Media: CW gets the Lowdown on Coping with Big Brother on the Web

"Changing the face of reality TV" is a fascinating account of how new media company Victoria Real set about building a website featuring video streaming for the first series of Big Brother. Conducted as an interview with the company's solutions delivery director Kevin Goodings, it is not much about usability per se, but a great deal about working ahead to provide a usable service and cope with the relative unknown in terms of user interest.

'However, technical headaches were not the only factors the company had to grapple with: it faced the demanding creative challenge of engaging the audience and holding them for the life of the show. "The whole creative concept behind Big Brother was very different to anything we had been asked to do before," Goodings says.'

CW lists some project lessons, perhaps the key one of which is the advice to: 'ensure that other websites that link to your site have also made adequate preparations. If users are unable to access a partners' site, your reputation may be tarnished by association.'

Associated Link: CW: Changing the face of reality TV

Poor Shopping Basket Usability will hinder Christmas Rush
Source: UN, 20 November 2008
 
A new study from eDigitalResearch identifies customer service and online shopping basket usability as the two key areas where online retailers need to improve.

Future Phones to Read Your Voice, Gestures
Source: Wired, 19 November 2008
 
Five years from now, it is likely that the mobile phone you will be holding will be a smooth, sleek brick — a piece of metal and plastic with a few grooves in it and little more.

Why Digital Research is important in tough Financial Times
Source: Financial Times, 18 November 2008
 
With the banking sector moving towards consolidation, it is crucial that customers are understood, reacted to and rewarded for their loyalty.

Get Ready for 'Ergobamanomics'
Source: AssemblyBlog via ergonomics in the news , 17 November 2008
 
Is President Elect, Barack Obama, a secret ergonomics and usability enthusiast?

The Most Dreaded Keyword Phrase
Source: SearchEngineLand, 15 November 2008
 
In website usability, one of the hardest obstacles to overcome is the mentality of “This is what I would do.”

User Experience Standards Missing from Web 2.0 Designs
Source: UN, 14 November 2008
 
Usability professionals should be more involved with the development of Web 2.0 tools.

New technology showcased at World Usability Day
Source: User Vision, 13 November 2008
 
Today is World Usability Day!

Review: 16 User Interface Prototyping Tools
Source: Dexo Design, 12 November 2008
 
People constantly ask me what the best prototyping or mockup tool is, so I decided to do a review of all the tools I’m aware of.

Radio 4's PM show announces Winner of 'Show Us a Better Way'
Source: BBC, 11 November 2008
 
Ever been frustrated that you can't find out something that ought to be easy to find? Ever been baffled by league tables or 'performance indicators'?

Cisco Systems extends Product Usability Research
Source: Catalyst Resources, 10 November 2008
 
Cisco is conducting extensive usability research with Catalyst Resources, into complex new technologies.