Michael Costantino's Blogs
Michael Costantino is Principal UI Designer and Information Architect at AOL where he labors energetically to bring new and improved experiences to the glass. For over 15 years he has managed the creation and lifecycles of award-winning technology products ranging from websites, to CD-ROMs, to e-Learning architectures, to fitness hardware/software, to computer sound equipment/software, and more. In recent years Costantino has lead major information architecture initiatives for Intel, AOL, Pitney Bowes, IBM, Aetna, New Balance, Nordic Lottery Systems, and Prentice Hall. He has taught and written about information architecture and is committed to bringing keen intelligence, quality, innovation, excitement, and the feeling of "just right" to his work. Mike has two Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, and a BA in Music and Astrophysics from Williams College, where he received the Hubbard Hutchinson Fellowship upon graduation for outstanding creative work. His life is held in balance thanks to family, friends, ultimate frisbee, music, a cappella, and sleeping on the train. "tutto nel mondo é burla" Verdi, Falstaff
I recall gathering with my family in the living room, watching our single TV set:
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 0 - BLAST OFF!!!!!
ROAR of unbelievably powerful rocket engines. HUGE Saturn V rocket engulfed in smoke and flames. INCOMPREHENSIBLE forces inching untold tonnage slowly upward, breaking away from gantry tubes, somehow going straight upward, hurtling its miniscule human cargo toward exciting exploration and discovery missions in outer space.
Not coincidentally, we all just got past the most famous recurring example of this type of cultural artifact:
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Woooo Hooooo! Yelling. Noise-making. Kisses. Champagne. Affection. Reminiscing. Resolutions.
Countdowns are Cool!
Read on and learn how to Rock Your UI! >>
Well, it's been a few years since the book "Skip Intro" by Duncan McAlester and Michelangelo Capraro. I'm guessing that its lessons weren't quite absorbed by the web strategists for each of the presidential campaigns.
A thorough analysis of each site would be a worthwhile effort for several articles, but for now let's just take a look at how each site employs the splash screen.
The thing about trivia is that it's never old. I mean, the facts are old, sure, but the fun of trying to remember just seems to be a part of human nature. Think of how many Trivial Pursuits are out there... even a Harry Potter edition.
That's one reason why we decided to go ahead and create User-Generated Quizzes on Moviefone. Its first weekend's metrics provide the second reason... actual numbers forthcoming, but many tens of thousands.
Like a novice forensics specialist I examine the scenario. What actually happened here? What did the user enter in the field? What did the user mean by "bed pillows?" What was the user trying to achieve? What tools (features & datum) were available to help the user accomplish the task?
===== begin scene =====
I guess I should just ask myself (aka the user):
"What did you mean?"
He answers:
"What I meant was that I was looking for new bed pillows to sit up in bed with when we watch TV or read a book... maybe they're called reading pillows... I dunno. I'm just trying to find some stoopid pillows for God's sake."
The user sounds a little frustrated, so I ask another question:
"Why did you type in 'bed pillows'?"
He blurts out:
"Because that's what you're SUPPOSED to do, right?! Enter 'key words'."
please read more...
N.B. This is a half-comic research and analysis narrative, and the longest blog you've read in a while. Get your glasses, a cup of coffee, and about 10 minutes of free time.
This also happens to be the time when really cool interactive greeting cards make their way onto the stage. Instead of our usual daily gruel of news and RSS we finally get a chance to sink our dentures into some figgy pudding. This was my favorite from last year:
http://www.bigspaceship.com/holidaycard2006/
Brilliant! Make your own Mystery Science Theater 2000 piece... send it to others. How funny. How creative. How easy. How.. well, jolly!
Please sir, may I have some more?
Tell us about some of the best ones you remember?
Let's all try to put some silly (Ger. selig "blessed, happy, blissful") into our holidays (O.E. haligdæg, from halig "holy" + dæg "day").
