Just watched a fascinating InfoQ video of a talk by Giles Colborne, of Bristol-based design consultancy cxpartners, on the question of “simplicity” in software design.  He brings in all kinds of interesting examples and points out ways to improve the user’s perception of simplicity when using your products, as well as pointing to various warning signs of a system that lacks simplicity.  And the terrifying vision of Microsoft Word with every toolbar enabled will haunt my nightmares for years to come…

InfoQ is also the place to visit for another intriguing presentation by anthropology professor and former Xerox PARC worker, Lucy Suchman, on Practice-based design: Some obejct lessons.   Many software developers are familiar with the concept of “object-oriented design”, but Lucy Suchman challenges us techies by asking more fundamental questions about how users identify and relate to “objects” in their working environments, and how developers of systems and products can reflect these relationships in their approach to design.  So put aside your UML diagrams and books of patterns and enjoy a fresh perspective on your favourite buzzwords…

…or curse the darkness.

Following the recent somewhat uninspiring spectacle of our Prime Minister in his ill-advised YouTube appearance (more of an apparition, really…), I thought I ought to respond by offering a couple of more inspiring alternatives to those of you who are also relatively new to the world of online video enlightenment.  Perhaps somebody should tell Gordon…

Be a TED-head!

TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) started out in 1984 as a “conference bringing together people from those three worlds” (About TED).  In the last 25 years it has metamorphosed from a worthy if perhaps slightly dull-sounding caterpillar into a fascinating, challenging and entertaining butterfly, a place where you can find short (20 minute) talks on almost any subject under the sun by a host of experts, artists and others.

• Want to know what went wrong at the Large Hadron Collider?  Ask TED.
• Concerned about climate change?  Watch Al Gore on TED. 
• Want to see and hear Cape Breton fiddle music (you know you do)?  Tune in to TED.
• Do you believe a man can fly?  Soar with TED.
• Want to be happy?  Listen to Matthieu Ricard at TED.

Go on, take some time to cruise from one fascinating talk to another.

Talk Tech

OK, if you’re the kind of person who’d be interested in this one, then you’re probably already watching it instead of wading through this page, but just in case…

Google Tech Talks are a great place to learn about today’s cutting edge information technology, as well as talks on other topics such as monitoring carbon emissions, the history of NASA Ames Research Center, building a bicycle out of old plastic bottles, or how the band Nine Inch Nails use Google Earth to create their own online geo-community. 

Put your work aside and and share some quality time with the Alpha Geeks…

See you there!