I recently found myself completely stuck trying to decide on a blog post topic, when a fellow A+L designer suggested I write about being stuck. Well, that’s a good idea. I grabbed some coffee, sat down to write, and immediately felt stuck again. What is it with feeling stuck? Where does it come from, and what can we do about it? (more…)
(. . . and how these are two very different phases of a software project)
We knew everything from buying the domain name to launching the site and figured out everything in between as the project progressed. Granted, it was mostly static HTML, links had blue underlines, and was still a novelty, but the role “web designer” was a catch-all title for a fresh new industry — digital design.
My, how things have changed.
Similar to how the role of “neighborhood doctor” has branched into a myriad of specialized fields of medicine, the same has happened in the world of web design. Technological developments, more advanced tools, focus on human-centered design and in-depth studies of user psychology has caused web design to branch out into its own specialized roles. (more…)
When it comes to operating equipment and machinery that are governed by environmental rules and regulations, there are many reasons it is unquestionably a good idea to be in compliance. Fines for failing to do so are massive, often in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. More tangibly, compliance also cuts costs and saves money by not losing valuable product from leakage. In fact, the EPA estimates that facilities can save $730,000 per year (per facility) by complying with Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) regulations. Proper functioning of refinery equipment is also better for the long-term functioning of the machinery that helps avoid dangerous breakdowns and expensive fixes. (more…)
Find me a person who has no issues with the medical industry and I’ll find you a pig that can fly. There isn’t a person around who isn’t disturbed or appalled by the industry for one reason or another. These reasons range from misleading or inaccurate information, expensive and potentially dangerous misdiagnoses, overworked doctors and nurses too hurried to give patients the time they need, mountains of confusing rules and regulations, baffling insurance practices, costly hospital services and equipment, and finally, sick, scared patients who have no choice but to work within this system. (more…)
We’re pretty clearly on the cusp of an era where much of what we know about building software systems is wrong. As devices become smarter and networked (or dumber and networked, which may end up being equally important or more important in the long run), as people who design and develop the software systems that monitor, control, or otherwise interact with these new kinds of devices, we all need to acquire different sets of skills that are currently rare, and apply our old habits and knowledge in different ways than we’re used to. (more…)
