Web Directions

object(WP_Query)#71 (47) { ["query_vars"]=> array(55) { ["year"]=> int(2008) ["monthnum"]=> int(5) ["error"]=> string(0) "" ["m"]=> int(0) ["p"]=> int(0) ["post_parent"]=> string(0) "" ["subpost"]=> string(0) "" ["subpost_id"]=> string(0) "" ["attachment"]=> string(0) "" ["attachment_id"]=> int(0) ["name"]=> string(0) "" ["static"]=> string(0) "" ["pagename"]=> string(0) "" ["page_id"]=> int(0) ["second"]=> string(0) "" ["minute"]=> string(0) "" ["hour"]=> string(0) "" ["day"]=> int(0) ["w"]=> int(0) ["category_name"]=> string(0) "" ["tag"]=> string(0) "" ["cat"]=> string(0) "" ["tag_id"]=> string(0) "" ["author_name"]=> string(0) "" ["feed"]=> string(0) "" ["tb"]=> string(0) "" ["paged"]=> int(0) ["comments_popup"]=> string(0) "" ["meta_key"]=> string(0) "" ["meta_value"]=> string(0) "" ["preview"]=> string(0) "" ["s"]=> string(0) "" ["sentence"]=> string(0) "" ["fields"]=> string(0) "" ["category__in"]=> array(0) { } ["category__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["category__and"]=> array(0) { } ["post__in"]=> array(0) { } ["post__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__and"]=> array(0) { } ["tag_slug__in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag_slug__and"]=> array(0) { } ["ignore_sticky_posts"]=> bool(false) ["suppress_filters"]=> bool(false) ["cache_results"]=> bool(false) ["update_post_term_cache"]=> bool(true) ["update_post_meta_cache"]=> bool(true) ["post_type"]=> string(0) "" ["posts_per_page"]=> int(15) ["nopaging"]=> bool(false) ["comments_per_page"]=> string(2) "50" ["no_found_rows"]=> bool(false) ["order"]=> string(4) "DESC" } ["tax_query"]=> object(WP_Tax_Query)#92 (2) { ["queries"]=> array(0) { } ["relation"]=> string(3) "AND" } ["meta_query"]=> object(WP_Meta_Query)#91 (2) { ["queries"]=> array(0) { } ["relation"]=> NULL } ["post_count"]=> int(15) ["current_post"]=> int(-1) ["in_the_loop"]=> bool(false) ["comment_count"]=> int(0) ["current_comment"]=> int(-1) ["found_posts"]=> string(2) "22" ["max_num_pages"]=> float(2) ["max_num_comment_pages"]=> int(0) ["is_single"]=> bool(false) ["is_preview"]=> bool(false) ["is_page"]=> bool(false) ["is_archive"]=> bool(true) ["is_date"]=> bool(true) ["is_year"]=> bool(false) ["is_month"]=> bool(true) ["is_day"]=> bool(false) ["is_time"]=> bool(false) ["is_author"]=> bool(false) ["is_category"]=> bool(false) ["is_tag"]=> bool(false) ["is_tax"]=> bool(false) ["is_search"]=> bool(false) ["is_feed"]=> bool(false) ["is_comment_feed"]=> bool(false) ["is_trackback"]=> bool(false) ["is_home"]=> bool(false) ["is_404"]=> bool(false) ["is_comments_popup"]=> bool(false) ["is_paged"]=> bool(false) ["is_admin"]=> bool(false) ["is_attachment"]=> bool(false) ["is_singular"]=> bool(false) ["is_robots"]=> bool(false) ["is_posts_page"]=> bool(false) ["is_post_type_archive"]=> bool(false) ["query_vars_hash"]=> string(32) "29e55a1a3aa1f3528df6d2f78ab0a1f0" ["query_vars_changed"]=> bool(false) ["thumbnails_cached"]=> bool(false) ["query"]=> array(2) { ["year"]=> string(4) "2008" ["monthnum"]=> string(2) "05" } ["request"]=> string(252) " SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND YEAR(wp_posts.post_date)='2008' AND MONTH(wp_posts.post_date)='5' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (wp_posts.post_status = 'publish') ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 15" ["posts"]=> &array(15) { [0]=> object(stdClass)#115 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(493) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 02:18:32" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 