User Experience

From a design and development standpoint, user experience is the applied practice of making technology accessible. From an end-user's standpoint, user experience determines how well elements such as layout, graphics, feature hierarchy and navigation combine to make a technology usable and painless.

As with any design practice applied to technology, user experience is a blend of both science and art. While drawing on scientific principles from the fields of cognitive psychology and human computer interaction, the creation of a positive user experiences requires both empathy and aesthetic sensibilities.

As technology becomes increasingly complex, so does the application of good user experience practices become more vital. Apple's continued success in the marketplace serves as an example that success need not hinge on superior hardware, but on the ability to imbue complex technologies with positive, personally rewarding user experiences.

User experience is also a major factor in the blogging and social media spheres: as the quantity, variety and interconnectedness of information increases, so does the importance of good user experience design in making said information more easily accessible. As information sharing becomes increasingly commoditized, the user experience of an online service can become its key differentiator.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “User Experience”

• Apple Crushes Psystar in Ruling: Selling Mac Clones Not OK

  
  Technology Pundit — Authority: 164
  In a ruling that’s a surprise to no-one in the tech industry, a U.S. District Court judge has ruled against Psystar, a company manufacturing Mac clones.
  18 hours ago

• T-Mobile’s Samsung Behold II Launches on November 18th

  
  Technology Info — Authority: 159
  T-Mobile have recently gone official with the Samsung Behold II handset, going for $449.99 or $20.50 per month outright, once it hits the stores on November 18th . There’s also the option of a $229.99 2 year contract, if you’re not afraid of commitments this early on.Behold II seems to be a multimedia powerhouse, ...
  1 day ago

• CrunchPad is ’steamrolling along,’ will cost between $300 and $400

  
  Family Learning Center — Authority: 161
  [IMG: http://www.family-learning-center.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/13bab_crunchpad-near-final-design-20091105.jpg]
  1 day ago

• CrunchPad is ’steamrolling along,’ will cost between $300 and $400

  
  F-Default — Authority: 543
  We’re not super familiar with the term “steamrolling along” as it applies to device launches, but apparently it’s good news for Michael Arrington’s CrunchPad tablet. Mike dropped the news on a recent episode of Steve Gillmor’s “Gillmor Gang” podcast (like “Gilmore Girls,” but with less ...
  1 day ago

• Data, Delight, and User Experience Design

  
  ChangeOrder — Authority: 412
  Many thanks to my friend Ric Ewing, who was a co-author of this piece. Pick a card from the deck that Ive fanned out before you. Memorize the card, then place it on top of the deck. Ill let you cut it a few times, before I reveal that its… the Six of Spades! Whats the secret behind this magic trick? If I told ...
  1 day ago

• SkyCross iMAT Antennas improve WiFi, Bluetooth’s performance

  
  Gadgetmix news — Authority: 595
  SkyCross has come up with an iMAT Antenna for netbooks and which claim to improve the WiFI and Bluetooth performance“Chip makers are very encouraged by this breakthrough, and manufacturers are... Read more by clicking on the link above..
  1 day ago

• Nokia Booklet 3G [Review]

  
  Computer & Internet - computer-internet.marc8.com — Authority: 164
  Nokia is one of the most unlikely companies to launch a netbook, given that cell phones are its claim to fame. Most manufacturers can attest that the key to a successful netbook is to find the right combination of differentiators while minimizing its flaws. The design, battery life, and user experience are exceptional ...
  1 day ago

• actface Rhythm: Mobile interface design “experience it”

  
  I2fly — Authority: 113
  I’ve recently stumbled upon an interesting interface design by teamlab , the way they designed and looked into the natural dynamics of touch interface is amazing. I liked it personally very much such an amazingly rich, engaging experience that’s just bursting with possibility for further creativity. ...
  2 days ago

• Meet Microsoft’s antidote to Vista

  
  Putting people first — Authority: 432
  Microsoft Corp. is counting on Ms. Larson-Green, its head of Windows Experience, to deliver an operating system that delights the world’s PC users as much as its last effort, Vista, disappointed them. “She’s in charge of a wide swath of the system, from the way buttons and menus work to getting the software ...
  2 days ago

• 3 reasons TV is about to get a facelift

  
  Gadget Reviews — Authority: 148
  GigaOm’s NewTeeVee Live event, which explores the future of TV, took place in San Francisco today. Though there were a number of interesting demos and presentations, three really stood out as being most likely to shape how we watch TV in the immediate future.The first of these was Boxee’s announcement that it will ...
  2 days ago

• Missed the OpenOffice.org Conference? Enter Christophs Time Machine!

