Reading on the web

I am having ideas about conducting some usability research on the Internet - I think there is both personal and commercial value in looking into one or two issues in more depth. Gender bias in web design is one area, as well as 'hot topics' such as online "word-of-mouse" and how different people 'consume' the Internet. If anyone has ideas or issues of interest, please fire them over.

For anyone interested, Jakob Neilsen is a big-dog in the field of web usability and has great content on his site. On a related note, how people read the Net interests me. Taken from the UseIt.com website, the following in a pic tracks the eye movement on a website. "Heatmaps from user eyetracking studies of three websites. The areas where users looked the most are colored red; the yellow areas indicate fewer views, followed by the least-viewed blue areas. Gray areas didn't attract any fixations." Interesting eh? Oh, just me then.

Summer Show 06

Stuffed into two rooms in the a-hole of the college, the Foundation Degree show is drawing to a close. First couple of nights drew quite a few visitors, many of whom didn't find our show rooms. Two images on the right are my two areas - displaying the 'icon' branding project and the motion dvd under the pretentious title of 'Awaken from a Dream'.

Anyway, it was a good experience putting the room and our displays up and certainly bought together those of us who bothered to actually turn up.

My final project, icon, is now online on fullscope.co.uk, via the portfolio > marketing > finalm page. Please have a look and email with any thoughts, opinions, likes, dislikes.

Other stuff found around the web... spotted this thread on the graphicdesignforum - tis easily done but nasty stock photography can be a slippery slope to laziness and blandness. Whilst remaining on the subject of graphic stuff, the growing petercrouchcandoanything page is well worth a visit.

Sadly there are two whole days without World Cup football, so best crack on with some work.

And so it begins

With the country going mad for the World Cup, the place is being drenched in St George's crosses. Everyone knows of someone going too far, of a house their mate saw painted with a cross, of white vans with lumpy red paint scrawled across it. INGERLAND. Still, can't help whistling 'Back home' from the '66 team, I am avidly watching every game I can for the duration. Just do d8mn glad its started after being sick the back teeth of build up programmes. Rooney's toe? I really don't care - just play the d8mn game.

Other stuff going on at the moment includes the Final Year Show at college. The course is effectively over the next 10days will see us build, paint and prepare rooms to show our work. Should be nice and busy. On that subject, useful link for graphic design stuff found at allgraphicdesign.

More stuff dragged from the Internet that you may find interesting. YouTube provides more random entertainment - Will Jesus survive? (Works safe but not for kids!). My favourite Flash files are hosted on some virtual space I have free - 3 Beatles songs, I feel fine, Tomorrow, Come Together and and Radiohead's Creep.

Fullscope site in phase 2.0

Fullscope phase2 is launched. Site has been updated with more images and brand tightened up. Still not entirely happy with the branding but it works in the short term, and is not fixed yet. I welcome any feedback, comment and opinion.