, they are very likely giving the game away.

For my part, if anyone were to want to abduct and murder me, I’ll warn you that you’d be ill advised. The reason for this is that I write out my texts in whole words and sentences, with perfect spelling and grammar and fully punctuated. That’s commas and everything. So you’d spend more time figuring out the difference between ‘their’ and ‘there’ than digging me a shallow grave. There are only two words I contract but I’d be making things easy if I revealed which ones they are.

An examination of my friends’ texting styles reveals that one uses so much textspeak that I often have to call up to ask for a translation. Another friend addresses me with the same bizarre nick-name at the start of each message. Yet another always, but always, answers with ‘Ta muchly’. If any of them were to depart at the hands of an evil-doer I’d notice in an instant.

I’ll bet that if you think of it you can tell who’s texting you even without seeing their name on the screen. That’s the forensic authorship effect… taking effect. So if friends start texting out of character – and I’m not talking the 3am ‘I think I luv u’ out of character – go straight to the police.

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Online travel journal tool could develop into a must for travellers

By Frankie Pagnacco on 3 November 2009

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In a previous post I talked about communicating with those back home while travelling and how in the 90s this relied on the solidness of postcards, letters and phone calls. The audience for these was, by necessity, rather small - family and a couple of envious best friends.

Ekit online postcardNow, my brother is on a one-year overland trip and I, along with the world, can trace his every mile thanks to his ekit.com online travel journal. From the journal I can send him a text, call him, post comments on his entries, see his current location on a zoomable Google map and find out whether his phone is on or off.

It all works through a SIM card and he can make live updates to his journal from his phone or PC all time-stamped to pins on the map. Everything is reciprocally integrated with Twitter, Facebook and his blog. The added benefit is that when I ring him it’s just the cost of a local UK mobile call and also free to him in most of the countries he’s visited so far. All useful stuff.

On the down side of this beta version, the interface and a lot of the interactions are not very user friendly. For instance, previous and back buttons face the wrong way. The interaction ‘make a call’ actually works as ‘request a call back’ so why not name the button that way. And the journal entries themselves are preceded by too much pre-bumph like ‘Paris 18 Buttes-Montmartre, France. This is in Paris, France’ spaced over two lines.

From my brother’s point of view, as a user, the sign-in doesn’t remember him and he has found some of the set-up pages unintuitive and difficult to learn.

But on the whole it’s been really useful to know where he is and read his updates and there are some nice touches like the email I get when he makes an update is an image of a postcard. With more user-centred development this could turn into a slick, dependable service. Not to mention every mother’s gap year dream.

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Shortlisted for prize, yet remarkably unusable

By Frankie Pagnacco on 23 October 2009

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I noticed recently that Kentish Town Health Centre, which is my local health centre, was shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize 2009, and I have to confess to a secret satisfaction that it didn’t win.

Various articles on the awards shortlist describe it as “uplifting for both staff and patients” and ask the question “why can’t all health centres be like this?” Well the answer is, because it’s not that easy for people to use.

The entrance is an airy foyer rising the full three floors of the building and centres on a ‘street metaphor’ that runs right through the building creating, well, two entrances. So there’s a problem already. I’ve seen people look around disorientated about which way they came in.

And the ‘street metaphor’ itself. If I’m ill why do I want to wait in a reception area that is a street? Wouldn’t I prefer cosy, enclosed, safety?

The double entrance theme repeats in the two staircases up to the consulting rooms. Signposting is in the form of giant ‘G’, ‘1’ and ‘2’ painted on the doors so large that you don’t actually notice them. I have found myself completely lost in another part of the building without realising. And I’m good with maps.

Talking of twos, there are two waiting areas, one upstairs and one ground floor but it’s not clear when you should wait upstairs and when downstairs and I’ve seen doctors come all the way to the ground floor to pick up patients, which is surely a time waster.

One of the main features of the ground floor waiting area is a cafe which has mercifully not been open since its inception. A cafe? Around sick people? Whose bright idea was that?

Essentially the question I’m asking is, how can a building designed for human use (mostly when people are ill) be put up for a prize without actually finding out how people find using it?

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Guest blogger on accessibility

By Frankie Pagnacco on 10 September 2009

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For the first 3 years of his education Rhodri Buttrick was unable to learn to read or write. His parents, due to their tenacity, finally got a diagnosis of Dyslexia and Dyspraxia for him and were able to place him in an specialist school where his specific learning needs were accommodated.

Rhodri can ride a bike but isn’t good at directions. He can’t hand write, making form filling difficult. He uses speech recognition to produce all his written work and for his exams. He also uses software for reading from the screen, but wasn’t able to read the instructions for setting it up.These are the kinds of ongoing challenges he faces. Nevertheless he is highly creative with his own website and radio station and performs live stand-up comedy.

Rhodri is now 19 and preparing to enter Reading University. He has kindly agreed to chronicle this life changing experience for Webcredible in a regular blog.

As user experience practitioners, we at Webcredible know that we are never the user and most times it is very difficult for us to put ourselves in the shoes of someone who faces accessibility issues. Rhodri’s posts will reveal the issues and barriers he encounters in general, and those specific to his Dyslexia and Dyspraxia especially where technology is concerned; providing all of us with a better understanding of the accessibility issues he faces as he enters university.

Over to Rhodri…

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