07:18:32" ["post_content"]=> string(1644) "Starting your own web design agency and becoming the Blue Flavor or the Happy Cog of Australia is the dream of so many who come to Web Directions every year I'm sure. Such a big step though, and not a decision to be taken lightly. Knowledge is the thing that will help you take the plunge though if you think you've got what it takes. Not so much knowledge of how to be a great designer and developer - I'm sure you've got that. The thing you might not have is knowledge about what it really takes to run an agency. Here's a very generous and candid article from Keith Robinson - Working with Blue Flavour, which is actually about engaging Blue Flavor to do work for you, but struck me as having a wealth of excellent advice on the ins and outs of the early stages of working with a client.Also check out Josh Williams' presentation from Web Directions North this year - Bedroom to Boardroom, and to hear from someone with hands on of experience in building an agency in the Australian environment from scratch, don't miss Kay Smoljak's presentation at Web Directions South this year. After years of working in a larger agency Kay and her partner David Ridgway went out on their own and start Clever Starfish in 2006, and from what I have heard, they haven't looked back." ["post_title"]=> string(37) "Thinking about going out on your own?" 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At the same time we are confident that we make the ticket price as reasonable as we possibly can for such an event.The addition of the Expo and more extentensive sponsorship last year meant that we could have student pricing for the first time, and we're able to do the same thing in Sydney this time around as well. We'll have a limited number of tickets for just $250 available for full time students. Check the pricing page for full details.Yes, $250 may still seem like a lot of money if you are a full time student. But think of it this way: it's only $2.08 per day between now and the conference. Can you find that?" ["post_title"]=> string(43) "Web Directions South 2008 - Student pricing" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(41) "web-directions-south-2008-student-pricing" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(44) " http://south08.webdirections.org/?page_id=5" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 19:55:03" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-28 00:55:03" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=491" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#117 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(490) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 17:19:06" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 22:19:06" ["post_content"]=> string(175) "Looks like using images as link anchors is patented.This madness has got to end sometime soon no?" ["post_title"]=> string(41) "Time to stop using images as link anchors" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(41) "time-to-stop-using-images-as-link-anchors" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 17:19:06" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 22:19:06" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=490" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "3" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#118 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(489) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 00:13:23" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 05:13:23" ["post_content"]=> string(1273) "

