Rounding up the Latest on Search

Last month a survey conducted by search engine AltaVista found that:
* 80% of men claim to be better surfers than their female partners.
* Men are far more likely to interfere while their partners surf the web.
* Two-thirds of those who suffer net rage are men, who are far more likely to lose patience while searching.. or shopping.

Meanwhile, New Architect has examined the latest in tehcnologies for conducting search more effectively. "You Are Here" by David Howard begins with the assertion that 'Good ideas tend to precede good technology. Search engines are a classic example.' But he goes on: 'The good news is that the search-engine arena is wildly competitive, with nearly a hundred solutions on the market from companies ranging from upstart Endeca (www.endeca.com) to behemoths like Google, Inktomi, and Microsoft. So you can bet that improvements are already on the horizon.' Thus begins a three-page review that brings us nicely up to date.

While Lou Rosenfeld has just drawn attention to the discussion on when to use "Advanced Search" that took place on SIGIA-L recently. 'Actually, the discussion was as much about *why* to use it as about *when*,' he says. 'Everyone I talk to suggests that users don't bother with it very much. How
come?' Hi suggestions include:
* It's mislabelled.
* It's mislocated.
* It's a useless legacy.

Rosenfeld points people at the Sigia-l archive where the relevant postings can be found.

Associated Link: New Architect article on new search remedies

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.