Back Again

Wow! I haven't written on this blog in two years. I was surprised to see that it was still here. I guess that since I have it, I might as well write something interesting on it from time to time.

Metaphorical Interfaces.

If there were no metaphores on your operating systems, would we just go back to the days of doss? Isn't any image based "desk top" a metaphore in some way?

Rob.

Nielsen Sucks

If you are doing style for your project be prepared to see a lot of Jacob Nielsen's name being thrown around. If you want to argue with him be prepared to spend some time looking for people who are willing to do the same. It seems like he has brainwashed everyone into thinking that his way is the best way and if you don't use it you are "stupid, evil, and lazy." F*** him and his style guide if that's the way he wants to be. I'm not either of those things (except maybe a little of the last, but so aren't we all at some time). I now feel it's my personal mission to persuade my audience, no matter how small or varied, that his style is not the only one out there.

Now I feel the need to rant about spam on my blog. Until a couple weeks ago I was doing fine with keeping spam off my blog, but after I left for just a little while it's back. They're like cockroaches, as soon as you kill one another one takes its place. Literally seconds after I posted my last blog a reply was posted, before I even got to view my own blog. I may be forced to use the word recognition thing but I want to keep that as a last resort.

IP

I've returned to my blog briefly after a long absence. I'd like to talk about copyright and open source. The two seem to be an oxymoron. Anything a person writes is automatically copyrighted, so when they write something into an open form that is also copywrited. It's up to the individual to do what they want to with what they write, as long as they don't violate the terms of free use. But, I don't think the average user knows that their work is automatically copywritten, or that they have to register it to keep it safe. If they write an influential peice of software with open source programs, could that be taken and used commerically (violating the rules of "copyleft") if the writer isn't aware? Patents change hands like this everywhere, what about unregistered copyrights on open sourse?

Rob.

Abstract: Style II

"The main focus I would like to look at is whether there is, as Jacob Nielson points out, one right way to build a web page." After some consideration I've decided that this isn't the best way to phrase this point. A better way to phrase this is "Why is it that most sources on writing for a web page perscribe this kind of method?" I feel that this is because the internet is being designed around a "pop-culture" way of reading the web and as such it is being driven in one way. Is it wrong to write a site in long blocks of text that an average reader doesn't want to take the time to read? Not if the point of our site is aimed at a "fringe culture" such as academics or computer science. These are not desinged with the average user in mind, yet they are welcome to read it if they wish.

Abstract: Style

Unfortunately, when most people (myself included) look at a web site they are mainly interested in how the information is laid out, regardless of the actual content of the page. The interesting things about style, especially in connection with web pages, are the many different levels of style that can be implemented; there are styles of writing, page layout, color schemes and font types. The list can be almost inexaustible. The main focus I would like to look at is whether there is, as Jacob Nielson points out, one right way to build a web page; or if there are many equally good ways to present different types of information. It doesn't seem that one style would serve the best interests of a business site and at the same time cater to an academic site, and as with different levels of style on a page there are also an undefinable number of types of web page, all serving a different purpose.

Some of the questions I would like to answer are:

What are the most important elements of style on a web page?
Is there a better style for different types of web pages?
Even if two web pages are doing the same thing, should the style be geared toward a specific audience, or would this alienate a general public?
At what point does style dictate content? or content dictate style?
Are the two really inseperable?

I'm interested in hearing comments on this idea, so feel free.

Rob.

Accessability and the impaired.

I, as most of us probably do, know quite a few people who are physically impaired in some way. I never gave it much thought, but without web accessability these people are missing out on the information super-highway. I know that the amount that each of these people use the internet varies from not at all, to quite a bit. The interesting thing is, I was talking with a blind guy about English. He said that he reads a lot of web pages and didn't understand a lot of the punctuation on these. I never really thougth before about blind people using the internet. I wonder how many web pages are out there that really support these devices.

Wiki and stuff.

I spent the last hour reading the latest blogs from the class and commenting on some, but I didn't say anything substantial, just letting you know I actually read it from time to time. It seems that everyone thinks that wiki is too maleable to be of any real use, or at least practical. In light of this, I think that I am going to change my blog account to something that supports wiki. I think the almost unlimited freedom to change or link, or add to anything would be a better way to go about this whole blog thing. I'm hoping that instead of having to post comments it would allow you to simply add on to what I've written, or create links on certain words, so that you don't have to go throught all the trouble to quote and I don't have to do too much navigating away from this page to view comments. I think that would allow it to be a lot more interactive. If anyone has any idea how I could do this, and if it works like I hope, let me know. I would be interested in giving it a try.

Aside from this, my friends have all moved to different parts of the country. We used to do a lot of writing, and general bs, with things we found amusing. Wiki seems like it would allow us to all access and change the same page however we see fit, to make our seperate arguments or comments. It also allows other interested parties, who may or may not be knowledgable in the subject, to add their comments as well. Sounds interesting, especially since all my friends sit on chat rooms for hours at a time, rotting their brains in pointless conversations. The connections could be endless and honestly, how many times have you read something and thought "They're full of shit. I wish I could rewrite this." Well, now you can.

Rob.