Some years ago I had the privilege to see Sir Tim Berners-lee speak at WWW2005 in Japan. One of the things which stayed with me was his strong emphasis on the word "user" in the term "user agent". In particular he made mention of pop up ads, and how these violated the intrinsic contract of the web - that the user is on control of their experience.Those of us who use the web a lot will probably come across quite a number of these kinds of annoyances - where the designer of a site makes decisions that should be left in the hands of the user.A few which spring to mind are
• Any kind of splash page (bonus demerit points for a non HTML splash page) - I'm here already, don't waste my time!
• Links which open in new windows. Extra bonus points where you use JavaScript to open a new window even when I choose to open in a new tab.
Changing the size of my window, and adding or removing toolbars. That really irritates me.
• Content I can't command-f find. That's right folks, text is text. I don't give one metric fig for image replacement techniques.

What major irritations do web sites cause you when using the web? Let's build a list of things we'd love to see web sites never do again." ["post_title"]=> string(30) "Top user experience annoyances" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(30) "top-user-experience-annoyances" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 00:13:23" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 05:13:23" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=489" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "4" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [4]=> object(stdClass)#119 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(488) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 21:52:48" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 02:52:48" ["post_content"]=> string(1484) "After a few twitter induced hiccups, we've both launched Web Directions South, and managed to reboot the server which didn't seem to like a rather large spike in traffic after word got out about the launch on Twitter this am.There's a lot we could say about the lineup - the return of some crowd favourites from conferences past - like Jeffrey Veen and Derek Featherstone - as well as new speakers like Douglas Crockford, Lynne D Johnson, Daniel Burka, Jeff Croft, and Jina Bolton, and of course many other fine international and local experts.But instead we'll just encourage you to take a look at our lineup, the workshops we have planned, and hope you'll share with us the excitement. Maxine and I have been working for months to put the programme together, and frankly, we think it rocks. We hope you think so too.Registration is now open, with an early bird price of just $850 until July 15th. And if you've come to any of our conferences before, we've got a special discount of $100 off that - so if you've not received an email, drop us a line and we'll let you know about how to get it.And feel free to let us know what you think abut the lineup!john and maxine " ["post_title"]=> string(15) "And lift off..." ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(12) "and-lift-off" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(41) " http://www.webdirections.org/contact-us/" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 21:52:48" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 02:52:48" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=488" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [5]=> object(stdClass)#120 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(487) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 20:55:12" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 01:55:12" ["post_content"]=> string(180) "When anaesthetists from Blakehurst start doing things like this ... be afraid." ["post_title"]=> string(33) "Oh, hello mob, how are you today?" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(30) "oh-hello-mob-how-are-you-today" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 20:55:12" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-27 01:55:12" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=487" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "2" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [6]=> object(stdClass)#121 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(486) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-25 20:57:00" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 01:57:00" ["post_content"]=> string(698) "ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has published a detail report entitled "Top Six Trends in Communications and Media Technologies, Applications and Services—Possible Implications".Section 5, "Web-based services and the emerging 'social web'" focusses on where these technologies might be headed. What's interesting is that their predictions for the next 5 years roughly approximate to what folks like those who attend our conferences are doing right now. Which goes to reinforce an adage I not infrequently use, "if you want to know what you'll be doing in 3 years, look at what the geeks are doing now"." ["post_title"]=> string(50) "ACMA - Top six trends in communications technology" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(48) "acma-top-six-trends-in-communications-technology" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-25 20:57:00" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 01:57:00" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=486" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "7" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [7]=> object(stdClass)#122 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(485) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-25 20:48:29" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 01:48:29" ["post_content"]=> string(259) "Melbourne Keynote speaker Andy Budd did an in-depth interview with Matt Magain at SitePoint while down south, and it's now published. Quite an epic it is too, and well worth a read." ["post_title"]=> string(32) "Andy Budd interview at SitePoint" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(32) "andy-budd-interview-at-sitepoint" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-25 20:48:29" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-26 01:48:29" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=485" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [8]=> object(stdClass)#123 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(484) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-22 23:38:13" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-23 04:38:13" ["post_content"]=> string(1368) "Thanks to all who helped make both Web Directions UX and Web Directions Government fantastic successes. The turnouts were wonderful, presentations world class, and the vibe at both conferences enthusiastic and excited.Based on the success of both these events, I'm sure we'll be seeing them return.You'll find slideshows from a number of the presenters online already at Slideshare, while pocasts and slideshows of most if not all presentations from both conferences should be online at the conference site very soon.In the meantime, a huge thanks to

• Robert Hoekmann Jr. Andy Budd and Jose Alonso for coming from all over the world to speak
• All the wonderful local speakers who came from all over the country to share their experience and ideas
• Our wonderful volunteers - Lachlan Hardy, Lisa Miller and Cheryl Gledhill
• Our supporters and exhibitors
• But most of all, those hundreds of folks who turned up in Melbourne and in Canberra. Whether it was your first Web Directions event, or like many, a return visit, we really can't thank you enough for all your support.

Stay tuned for announcements of Web Directions South very soon, and keep an eye out too for the podcasts,john and maxine" ["post_title"]=> string(9) "Thank you" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "thank-you-2" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-22 23:38:13" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-23 04:38:13" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=484" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [9]=> object(stdClass)#124 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(483) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-21 00:33:16" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-21 05:33:16" ["post_content"]=> string(826) "Wondering if anyone out there might be interested in about a day's work, some time in the next week, to help us produce the podcasts from Web Directions User Experience and Government. We're all set up to manage the podcasting itself ourselves, but we need someone who can

• record a simple intro and outro for each of them
• downsample all the audio recorded from the sessions and edit out the beginning and end
• edit in the intro and outro you recorded

We've got a simple formula for the intro and outro, and don't need any music or anything fancy like that. As I said, I can't see it being more than a day's work, probably a lot less. Please get in touch if you think you can help us out some time in the next week with this." ["post_title"]=> string(22) "Podcasts - help wanted" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(20) "podcasts-help-wanted" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(41) " http://www.webdirections.org/contact-us/" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-21 00:33:16" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-21 05:33:16" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=483" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [10]=> object(stdClass)#125 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(482) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 01:24:17" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 06:24:17" ["post_content"]=> string(587) "I took this photo late last year. I can't recall exactly which CD it was, or whether it was software or music. I have a feeling it might have been a game for the Wii?

