Gleanings: folded and unfolding

From: Gleanings To: listeners Subject: Gleanings: folded and unfolding It’s a foggy Monday in San Francisco, so I […]

From: Gleanings
To: listeners
Subject: Gleanings: folded and unfolding

It’s a foggy Monday in San Francisco, so I thought I’d start the day off with some humor

How people forwarded jokes before there was email.

and of course, we will all get this t-shirt

USABILITY MATTERS

it’s an old song, but as dsl, cable modems and the like get more attention, we need to remember that most of America isn’t there yet.

InfoWorld: The speed of business: If your pages are slow, your customers will
go.
I understand the difference between Web-and host-based systems, but the
difference between 2 and 8 seconds is far too much. Our expectations appear to be heading in the wrong direction. I’m also certain we didn’t become more
patient over the years.

Useit.Com: From March 1, 1997; The Need for Speed

IA MATTERS

I know it may sound odd, but I believe IA’s should try folding origami from diagrams. the act of using a diagram to create a 3d object is both satisfying, relaxing and makes you consider what it takes to write halfway decent instructions. I’m sure there are other hobbies that would produce the same set of feelings and skills (model airplanes? knitting) but origami is my choice.

Of particular interest here is the “Phone Folding” –text only instructions.

My favorite of the origami sites

The page of diagrams

GENERAL NEWS

eCompany: A New Way to Keep Score on the Web.
At IRI, they gave 50,000 pen scanners to a panel of consumers to keep track of all their purchases — an expensive proposition. Now, on the Web, they’ve
attracted 1.3 million surfers who willingly allow ComScore to stalk them
online and record every click.

the new star wars trailer is a hoax? (and yes, I’m a bit behind on this one. if you want your news pre-masticated, you’ll have to live with it)

anyhow, if you wanted to waste your whole day watching fanfilms, check this out

Forbes: MongoMusic Fans Include Microsoft.
People like to think their tastes are quirky and unique, and Hinman doesn’t
disagree. He just believes he’s found a way to predict their music likes and
dislikes–down to the chord, even–using a database of songs and a patent-
pending computer program.

more on music and the napster influence