What non technical books do you like to read when you're sat on the beach?

Posted by: Mac on August 22, 2002 07:43 AM

 

When does NNg plan to make another trip to Hong Kong?

Posted by: Daniel on August 22, 2002 07:46 AM

 

What's with the sideburns?

Posted by: Lyle - Usability Guru on August 22, 2002 11:17 AM

 

Hmmm....

Maybe I should instead ask the WebWord community to ask me interview questions. That would be a hoot.

(I can't believe I just used the word hoot. I must be getting old.)

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 22, 2002 11:25 AM

 

Will you come to my barbecue next weekend?

Posted by: Jack on August 22, 2002 11:56 AM

 

What do you consider was your last significant contribution to our understanding of usability? Do you feel that constantly running user observation studies extends our understanding?

Sherlock

Posted by: sherlock_yoda on August 22, 2002 12:17 PM

 

Will you be the mother of my children? I want super smart Ph.D. kids!

Posted by: Kung Pao on August 22, 2002 12:17 PM

 

See John, this is what you've created. You didn't keep me on a leash and now there's a bunch of little boys running around picking their noses and eating dirt. Bad parenting, John. Bad parenting.

Posted by: Jack on August 22, 2002 12:33 PM

 

I really am having a BBQ next weekend, but none of you are invited. Only Dr. Nielsen.

Posted by: Jack on August 22, 2002 02:28 PM

 

Tell us about the origins and intentions of Alertbox and how it has evolved the past seven years.

Posted by: Ron Zeno on August 22, 2002 05:40 PM

 

I question the value of another interview with Nielsen. His ideas have been overexposed as it is. People have had plenty of opportunity to learn from his strengths, which are many, and also to criticize his weaknesses, which are also many.

Why don't you talk to some other voices instead, possibly from people that have strengths coinciding with Nielsen's weaknesses. Here's some suggestions: Steve Krug - he always seems to have a real-world approach; Barbara Chaparro has led a lot of real, published research; Zeldman - his vim for standards is borderline controversial; Don Norman - he may not write as colorfully as Nielsen, but he's got more to say; and how about any of the hundreds of other usability people that are doing interesting and respectable work?

The tiresome Nielsen bashing makes you realize that usability is an immature field if it is defined by one character.

Posted by: DSiegel on August 22, 2002 06:05 PM

 

Yes, I would like to hear from the Big Names in Usability. Ask all of them the same questions and give them a word limit on their responses. Then slap up the responses side-by-side so we can compare.

Posted by: Jack on August 22, 2002 06:14 PM

 

Point out three examples of when you've put your money where you mouth is.

Posted by: Shane on August 22, 2002 06:57 PM

 

You stopped publishing reader comments on Alertbox in Sep 2000. What was the reason for this?

Posted by: Mac on August 23, 2002 02:31 AM

 

In the first half of 2002 over a third of the links in Alertbox articles sent people to NNGroup Reports. It has been commented that the quality of Alertbox articles have dropped over this period. What do your usage logs show you about Alertbox articles published during this period?

The last couple of Alertbox articles appear to be reversing this trend with more links to external sites and less sales pitches for your reports. Is this a concious move or just a coincidence?

Posted by: Mac on August 23, 2002 02:38 AM

 

The two most popular Alertbox articles in terms on backlinks and mentions in usenet groups are "Top Ten Mistakes Of Web Design" and "Why Frames Suck Most Of The Time", both written in 1996. In Top Ten Mistakes the number one mistake is listed as Using Frames. Would you agree that your biggest contribution to web usability has been this clear condemnation of Frames?

Posted by: Mac on August 23, 2002 02:46 AM

 

if this usability growth trend continues for another fifteen years, we'll reach full usability guideline compliance.

This statement has generated many negative comments in the Usability Community. Do you regret making this statement? Or have you been mis-interpreted?

Posted by: Mac on August 23, 2002 02:51 AM

 

Congratulations on your new film.

Some have suggested you would make a good villain in the next Austin Powers movie, and there are rumours that you may appear as Yoda's brother in the next Star Wars film (hmmm found some usability problems you have. The Power of the Flash is strong in this one, but beware the dark side of the Flash)

What will your next movie be?

Posted by: Mac on August 23, 2002 02:56 AM

 

While I agree that an interview with Steve Krug would be very cool, I do think a "community" interview w/ Uncle Jakob would be very interesting to see. I'm glad at least a few are taking it seriously.

One question I'd like to ask him is whether he thinks women have taken a unique approach to the application of usability.

I'd also like to identify a website that he thinks has a pleasing design - criteria is design only, not usability or whether it has good informational content or if that content is accessible and clearly displayed. Just what collection of colors, layout, and graphics does he like the best?

Good idea, John - can't wait to see the results.

Posted by: Lydia on August 23, 2002 03:57 PM

 

Questions for John:

- What web word were you thinking about when you chose "Webword" as a name?

- Isn't that color green you use on your site also known as "Incredible Hulk green"? Did you find that color around your house, or does the Hulk reference maybe have something to do with "Industrial Strength Usability?"

- What part of Area 51 do you live in?

- Remember your personal information?

- What do you want to be when you grow up?

- Why did you think this would be a "hoot?" This is pretty lame. You are a lousy interviewee.

- Can I have your autograph?

- Can you come out and play?

Posted by: Lyle - Bored Usability Geek on August 23, 2002 05:03 PM

 

Question for Jakob

Are you really a hobbit?

Posted by: Lyle - Usability Guru on August 23, 2002 05:45 PM

 

For The J-Man:

Have you ever had a moment during a usability test where the behavior you were observing caused you to lose composure and laugh out loud? If so, please explain.

Posted by: Jack on August 23, 2002 06:53 PM

 

Yes...set up a chat for webword people and have Filbert come on. I would be there and it would give Webword huge exposure.

Questions....

- Why the change in attitude towards flash?
- Do you think your eventual guidelines will change designer behavior?
- Why the change in strategy on your useit web site....why did you believe it should be used as a vehicle for business and has it been successful?
- Do you intend to revisit some of your prediction that you have made and address why you think they did not materialize?
- Do you think usability as a profession is heading in the right direction and what do you think it will take to make it more mainstream?
- How do you counter the argument that studies have shown that up to 50% of usability experts cannot agree on what are the major usability issues on a site and that based on their recommendations do not know which ones will have a positive impact?
- How do you counter criticism that your methodology is sometimes, how shall we say, shallow, and is used to back your own arguments as opposed to discovering the truth...even to the detriment of your arguments?
- when will usability develop its own ROI metrics and what do you think they will be?
- what do you think has been the single biggest contribution to the advancement of the science of usability?

And anyone here can answer these if they want.

Posted by: JB on August 27, 2002 12:38 PM

 

Do you think people took this item seriously?

Posted by: Stephen Downes on August 29, 2002 08:55 AM