Jakob Nielsen, often considered one of the world’s leading thinkers on usability, has discussed the mobile web in his latest Alertbox monthly update, equalling the state of mobile websites today as similar to the state of the desktop internet in 1998. I tend to agree that for many organisations this is the case, with Nielsen’s…
The W3C has finally released the final version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. Announced in a press release this morning Australian time, W3C Web Standard Defines Accessibility for Next Generation Web, the W3C states that, This new standard from the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) will advance accessibility across the full range…
For the last ten years I’ve been making use of Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash) within websites to provide rich content features and applications unattainable with HTML. Unfortunately I still get asked the same questions about Flash, regarding accessibility, file size and how many users have the technology. I’d like to put these to bed….
Forbes magazine has asked whether IT departments are their own worst enemies, in an article, The un-marketing of IT, citing examples such as, Promoting e-mail use but limiting inbox storage and file attachment sizes. Touting the Internet as a data goldmine, then blocking people from visiting so-called non-business sites. Providing people with a PC as…
Research since 1997 has indicated that the ‘fold’ in webpages (the bottom of the first visible screen of a webpage) is no longer a hard barrier for people. However the myth of the fold still persists in many web designs.Boxes and arrows has hosted an excellent article by Milissa Tarquini, Blasting the Myth of the…
I have participated in the beta testing of software for over 20 years now – it’s a great way to get an early look at new developments and to have a level of influence over the development process as a customer (in one case I was even hired as the lead designer on a subsequent…
The first public comments from the government on the Gershon Report are beginning to emerge, with The Australian reporting on Thursday, Tanner targets agency wastage in bid to save $1bn. The article basically focuses on duplication of effort and costs by departments who separately procure IT equipment, software, services and office rent. My feeling is that…
In the last few years I’ve witnessed the rise and rise of design and particularly usability/user experience design as a professional area. In the mid-90s, when I was conducting wireframe-based user testing, observing user behaviour in applications and asking users which functionality was most important to them before building websites, there was low awareness in…
Forrester Research has released a report critiquing the navigation of the websites of John McCain and Barack Obama, claiming that both fail basic navigation tests by potential voters. Nextgov reported in the article, Web sites of both presidential candidates fail to connect with users, that, Forrester used five criteria in its evaluation: clear labels and…
The Google Chrome beta is now available at www.google.com/chrome. I’m taking a look, and will provide impressions, as I did for Internet Explorer 8, later today. Other information is available from ZDNet, who liveblogged the Google press conference, and from the Google Chrome media kit, which includes screenshots and videos.
This archive mirrors the original eGov AU blog — Craig’s professional commentary on AI, digital government and technology in public life, running since 2006.
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