You can tell pretty clearly that the design doesn't work. So, how do they respond? By blaming the user for poor design, and then threatening punishment (I'd suggest against the trade practices act) of the user when the design fails.The funny thing is, you see this kind of thing all the time." ["post_title"]=> string(36) "When all else fails, blame the user " ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(34) "when-all-else-fails-blame-the-user" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 01:24:17" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 06:24:17" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=482" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [11]=> object(stdClass)#126 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(481) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 23:37:38" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 04:37:38" ["post_content"]=> string(4879) "Today I've had need not once but twice to use complex form based interfaces from two enormous multinational companies. Each was a spectacularly frustrating experience, and goes to show just how far we are from designing decent web experiences much of the time. In order to salvage at least some value from these experiences, and given Web Directions UX is coming up this week, I thought I might reflect on what made them such bad experiences.At the first site, I was informed in small print (I only noticed after failing the process the first time) that IE6 or higher was required. We aren't talking about a particularly advanced setup here - radio buttons, text fields, and little more. Why restrict the experience? I expect the .aspx suffix might have something to do with it. Interestingly, with Safari (I got all the way to the end with no inkling Safari was not welcome) and then Firefox 3 on the Mac, all went fine right until the final, javascript driven step, when simply nothing happened. I finally fired up Windows, used IE, and got the job finished. To make matters worse, many of the individual steps within the process were confusing, and themselves extremely frustrating. Time and again I was asked for information that was extraneous - but mandatory.This is not a process one is likely to go through all that often, so I'm unlikely to learn the system making it less frustrating, and the business involved could run into the tens of thousands for this organization - so you think there'd be an incentive to get this right.At the end of it all, I received an email to let me know that they weren't sure they'd be able to meet my request - but hang tight and they'll get to me to clarify my requirements (which they'd asked for in excruciating and yet also sufficiently vague detail as for me to wonder what the point of the exercise really was.) So the entire exercise was essentially meaningless.The whole thing could have been streamlined dramatically, finished in a fraction of the time, and the process would not have left me with tension from my fingernails to jawbone.Meanwhile, the other experience (with an even bigger company), essentially completely failed because I didn't meet their form's criteria for the service they are offering. I do meet their criteria, but the business logic embedded in their forms required me to be geographically located in a particular area (which is in fact irrelevant to the service being provided).False precision is a major reason why both these experiences were so bad. Both of the services are highly tailored and individualised, and so seeking a large amount of seemingly precise data on my requirements is an exercise in frustration.If there's a lesson in this, it's that when designing this kind of experience, identify the outcome you want, and then do the bare minimum to get to the next step. Time and again, there seems to be a focus on the business process of the vendor or service provider, rather than the users' experience in the design of the experience. It's business centered design, not user centered design.Often on the web, form driven interaction will be a single transaction which entirely takes place on the web then and there. Yes, you'll need certain details to complete the transaction - but my phone number? My address? My title? I'm still never sure what a title is (though I guess it's pretty improtant if you are a general or some such, but how many people care?). If you've got a Wii, go and look at their Wiishop system - all it asks for is a credit card number for buying points. I was dreading the idea of filling in name, address, mother's maiden name, first pet, and goodness knows what other details in order to make a purchase using the Wiimote and a virtual keyboard, but the process took just a moment. Compare this with the number of times I've had 30 mins or so in an airport, and wanted to connect to grab some emails, only for the signup process to take seemingly most of that time.In other cases like mine today, the whole process will likely take negotiation and clarification, which may take days or longer. In this case, just make it quick and simple to get to the next step (afterall, in both these cases, I might be seeking information from up to a dozen competing service providers).My rule of thumb - ask only what you absolutely have to in order to get to the next stage of the relationship. And be driven by your user's needs, and not your own.I look forward to what our wonderful speakers have to say on this and related topics in Melbourne on Friday, and your horror stories (as well as stories of good form based user experiences).Just don't get me started on online banking!john" ["post_title"]=> string(9) "Poor form" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(9) "poor-form" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 23:37:38" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 04:37:38" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=481" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "1" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [12]=> object(stdClass)#127 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(480) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 19:10:11" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 00:10:11" ["post_content"]=> string(858) "Cameron Adams, known worldwide as "the man in blue", has done it again. His latest masterpiece is cubescape, a javascript tour de force, showing just how rich and interactive javascript based applications can be.It's also fun to play with. So go and marvel at what you can do in your browser today with standards based technologies.And, if you want to learn first hand from a maestro like Cam, then this Thursday in Melbourne, and the following Tuesday Cameron is holding an all day "Frontiers of Javascript" workshop as part of our Web Directions UX and government conferences. You'd have to go a long way to find a better teacher, and a better workshop, in our humble opinions. " ["post_title"]=> string(45) "Cubescape - Cameron Adam's latest masterpiece" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(42) "cubescape-cameron-adams-latest-masterpiece" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(49) " http://ux08.webdirections.org/workshops/#post-12" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 19:10:11" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-13 00:10:11" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=480" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [13]=> object(stdClass)#128 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(479) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-11 20:03:32" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 01:03:32" ["post_content"]=> string(1313) "Just a reminder of the free event this Thursday in Melbourne, brought to you by Web directions,the Web Standards Group and the W3C Australia Office - featuring Jose Alonso (lead of the W3C's eGovernment initiative) and Richard Ishida, the W3C's internationalization guru - and it's free. Not only that, but there's even finger food, courtesy of SitePoint and Web Directions, plus giveaways. Places are limited, so please RSVP (just let us know the names of folks coming).

