Review: Alertbox scores 1.7 on the Joy Index

Jakob Nielsen's recent activity is now starting to make sense to me. First we had the 'Flash not so bad' announcement. Then on 24 June we were informed that 90% usability guideline compliance should be reached in 2017. This means there is no need for any new usability guidelines from Jakob, as we just need to wait for designers to implement the ones he has already published.

What will Jakob do next?

With the latest Alertbox article (User Empowerment and the Fun Factor - 7 July 2002), we can see the blueprint for the next five year plan.

'...we must modify the methodology to encompass more awareness of fulfilling, engaging, and fun design elements.'

There we have it. Jakob has decided to embrace the touch feely side of usability, and is starting to redefine himself as the Joy Giver. In this Alertbox article, 'joy' was mentioned 9 times, whilst it has only been mentioned 8 times in all previous Alertbox articles. This 'statistic' illustrates the new direction Jakob is taking. It is a shame that Jakob has not published any reader comments on useit.com since October 2000, as I would love to hear what his readers make of this lurch towards the 'feelgood factor'. Is this an example of the new kind of metric we will get from Jakob?

Associated Link: Alertbox: User Empowerment and the Fun Factor

'Internet addiction' linked to Depression
Source: BBC, 9 February 2010
 
There is a strong link between heavy internet use and depression, UK psychologists have said.

Could *You* be more Usable?
Source: UN, 8 February 2010
 
Bet you could.

Stowe Boyd on 'Steampunk' thinking about the Future of Computing
Source: Stowe Boyd's blog via Experientia, 6 February 2010
 
Are established metaphors of user experience holding us back from new ways of structuring our interaction through computers?

Nokia's User Experience Programme
Source: UN, 5 February 2010
 
Nokia has put together a rich and informative website covering the key elements of user experience.

Interfaces magazine: latest issue available now
Source: HCI News Service, 4 February 2010
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available in pdf format, free from the Interaction Website.

A Lighter Brigade of Chargers
Source: UN, 3 February 2010
 
Lots of gadgets, one charger. At last.

Mobile Touch Screens could soon Feel the Pressure
Source: MIT Technology Review, 2 February 2010
 
A quantum switch could add pressure sensing to mobile screens.

Usability, Usability, Usability: why the iPad will Succeed
Source: Econsultancy, 1 February 2010
 
The tech critics love it, hate it, love it again, shrug it off. What do usability experts say?

British Airways - at last some good news
Source: Loop11, 30 January 2010
 
In a recent website usability study for the world's leading airlines, the British Airways website proved to be the most user friendly, with Malaysia Airlines and Virgin Atlantic having the lowest user experience rating.

Computation of Emotions in Man and Machine
Source: Royal Society, 29 January 2010
 
Advances in computer technology now allow machines to recognise and express emotions, paving the way for improved human-computer and human-human communications.