Interfaces Put in the Corral
March 13, 2010
In the last six months, I have been flooded with user experience inputs. Books, emails, and conversations purport to tell me that Web sites have to be an “experience.” Sorry. I like command lines. I like to run queries with syntax along the lines “SS ESOP AND CC=76?? AND UD=9999.” The notion that I am going to scan a bunch of 8 pt links is nuts. I prefer to run queries, iterate, modify result sets, and then peruse content. I like to review short items—what I call information wieners and then if the source item has intellectual nutrition, examine the source document, data table, or other information object. I do research my way, and I resent having to figure out what the heck “smart software” is trying to do. The assumption is that I want to buy something like HP Trim 7 or I want to know about Lady Gaga’s most recent fashion moment. Nope, I want specific information on point to a query. For me, machine generated facets, suggestions, and what other people are seeking are irrelevant and often dorky.
I liked “Overdoing the Interface Metaphor.” The article tackles some interface issues with which I resonated. For me, the most important passage in the write up was:
Improving the product, not faithfully reproducing the physical object, always gets priority. I passed on a long, complex page-turning animation because it didn’t make sense (you’re paging up/down, not left/right) and it would have been distracting. And I opted for an extremely brief cross-fade, rather than a slide, because slides take longer and are more visually jarring.
One voice. Not enough on this subject. I know how I think about UX. It SUX. Just my opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, March 13, 2010
No one paid me to write this item and misspell suck. Because of that error, I will report non payment and spelling freedom to the Bureau of Engraving, where and error can have big consequences quickly.
SSN Minute and Information Governance Goofs
March 11, 2010
The March 10, 2010, SSN Minute looks at two cases of information governance gong wrong. Goofs. One could have cost lives and compromised operational security in a military action. The other is the surprising rate of problems with social media. To watch this two minute video navigate to http://ssnblog.com and click on the SSN Minute logo or click here.
Stephen E Arnold, March 11, 2010
I paid myself to write this item about my SSN Blog’s SSN Minute. Upfront marketing is my motto, not that faux “real” marketing.
The New MSN
March 11, 2010
Short honk: Just ran the demo for the new MSN at http://www.tourmsn.com/SL/. I clicked on Go to MSN Now. Dead link. Interesting.
Stephen E Arnold, March 11, 2010
No one paid me to write this. Since I mentioned “dead link” I will report this state of non payment to the folks who used to manage CompanyCommand.com.
Cisco Throw Down: Accelerating the Internet
March 11, 2010
I keep track of the network hardware folks, but I don’t write about them in Beyond Search. Most of my readers are interested in search, content processing, and electronic information. I am pretty confident about what my readers want because I only have two or three readers. One is my assistant and the other two people are actually Internet café terminals I hacked to get my RSS feed. So, I’m unpopular. No problem for the addled goose in rural Kentucky.
I read “Cisco Shows Off Super Router” and because the article gets close to what will be an interesting front in the traditional networking sector’s battle with Google. Yep, I know. Google is a search and advertising company. Save that for the search engine optimization crowd and the azure chip crowd.
The core of the story is the statement allegedly made by John Chambers, Cisco CEO:
“Video is the killer app,” Chambers said. “Video brings the Internet to life.”
The idea is that textual information is yesterday. He is right even though I hate to see the end of an era. I regret the loss of mainframes and the wonderful revenue stream those gizmos delivered to me, but time moves on.
What the article triggered in my thinking was that Hewlett Packard and Cisco had a love spat. Now Cisco is going to find itself going where the money is, and that means into traditional telco land. The problem is that the Google with its own home brew telecommunications capabilities, the stuff it has acquired, and the technology in which it invests is going to a much larger factor in Cisco’s future. I think that may be bad news for Cisco and for some telcos. The reason is that the Google is pushing toward efficient, automated, lower cost methods.
