Visual Literacy
What is a Browser for?
25/06/08 10:17
Of course Firefox 3 has just been released, and it’s being loved, or at least liked by a lot of people. It does things very well and makes for a nice browsing experience. But what about future browsers, like AT&T’s Pogo?
I understand that the screen cap doesn’t really do it justice, but the Pogo environment seems to be interesting in that it uses the illusion of space to help show and organize one’s browsing experience. But how dynamic are the thumbnails? Do they refresh? And if so, does it make sense to use them as bookmarks?
More importantly, to me, is the question of portability. Pogo may be wonderful on a new, 23” monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio, but what about on a device like a phone? Does it translate to a 3.5” screen? Is it usable?
Will the web stay on the desktop, or will it move to our pockets?
I understand that the screen cap doesn’t really do it justice, but the Pogo environment seems to be interesting in that it uses the illusion of space to help show and organize one’s browsing experience. But how dynamic are the thumbnails? Do they refresh? And if so, does it make sense to use them as bookmarks?
More importantly, to me, is the question of portability. Pogo may be wonderful on a new, 23” monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio, but what about on a device like a phone? Does it translate to a 3.5” screen? Is it usable?
Will the web stay on the desktop, or will it move to our pockets?
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In Plain Sight
24/06/08 09:05
My computer was borrowed for a moment yesterday, when someone wanted a quick peek at the upcoming weather. Their process was to open a browser window and type in a URL (weather.com), then enter a ZIP code and read up.
Why go through all that trouble? Because their awareness wasn’t tied into my system. Sitting on my desktop at all times is the Yahoo! Weather widget:
Quick, at-a-glance information, persistent and therefore, perhaps, invisible. How often do we overlook that which is right there? How, as designers, can we plan for this oversight? Where does redundancy come into play? And is such persistence elegance, or invisibilty?
Why go through all that trouble? Because their awareness wasn’t tied into my system. Sitting on my desktop at all times is the Yahoo! Weather widget:
Quick, at-a-glance information, persistent and therefore, perhaps, invisible. How often do we overlook that which is right there? How, as designers, can we plan for this oversight? Where does redundancy come into play? And is such persistence elegance, or invisibilty?
Maps Maps Maps
18/06/08 10:34
It’s no stretch to say that maps are a sublime language, able to speak across time and distance with an elegant blend of data and art. Yes, having a legend is crucial to total understanding of a map, but one can certainly figure out the basics of a good map with just a short period of observation.
(Map from Strangemaps)
It’s the site Strangemaps that has helped to keep firing my interest in maps. For a long time I’ve used the map as a quick way to express information to the ‘uneducated.’ Often, it’s a good way to use an analogy to explain the unknown. Thus ever the nature of maps, I understand. But in looking at the different maps that have been made over centuries, I see that there are myriad ways to express information that I haven’t yet considered - a reminder that I need to keep my eyes and mind open, to keep looking for ways to modify the charts that make up my methodologies.
(Map from Strangemaps)
It’s the site Strangemaps that has helped to keep firing my interest in maps. For a long time I’ve used the map as a quick way to express information to the ‘uneducated.’ Often, it’s a good way to use an analogy to explain the unknown. Thus ever the nature of maps, I understand. But in looking at the different maps that have been made over centuries, I see that there are myriad ways to express information that I haven’t yet considered - a reminder that I need to keep my eyes and mind open, to keep looking for ways to modify the charts that make up my methodologies.