The modern internet does not work like a newspaper so it makes little sense to edit it like one.
We don’t just read stories on Web sites. We arrive to steer, query, hack, mash up, personalize and customize the feed to suit our needs. Web site design is changing fundamentally — moving from a static “print-style’ page design approach to sites that function more like software. Today’s web pages are built on-demand and deliver a customized page with preferences and settings controlled by the end user.
Much of what a Web designer holds in their hands these days is code.
And magic.
Long tail business models make real money
Companies like Myspace, Google, Craigslist and OhMyNews are making millions and capturing billions of addicted users using long-tail business models that are redefining the landscape by redefining who and how distributes news and information.
Continue reading ‘Newspapers 2.0 - Concepts for making news work online’
Microsoft and the NYT’s future news reader made news at a meeting of U.S. editors recently in Seattle but let’s please first concede that it is vaporware - it doesn’t exist for real users. In contrast a few weeks earlier at INMA in Chicago the folks at Press Display were quietly showing some serious upgrades to their press display technology that can help editors and publishers today. The most stunning to my eye was the real-time user feedback that publishers can collect and analyze for free. (See attached screen shot)
Using sophisticated tracking techniques, we are able to monitor the exact amount of time each reader spends reading their chosen newspaper, down to a space roughly the size of a postage stamp.
For the consumer there are some nice upgrades too: Instant translation of the text into 10+ languages plus it can create podcasts on the fly and also serve to mobile. But the fact that reader/viewer feedback reports can be instant, non-disruptive and generated at no cost make many current types of data gathering, focus grouping and generic ‘trac’ results much less specific. That you can watch and learn how your customers use your newspaper is dynamite stuff and best of all it is not vaporware. Continue reading ‘The dawn of the smart newspaper’
Unique approaches to problems
Robb’s work as a designer is excellent. He has the unique ability to create quality work within very tight deadlines. With Visual Editors Robb has created a non profit online community which benefits designers from all over the world. As a media consultant Robb has developed a reputation of being a very positive, hard working and creative designer. I would recommmend Robb to anyone looking to create print, online or video media.
Sam Berlow, GM, Font Bureau
TRAINING: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“I wanted to thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to come to Atlanta to talk with us about design and convergence. You had an impact. You have generated serious conversations about visual thinking, which was my goal. It’s nice to see everyone so engaged and talking about design.
Rick Crotts, presentation editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