To learn about one of Google’s little adventures, check out my KMWorld column about a company with “wireless networks that simply work?. Who will win the next series of battle in this coming collision of Google and outfits allied with traditional telecommunications companies? I don’t know, but I wager that the “real” consultants, the poobahs, mavens, and self appointed experts will discover this skirmish soon enough.
Stephen E Arnold, March 11, 2010
I was paid for the KMWorld article, but I was not paid for this reference to the KMWorld article. So, this write falls into the category of shameless marketing and self promotion. I love it.
Walled Gardens, Robert Frost, and Online
March 11, 2010
I find the write ups in Gigaom (free version) interesting. I rarely agree or disagree. The business spin on the articles is solid. I did balk at “A Belated New Year’s Resolution: No Walled Gardens” by Jim Louderback, one of the former Ziff people. I think former Ziff people are wonderful, but I was disconcerted by the article. The idea is a little Platonic for me. The ideal world is definitely not one that I inhabit. Reality is proprietary systems, clever plays for vendor lock in, and outright duplicity.
For me, one of the more curious passages in the write up was:
Well basically it means to eschew controlled environments, whatever the cost , and to embrace open platforms with all your heart.
Let’s think about this walled garden stuff.
First, code something for Google. Now try to repurpose the code; that is, get the code out of Google. Nope. One way street. All that open source razzle dazzle is subject to the same vagaries as Google Gadgets were. One day something is there; the next day that something is gone. Not long ago a query for “skin cancer” and “recipe” produced glimpses of a more sophisticated Google results list. Poof. Gone. Google wants to be the big dog, and I think that a person who sees Google as open may want to spend some time poking around Google’s patent documents and the firm’s technical papers. Hurry. Some of these disappear pretty quickly now. Google is more locked down than most companies. Walled garden is a gentle description of Google’s set up in my opinion.
Second, Apple. Here’s a way to see how Apple runs its railroad. Deauthorize a computer from your iTunes account. Now plug in your iPod. The system removes certain content from the iPod. Now that’s an open system. I hate the hassle of deleting a podcast from iTunes. I hit delete and then I have to hit M. I want to delete not do two things. The App Store? Even worse. Just ask a WiFi app developer. Apple is a one-way street, and I think Google has decided to emulate Apple but with an even more New Age spin.
Third, Cisco. Example. Hewlett Packard and Cisco are no longer pals. Why? Well, neither outfit wants to be open. What about other plumbing companies. The same. Get a Meraki device. How open is that? In my opinion, it is not open. What’s open are the marketing assertions. The reality is that Meraki wants to nuke Cisco, Alcatel, and any other network vendor. Once everyone is in Meraki-land, the walls will become more visible in my opinion. (Keep in mind that Google is an investor in Meraki.)
Finally, let me highlight a couple of other closed outfits. Both practice lock in but in idiosyncratic ways. IBM is focused on keeping customers on the reservation. IBM talks about open source, but when you want to make something work, you don’t get too much open source code to help iron out the many glitches in Filenet in my experience. Microsoft? Closed. The “open” aspects of a Microsoft system are a result of security bugs. Oracle? You want a fast Oracle database, buy the Oracle-Sun hardware solution.
In short, today’s IT market is about lock in, walled gardens, and keeping competitors out and customers in.
Maybe in Alice in Wonderland, not today’s IT market. I think good fences make good neighbors.
Stephen E Arnold, March 11, 2010
No one paid me to write this. Because I mentioned Alice in Wonderland, I will report non payment to the Office of Management and Budget, where the reality of numbers is the essence of life.
Another Google Black Eye
March 10, 2010
“Google’s Online Only Phone Selling Model Has Failed” makes it clear that the math club is not particularly good in the sales and marketing game. In the last few months, I have noted that some folks are taking a more critical look at the search company everyone loves to use. Here’s a representative passage from this right jab to Googzilla’s head:
Well, it’s been a while now since Google launched the Nexus One — and so far, it hasn’t lived up to their expectations. I guess it’s not as bad as the Google Buzz roll-out, but Google’s attempt at fundamentally changing the way we buy cell phones has yet to bear much fruit.
