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The Interface designer is nutty.

So last night (late last night) I was studying for a quiz on my interface designer course. It’s an interesting course and currently, we’re looking at usability testing. It’s an interesting subject about how to test a system’s user interface to ensure that it makes sense to the user.

It was interesting to understand how to interview people and conduct usability tests. Then I saw this line:

Asians typically say that things are good - feeling that if not, it is their fault. Europeans are different. They may complain about everything, and are more frank in their opinions…

Although, I do understand the context of the statement* it was just shocking to see something like this in a textbook. It’s almost like reading a medical book for pediatric nursing and seeing, “Yes. Now that you’ve burped the baby. You need to punch it in the gut and then drink it’s blood.”

* It was basically staying that you have to read more than what the person is saying because cultural backgrounds can dictate their behavior when conducting usability tests.

10:58 am 2 Comments

Some general observations while in the library at school

School has sure changed since the last time I’ve been here (as a student). I’m sitting in the library right now, trying to sort through some assignments and work. Yes, start the NERD chants now.

A few things that I’ve realized now that I’ve settled myself in school.

1. I’m not as lazy as I used to be. I think I’ve been trying a lot harder this time around since its a subject that I’m interested in and I actually want to come here. I’m definitely getting my money’s worth.
2. There are more laptops here. I’m currently sitting in the library and everyone has a laptop. Macbooks, HP’s and Dell oh my! Who are these kids and how can they afford these high end laptops? I have a job and I have a crappy X30 IBM (which I bought refurbished).
3. School is a fashion show. Even the girls who are dressed in sweat pants are wearing designer coats and shirts that go with it. Better yet, even the guys are all pretty fashionable. I feel like a reject and I’m wearing designer jeans. I think I need to consult my fashion consultant again.
4. Kids still make out in the library. I was looking for a research book in one of the aisles and I walked in on a couple smooching (avec heavy petting and groaping). Yea, get a motel room, or better yet use one of the empty labs.
5. School is very similar to corporate politics (this taken from observing a working group in the table beside me). You have the one person that dominates the whole conversation. While that person is talking, the others around are either daydreaming, pretending to listen, or texting on their phone. When the person stops babbling, the real work gets done. Then the person talks again, work stops and the cycle repeats.

Yes, a definite experience.

1:38 pm 5 Comments

YouTube amusement

I’m supposed to be doing readings right now. However instead of wasting my time with education, my own betterment and working towards that paper. I’m wallowing away at YouTube and laughing my butt off.

I’m sure you all have seen these videos, but I wanted to share them anyways.

I’m howling at the 100 person flash mob. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that one.

1:05 am 2 Comments

At any given point in time…

Ritchie has been doing any one of the activities listed below.

• At school studying hard
• Working at Rouxbe
• Snowboarding
• Slipping and sliding along the sidewalks
• Thinking up a blog post
• Gaining weight and eating a lot
• Talking in the third person

10:13 am 0 Comments