Hiatus

Thanks to those who have supported UX Marks The Spot for the last couple of years.

As I've mentioned in a blog post on my personal blog, I'm doing some streamlining on my online presences and one of my decisions was to fold my coverage of user experience, usability, and web matters into Weboplex and in effect put UX Marks The Spot on an indefinite hiatus (similar to Standard Web Standards).

I'd really appreciate it if you'd now follow Weboplex and continue supporting my blogs.

One Edge Facebook Has Over Google+

I have to admit that ever since Google+ was launched a couple of months ago, Facebook's luster for me diminished.

Why?

From the user experience point (UX) of view, Google+ simplified the approach to managing friends/connections and got the best elements from Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. My use of Facebook has decreased since getting added in Google+.

But I soon realized an edge that Facebook has over Google+: Nostalgia.

Given that Facebook has a seven-year headstart over Google+, people who are in Facebook has invested more time and uploaded more stuff in their accounts. There are also more wall posts, chats, and status updates on personal milestones, both big and small.

Which now brings me to a practical application of this on Facebook: I recently saw a section on the secondary content area (the right-side column) with the heading "This day in 2009." And underneath that heading is my status update exactly two years ago.

I was like "Whoa!" Facebook was able to make history more personal.

I'm sure you've read features in news sites that placed major historical events like an almanac, but this kind of history puts the context to the person.

Well played, Facebook, well played.

Practical Usability Engineering Seminar at DLSU

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Center at the De La Salle University will be having a seminar on "Practical Usability Engineering" on September 1-2, 2011.

The seminar will focus on how to integrate usability into the design process of products and services, with consideration of the business strategy.

For interested folks, please email Dr. Rose Seva at coers2000@gmail.com. Pre-regisrtation is required for this seminar.

World Usability Day 2011

The theme for the World Usability Day 2011 is EDUCATION: Designing for Social Change.

Get involved! Here's how:

• Register a local event– it’s free! Create an account on www.worldusabiltyday.org. Energize your company, community, university or collaborate with your local UPA Chapter and business associations
• Volunteer - be part of our team locally or globally
• Be a Sponsor– get recognized as a leader
• Submit a story for our website– share your experiences
• Sign our Charter– show your support now!
• Sign up for our email newsletters– keep informed about the latest news and information

The Philippines has been part of the World Usability Day events since its launch in 2005 and this year will be no different. The big change will be the people behind the events. (Yes, this is a hint!)

Idea: News Q&A Expert Matching

I have another idea submitted to the Knight-Mozilla Challenge at Drumbeat: News Q&A Expert Matching

Why News Q&A Matching? People have many questions about the news. News Q&A Expert Matching will match the experts in a particular topic to answer the questions of the public. Think of it like a smart Quora for news and current events.

• Questions and answers will be rated and top rating questions and answers will be featured.
• People not classified as "Experts" can also answer questions, but will be segregated in a different section.
• Folks who answer often and get good public ratings may be promoted into an expert for a particular field.

The News Q&A Expert Matching in Action

1. A news story about a protest in the Middle East is posted on the app
2. The app will select experts from the pool of users. The criteria could be the industry, experience, quality of answers. Some experts may be added manually by admins.
3. Once people can then post questions about the event and the experts can answer them.
4. People who are not yet experts can post comments or answers.
5. If a particular question becomes very interesting and informative, it will be featured in the app.

If you think this idea is cool, please do vote for it at the Drumbeat Challenge.

Idea: Wikified News Dashboard (WiND)

I recently submitted an idea to the Knight-Mozilla News Technology Partnership (MoJo) challenge for People-Powered News.

The challenge submits the questions: What would you build on the web that actually makes news better for the people who create and read it? How would you involve the public in the news making, editing or sharing process? The only constraint: your idea should be built using open technologies and languages.

My submission is the Wikified News Dashboard (WiND)

 

Wikified News Dashboard (WiND) presents news as Rich Event Pages (REPs). REPs are news pages visualized like an infographic, with timelines, sentiment analysis, and multimedia. As events unfold, people can contribute via twitter & Facebook, post pictures and videos, and comment on facts. Each REP will have an quality score algorithmically based on the aggregate authority of the individual contributors.

At the most basic level, each REP will answer the basic questions (What, When, Where, Who) and make these information easy to see. Also presented is a quick summary of the event's highlights.

The REP will also contain infographics that depict how the event unfolded: (1) An adjustable timeline that can be scaled depending on the recency of the event; (2) Photos and videos from people. Images and videos posted by people who are actually at the event (via geolocation) will be given priority. Each posting can be rated; (3) List of related stories

Also included would be real time sentiment form Twitter and Facebook, which updates in real-time, with Tweets of authoritative folks getting featured. Folks can login to their Twitter and Facebook accounts to post an update or add photos/videos.

Each REP will have a score that is algorithmically rated based on the authority rating of the individual contributors. Folks who contribute to highly-rated REPs get higher authority rating.

What do you think of this idea?

Practical Usability Engineering at DLSU

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Center at the De La Salle University (DLSU) will be having a seminar entitled "Practical Usability Engineering."

The seminar will be on May 23-24, 2011 (8am-5pm) at the Science and Technology Research Center (Room 218), DLSU Campus in Manila.

The seminar fee is PhP 5,000.00 and it is inclusive of meals and materials.

For more information, contact Dr. Rose Seva at rosemary.seva (at) dlsu.edu.ph.