Interesting. But Google has a policy of not paying for ads itself nor hiring consultants. I wonder if ZDNet’s editors will become more frisky as 2010 unfolds? Not much risk I suppose.
Stephen E Arnold, March 10, 2010
No one paid me to write this item. I will report non payment to the US Postal Service which may deliver some of the Google phones.
Thunderstone and Its Reseller Program
March 10, 2010
I read “Frederick A. Harmon, CSO of Thunderstone Software, Recognized as a 2010 Channel Chief by CRN” and was delighted to learn about Thunderstone’s juicy reseller program. The company has introduced a partner portal which you can visit at http://www.thunderstone.com/texis/site/users. In addition, the company has added some financial inducements. For me the most interesting passage in the story was:
Thunderstone has always delivered free and personalized online demos tailored to the customer’s particular needs, plus 30-day eval units shipped pre-configured to the unique requirements of each customer. For Channel Partners with one or more employees who become Thunderstone-Certified Professionals – Thunderstone now offers free virtual versions of Thunderstone search solutions that certified personnel can use themselves to provide demos and evaluations for their own customers and prospects. All Thunderstone products come with a one-time, perpetual license which often saves customers 40 percent or more on their initial purchase. Thunderstone customers also enjoy an Investment Protection Program that makes upgrading their search solutions easy, desirable and affordable.
I gave Thunderstone high marks when I wrote the first three editions of the out of print Enterprise Search Report, published by a firm which has repositioned itself. (Better than the publisher who is now in a far off land enjoying the sun.) You can get more information about Thunderstone from my interview with the CEO and by visiting the firm’s Web site, http://www.thunderstone.com.
Stephen E Arnold, March 10, 2010
A freebie. Now I have to report non payment to the mayor of Cleveland. I haven’t been in Cleveland for a while. Lovely city. Lots of non payment going on, which is sad.
Real Time Search: Poor Layout or Lousy Content?
March 9, 2010
In my Information World Review column which I submitted last week, I talked about the “marshmallow wars” being waged among Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. The idea is that these three “big boys” are not doing a particularly meaty job with real time content. I was fascinated to read “Why Do We Ignore Real Time Results from Google Search” in the media-savvy Guardian. I focused on the substance of the real time results, the latency, and the method of displaying these results. Each company rows its real time boat differently, and that makes life difficult for geese like me.
The Guardian’s approach, which was quite interesting to me, focused on eye tracking. You can read the write up and decide whether user experience or the content itself is the problem. I am very skeptical of the razzle dazzle about eye candy and how eyes move. My recollection from my grade school and high school days is that some people are not very adept readers. In my class which underwent a speed reading test in Illinois in the 1950s, few students were able to absorb blocks of text at one glance. Obviously, if there are some slow readers, there may be some difficulty with certain types of layouts. On the other hand, if you are like me and can swallow paragraphs or even pages at a glance, then the eye movement stuff may not be as significant as the value of the information.
My column for Information World Review focuses on substance. I leave the wandering eyeballs of those who read a word or two at a time and may sub vocalize when they grind through information to the arts and crafts approach to information. My opinion is that Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are chasing real time content because it is has marketing value. There are useful data in real time results but not in the presentations of the big dogs of Web search. I identify some go-to services for real time search but you will have to wait until the IWR publishing cycle outputs the column.
Stephen E Arnold, March 10, 2010
No one paid me to write this. I wonder if those reading the article glance, move their lips, or follow with their fingers. I suppose this type of non compensated writing and the attendant question means I must report to the FBI, an outfit skilled in dealing with impressions of fingers.
