This week we have posts on HTML5 audio (woha!), social media, getting started in analytics, and testing with one way mirrors. Hit the “continue reading” to… uhh… well…
Create
We start the week with a very rad post from 24ways on producing HTML 5 audio. Maybe we can have an HTML based version of Audio App soon.
Six Revisions has 5 little known files to enhance your site. These include libraries to help you enhance your site’s privacy, to help you geolocate yoru visitors, and all sorts of microformats.
Attract
Forrester’s “Empowered” blog has four ways that you can be clueless about social media. The post is really an analysis of how HMSHost fails at doing social media, and gives some good advice on the basic things you should really have together before you start pushing a campaign.
Aaand once you’ve done that, it’s time for Michael Gray on how to get more Twitter followers. Basically, what he is pushing is the follow game: find a relevant account, follow a bunch of people following it, then unfollow those who don’t follow you back. Can’t say I really like this strategy, given that I don’t like the idea of following people for followers, but hey, it probably works pretty well.
Analyze
Kaushik is back with more advice on becoming a better web analyst. This time it’s five steps to becoming an expert, starting with working out a career path and continuing through picking tools and practicing learned skills. Nothing that will help you if you’re already in the industry, but a good read none the less.
Bronto blog has the first part of a wonderful looking series on creating more relevant messages. Specifically on how to analyze your potential readers, setup a campaign, and test your messages. Good stuff.
UX Matters has a post on “the Myth of the One-Way Mirror”, specifically on how one way mirrors tend to make users feel stressed, and how often you’re better off with people in the room. This is kind of the point of Benthams Panopticon, right? A big mirror communicates that people are being watched, but doesn’t give them the knowledge of who or what is watching them, and so they react differently. As the theory goes, more in line with whatever the guidelines are. Not exactly what you want in a testing scenario.
Kent Clark
Some have compared him to the Dalai Lama, others to Kublai Kahn. When he isn't teaching third world children how to purify water with nothing more than a plastic bottle and a garden hose, he is creating mad waves for surfers off the west coast with little more than a paddle. Some say there is a boat involved, others that he walks on water.
Little is known about his background. he appeared from nowhere 15 years ago and claims heritage from a land with neither want not need. He makes little comment, stating only that it was a pretty cool place.
Fire does not burn him, cold does not hurt him. Words could... but they don't. When he passes, pedals fall off branches. When he speaks, hair tugs at skin, pulling just slightly in his direction.
He does not sleep but he does dream. He has muscled his way into the lives of the famous and whispered his way into their hearts. And in the wee hours he plays oboe softly, as if to sooth the night to sleep.