  
  GullFOSS — Authority: 421
  Do not miss your opportunity to enterChristophs time machine , if you could not attend this years OOoCon inOrvieto . Even if you have attended, it gives you the possibility tosee the conference from a non-developers point of view. Enjoy! Best regards, Frank
  2 days ago

• New Yorks Taxis and the Power of the Nudge

  
  design mind - business. technology. design. — Authority: 584
  An NY Times article illustrates the large effects that can accumulate from small nudges that influence behavior: [T]he back-of-the-cab swipe has emerged as an unlikely savior for New York’s taxi industry, even as other cities’ fleets struggle to find fares in a deep recession. Overall ridership and revenue ...
  3 days ago

• Free DA: the Market That Never Was

  
  Internet2Go - An Opus Research Advisory Service - — Authority: 138
  Its a mystery in a way that the free DA market simply hasnt materialized as we at one time expected. Logically it should have because these services represent a mass-market form of local mobile search and a seemingly perfect ad platform. But just as PPCall never really developed online (though now theres movement ...
  3 days ago

• What is "The Fun Theory" really worth?

  
  ChaosScenario — Authority: 107
  A couple of people took note of VWs campaign " The Fun Theory ." Most recently Corley suggested it " furthers VWs corporate social responsibility ." Ultimately, I believe she is correct in saying that, but its a broad statement begging to be unpacked. To be sure, this campaign isnt about VW being socially ...
  3 days ago

• Online community best practices: Effective signup process

  
  Brian Cray's Blog — Authority: 103
  This article focuses on providing new members with an effective join/signup process. Although some of these principles may seem obvious, I’ve gone through plenty of membership signup forms that still suck. So hence the post. 4 elements of an effective online community signup process 1. Easy to use web form design ...
  3 days ago

• Nokia has designs on India

  
  Putting people first — Authority: 432
  Nokia’s senior design specialists are touring India to discover how Indians use cellphones. Leslie D’Monte reports for New Delhi’s Business Standard. Jhanvi Madan (not her real name), who lives in Mumbai , has been talking on her cellphone. Unknown to her, a stranger on the other side of the road is observing ...
  3 days ago

• The social dimension of environmental sustainability

  
  Putting people first — Authority: 432
  Experientia collaborator Irene Cassarino went yesterday to the international “ The social dimension of environmental sustainability ” conference, organised at Turin’s Environment Park with the support of the City of Turin. The event, which focused on the importance of social aspects in achieving ...
  3 days ago

• Three reasons TV is about to get a facelift

  
  Gadget Reviews — Authority: 148
  GigaOm’s NewTeeVee Live event, which explores the future of TV, took place in San Francisco today. Though there were a number of interesting demos and presentations, three really stood out as being most likely to shape how we watch TV in the immediate future.The first of these was Boxee’s announcement that it will ...
  3 days ago

• 3 reasons TV’s about to get a facelift

  
  Gadget Reviews — Authority: 148
  GigaOm’s NewTeeVee Live event, which explores the future of TV, took place in San Francisco today. Though there were a number of interesting demos and presentations, three really stood out as being most likely to shape how we watch TV in the immediate future.The first of these was Boxee’s announcement that it will ...
  3 days ago

• BIGresearch: Dislike for Mobile Marketing Has Increased

  
  Internet2Go - An Opus Research Advisory Service - — Authority: 138
  Flying in the face of several recent reports that argue people are becoming more comfortable with mobile marketing BIGResearch has found the opposite. According to the firm, based on surveys of more than 15,000 US adults, "the percentage of people who don’t like mobile marketing has increased": read more
  3 days ago

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