The Discovery Hoax: Commercial Databases Make Big Promises
March 8, 2010
I was given a box lunch and a can of Pepsi as compensation for my one hour talk at a conference last week. I had an interesting conversation with a former big wheel in commercial database publishing. I thought the wizard was a retired poobah. I was wrong. The fellow had his shoulder pads on, a sweatband, and Gucci cleats. He’s back on a commercial company’s publishing team. I am an old, cowardly goose, and it is with trepidation that I get too close to big people garbed for quasi-military re-enactments related to electronic information.
I asked the industry titan what his new gig involved. I recall one word, which he repeated several times to me, the addled goose. The word? “Discovery.” I thought I was having a The Graduate moment. In 2010, plastic was a loser. The winner? Discovery.
Yep, the lingo of the search and content processing market has reached the world of professional publishing and for-fee database access.
The idea, as I understood it, is that this commercial company will allow a user to enter a keyword; for example, employee stock ownership. The system will crunch away and present:
- Results from the firm’s for fee databases. Not just anyone can run a search. The user has to have access to an institutional account or sign up and pay. There is some free stuff, but this is a real, live make-money-or-die operation.
- The system will also “discover” possibly related content and list that information in the form of links. I think the idea the titan was communicating is what Endeca calls “Guided Navigation” in 1999! Not exactly yesterday! To see the Endeca system in action just go to OfficeFurniture.com.
- Content from the public Web.
The idea is that a person using a commercial system will enter a search string and then see links to related content. This works for buying office furniture. I am not sure how a computational chemist would react to a suggestion she read a blog post about a meth lab that blows up.
Yep, our professional grade service needs those custom chrome wheels. Image source: http://www.up.ac.za/organizations/movup/images/minefun/indian_haul_truck.jpg
I asked what happened if I used one of the company’s business databases and entered the search term “management.” I got a bit of double talk and the titan backed up, trying to get away from me. The reason I asked about this type of search is that I know from hands-on experience that the use of a general controlled term in his firm’s databases does not generate a usable results list. Thus, any “discovered” information is likely to be wide of the mark. Broad queries don’t often work too well in the for-fee, quite specific content in certain commercial systems. A single word like “management” in a Google search box generates what is highly ranked by clueless millions like a link to the Wikipedia entry.
Lexalytics Pushes toward PR Nirvana
March 6, 2010
I am easily confused when I read about “market intelligence”. I think this is different from “business intelligence” and “competitive intelligence.” I can’t put my finger on the exact meanings of these phrases. I read “Top Market Intelligence Companies Turn to Lexalytics for Powerful Sentiment Analysis” and I believe that “market intelligence” alludes to what customers and observers say in Web logs and other media. Figuring out if customers are happy or sad is important. I recall hearing a presentation by ClearForest about the importance of processing warranty information. In addition to cost savings, potentially dangerous problems with vehicles could, in certain circumstances, be identified from streams of information.
The Lexalytics’ spin on “market intelligence” hooks into text analysis and social media monitoring. The firm has two new projects. One is with a firm called Cymfony. I am not sure how Cymfony connects with people who have influence over others, but I accept the assertion “executive accolades” at face value. The second project is a license deal with Vocus. In both projects, Lexalytics will provide text analysis. Lexalytics is part of Infonics, UK based firm.
Search and content processing vendors are packaging their indexing and retrieval technology in many different ways. Sentiment analysis has been given a boost with the growing interest in monitoring real time streams of content.
Will niche plays generate enough cash to keep the many competitors in search and content processing afloat? With the high cost of sales, companies like Lexalytics will be among the first to provide real life case evidence about the strategy.
Public relations companies have been among the service sectors hit in the nose by the soft economy. The trajectory of these tie ups will be fascinating to watch.
Stephen E Arnold, March 6, 2010
No one paid me to write this short item. Because Lexalytics is part of a UK company as a result of a no-cash transaction, I am not sure which US authority requires me to report non compensation. Perhaps the Council on Foreign Affairs? I will give it a whirl.
