It seems that Google Analytics has launched some new features including – hoorah! – the ability for people NOT in the US to see their stats in local time. Very nice, thanks for that Google. BUT! every since then I’m finding my poor old blog is taking AAAAGGGGEEESSSS to load, while it waits, and waits and waits for Google Analytics. Not sure about you, but that’s probably the number one reason for getting rid of stats code. In fact, that’s almost enough to make me stop dreaming of Measure Map.

Come on Google. Pull your finger out already. Let my blog load quickly again!

(Waves to the lucky people who read via RSS!)

One day I’d really like to design interaction for non-desktop interaction. Here’s a good article that talks a little about ubiquitous design.

• No boundaries: The challenge of ubiquitous design (Adam Greenfield)
  information processing that has left the desktop behind, and been distributed throughout the built environment: “invisible, but in the woodwork everywhere.” (tags: UbiquitousComputing)

Meanwhile, happy wedding anniversary to me :) (and Mick)

do you read OK/Cancel yet? I love how they can say things that I’ve been thinking and could rant about for post after post, using humour and a 3 frame cartoon.

I *love* their most recent cartoon. It illustrates beautifully the problem that we who work in design (be it visual, experience, information, interaction) have to deal with all the time. The fact that *everyone* thinks that their ‘opinion’ counts.

I’m a fan of plain English, making things as non-technical as possible. But sometimes I can see how making things sound v. complicated and difficult would make one’s life much more simple. Either that, or becoming a developer!

If you were in Sydney a few years ago, you might remember the best ever example of industrial action that I’ve ever seen. Rather than pulling another last-minute bus strike in peak hour and leaving people stranded in the morning unable to get to work, the bus drivers decided to run the buses – for free. Their industrial action was to refuse to collect fares. What a great way to get the right kind of attention – from the public AND from their bosses.

I’ve never understood why industrial action so often involves pissing off the people you want to support you – by striking, or holding protest marches through the city at 5pm.

I’m not really sure whether the bus drivers got what they wanted, but I do know that for quite a while, every one in Sydney was totally backing the bus drivers. They were the most popular guys in town. I bet their work was pleasant for those few weeks.

I was reminded of those days of free bus rides this morning, when I scored another free bus ride. This one was much less pleasant though, because the bus driver did NOT take the opportunity to create a positive user experience.

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