Date: Thursday, May 15th
Time: 6.30pm for 7pm start
City: Melbourne
Venue: The Order Of Melbourne, Level 2, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 [map]
Cost: FREE (but please RSVP!)

---

Remember too, if you are in Sydney, the same lineup is appearing for the Web Standards Group up there on Friday. More details, and RSVP at the WSG site. " ["post_title"]=> string(50) "Free Event in melbourne this Thursday - a reminder" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(48) "free-event-in-melbourne-this-thursday-a-reminder" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(41) " http://www.webdirections.org/contact-us/" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-11 20:03:32" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 01:03:32" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=479" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [14]=> object(stdClass)#129 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(478) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-11 19:57:05" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 00:57:05" ["post_content"]=> string(488) "Web Directions User Experience, and Government are now fast approaching - UX kicking off Thursday with workshops by Cameron Adams, and Andy Budd, followed by the conference Friday, and then Government Monday, and workshops Tuesday - so a busy week coming up.Some places still available for the conferences, and workshops, though Andy Budd's workshop has sold out.These are going to be fantastic conferences, so if you are wavering, it's time to make up your mind!See you there" ["post_title"]=> string(49) "Web Directions UX and Government fast approaching" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(49) "web-directions-ux-and-government-fast-approaching" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-11 19:57:05" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-12 00:57:05" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=478" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post"]=> object(stdClass)#115 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(493) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 02:18:32" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 07:18:32" ["post_content"]=> string(1644) "Starting your own web design agency and becoming the Blue Flavor or the Happy Cog of Australia is the dream of so many who come to Web Directions every year I'm sure. Such a big step though, and not a decision to be taken lightly. Knowledge is the thing that will help you take the plunge though if you think you've got what it takes. Not so much knowledge of how to be a great designer and developer - I'm sure you've got that. The thing you might not have is knowledge about what it really takes to run an agency. Here's a very generous and candid article from Keith Robinson - Working with Blue Flavour, which is actually about engaging Blue Flavor to do work for you, but struck me as having a wealth of excellent advice on the ins and outs of the early stages of working with a client.Also check out Josh Williams' presentation from Web Directions North this year - Bedroom to Boardroom, and to hear from someone with hands on of experience in building an agency in the Australian environment from scratch, don't miss Kay Smoljak's presentation at Web Directions South this year. After years of working in a larger agency Kay and her partner David Ridgway went out on their own and start Clever Starfish in 2006, and from what I have heard, they haven't looked back." ["post_title"]=> string(37) "Thinking about going out on your own?" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(36) "thinking-about-going-out-on-your-own" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(111) "http://www.webdirections.org/resources/wdn08-josh-williams/ http://south08.webdirections.org/?page_id=7#post-49" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 02:18:32" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2008-05-29 07:18:32" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(35) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=493" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "4" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["queried_object"]=> NULL ["queried_object_id"]=> int(0) }