And that's a lot of Zeroes

WorkTech is the annual conference that looks at key trends in work, the workplace, technology and innovation. Last year’s themes included the expectations of the next generation and immersive technology and digital space, part of which was covered in Jerry Fishenden's talk.

Papers from the conference are now available online (as are early-bird bookings for this year), including the text of 'Zeroes and Ones', a 15-minute performance commissioned especially by Unwired Ventures, the organisers of WorkTech '07. In front of a stunned audience, performance poet, Tony Walsh, delivered an extraordinary review of human progress and our relationship with technology, from the Big Bang - "...the domain with no name.."; right through to a future "...when machines we can't see have thoughts we don't understand..."; and a comprehensive comment on everything in between.

If you've ever reflected uncertainly on the way technology is infiltrating our lives; if you've moved from optimism to deep gloom (and back again) about our species' ability to hold it all together for another couple of generations or so; if you've ever wondered if your greatest work achievements in experience design, usability or product improvement are doing little more than binding us more tightly and irretrievably to our technology - then this poem is essential reading.

And even if none of the above is true, Zeroes and Ones is worth reading purely for its thoughtfulness, depth and complexity. It might be a little discomfitting at times, but it's not bleak. It's even quite funny in places.

EXCERPT FROM 'ZEROES AND ONES'
By TONY WALSH

"...So what are we doing with 15 billion years of research and development?
Of biological evolution and digital revolution?

"Well…You can rip and zip and microchip it
Crop and chop and Photoshop it
Upload, download Fruity Loop it
Loot it, shoot it then re-boot it

"And you can watch your latest dvd
on your jvc fst tv
Through the usb on your new pc
But your vhs (remember?) .…. can RIP

"And we’ve got
Facebook, Myspace, Bebo baby
Text me ’bout your sex life baby
Ebay makes it easy baby
Real life gets the heave-ho….Maybe?

"And we’ve got…
Techno-techno-techno-tronics
Phonics, sonics, electronics
Hi-fi, wi-fi supersonics
Big TV … fffff, not much on it!

"And we can…
Happy slap until we blister
Shake it like a digital picture sister
Post it up on YouTube mister
Have we struck gold!?…. Or all that glisters?"


A regeneration professional by trade, Tony is also a freelance writer and spoken word artist and is available for commissions, events and performances. Tony can be contacted on 0161 798 4833 and by email at tonywalsh03@aol.com.
Read more about Tony.

Associated Link: Zeroes and Ones by Tony Walsh

Increase data Usability, save Billions
Source: ZDNet, 6 September 2010
 
Data usability? less sexy than social emotional interfaces, more money than you can imagine.

Three Things Steve Krug Didn’t Tell You About Usability Testing
Source: George Saines, 2 September 2010
 
Don't make me think. Well, ok, maybe a little bit.

Trace exactly what Users are doing
Source: killerstartups, 30 August 2010
 
A new tool lets you watch all of your website activity, in real-time replays.

Google boosts Usability with Gmail revamp
Source: V3.co.uk, 28 August 2010
 
Long overdue improvements to Gmail may increase its appeal to business users.

Tech4Africa conference runs in Johannesburg
Source: bizcommunity, 26 August 2010
 
A new conference in Africa recognises usability as a central concept to IT uptake.

Top 3 Usability Tips for Building Better Blogs
Source: CMS Wire, 24 August 2010
 
If you're compelled to blog, may as well get it right.

Outdoors and Out of Reach, Studying the Brain
Source: New York Times, 23 August 2010
 
Fascinating account of how heavy use of digital devices changes how we think and behave, and how a retreat into nature might reverse those effects.

Tips for International In-home User Research
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 20 August 2010
 
In-home user research can provide richer, more illuminating information than lab-based studies. Here are some tips for a successful in-home international research.

New Study- Gender differences in Web Usability
Source: Demystifying Usability blog, 18 August 2010
 
Comscore has released a new study (June 30 2010) entitled Women on the Web: How Women are Shaping the Internet.

UX Myths: Usability testing is Expensive
Source: UX Myths, 16 August 2010
 
Many organizations still believe usability testing is a luxury that requires an expensively equipped lab and takes weeks to conduct.