Are you a Developer? Are you a UX expert? reMIX Dublin is for you!

June 1, 2011 · Posted in user experience · Comment 

If you answer yes to either of those questions then you shouldn’t miss IIA Member Company Microsoft’s upcoming event reMIX Dublin.

This free event brings you the best of Microsoft’s premier web & devices conference (MIX) at no cost to you. All you need to do is register and get yourself down to the RDS in Ballsbridge on June 9th!

Join the conversation at reMIX Dublin – see the latest tools and technologies and draw inspiration from a professional community of your peers and experts.

The morning session from 9am to 1pm focuses on tools and technologies for developers: developing for Windows 7, the Cloud, what’s coming up with Windows 7.5 and Kinect Hackables.

The afternoon will be focusing on UX (User eXperience) especially multitouch and Miscrosoft’s Surface device including a look at the future of user interaction and designing infographics for Web Applications with Des Traynor from Contrast.

The final session of the day is a set of lightning talks by some well known designers and developers from Microsoft and beyond covering topics such as storytelling for user experience and the lost art of simplicity.

Now I really wish I was a UX designer or developer…

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Upgrade your browser pleeeeeeaaaase

August 10, 2009 · Posted in user experience · 10 Comments 

On behalf of our members and all the right thinking people of the world if you are going to surf the web try to do it in the newest browser possible. This means, at time of writing, depending on your own tastes and the type of operating system (OS) you are running you should be using Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3, Opera 9.64, Safari 4 or Google Chrome.  Clicking on any of those links will bring you to the latest version. There are also other browser types available but these are the most commonly used. Click here to find out more about Browser statistics.

Now, of course, I am aware that in some larger organisations the end user doesn’t control the software that is installed on their machine. However if your job involves you using a browser you should encourage the powers that be to let you do your job to the best of your ability by installing the latest technology.

Why do we give a hoot what browser version you are using? Here’s why:

  1. Developers and designers have their hearts broken trying to create brilliant websites that cover multiple browser types. They will generally be realistic and develop/design for the latest version minus one so if you’re using IE6 you’re currently a heartbreaker.

  2. IE6 in particular is considered a low point in browser history. Don’t just take my word for it. Read this, this, and this for starters.
  3. This leads to item no 3. Money saving: The Bring down IE6 campaign suggests that the 20% of web users using IE6 are “business users” “who “pressure designers to ’force’ sites to work in IE6, and designers, not wanting to lose business, comply, using hacks and workarounds. This wastes time and money.” That time and money (your time and money!) could be spent more cost-effectively surely?
  4. Security: the latest browser versions will generally protect you against the latest web-borne security threats. Generally. I’m not getting into a discussion about bugs in browsers and hacks but I’ll moderate one if you wish to leave a comment on this issue. I’m not a security expert but I’m hoping some of our readers might be able to expand on this in the comments below.
  5. Because browsers are free. It’s nice to get free stuff isn’t it?
  6. Just to be cool, like. One of the most fun events I attended last year was the Firefox 3 launch party :)

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Design Pixel by Pixel

July 31, 2008 · Posted in design, Membership, user experience · 1 Comment 

The IIA welcome Pixel Design to its membership. Pixel Design is a graphic design and web design service, based in Dublin Ireland offering a complete range of design services to business start-ups and SMEs. A nice fit for the current IIA membership then!

Based on their online portfolio Pixel Design seem to have a varied client base including many well known arts organisations. I wonder do they get tickets to all those fancy openings and launches?

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Straker Software joins the IIA

July 28, 2008 · Posted in Membership · Comment 

Straker Software which was set up in 1999 specialises in helping companies build multilingual websites. They are a truly international company with four bases in three continents. I also see from their blog and recent news that they certainly get about having been in as varied places as Atlanta, Berlin, Sydney and California in the last couple of months. They have also recently appointed a business development manager for the Asia Pacific region and have opened an office in San Francisco. Straker Software developed Zoomflex which is a hosted application that simplifies building Adobe Flex applications, significantly reducing development time as well as providing best practice architecture, leaving you free to concentrate on building great Flex rich internet experiences. Straker also have a base in the Kerry Technology Park.

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IEG join the IIA

June 13, 2008 · Posted in Membership · 1 Comment 

Click here to visit the IEGDesign.com websiteIYKWIM :)

A big welcome to IEGDesign.com who just joined the IIA this morning. Some of you based in Limerick probably know IEG well: they designed and developed the Limerick County Enterprise Board site. They also write a regular column for Business Limerick and this month’s is a commentary on the use of video online.

IEGDesign.com describe themselves as “Web Design, Marketing & Software reseller” and it is clear from their portfolio that they have dealt with some complex customer needs. I’m only sorry I didn’t see their Irish Hurleys site before we bought ár bpéire camán at the weekend! 

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