Battle of the Wizards: Dojo Vs. Microsoft

Two wizards are compared. One client script from DOJO and the other server component from Microsoft. Both fo them work exceedingly well in IE 7.0. Dojo wizard looks smashing.

Krishnaswamy, Jayaram. DevShed (2007). Articles>Computing>Programming>JavaScript

Be Your Own Private Eye  

Your document won't print? Don't panic - here's a systematic guide to troubleshooting the problem.

Powers, Lynn. Adobe Magazine (1995). Articles>Computing

Building Disappearing Computers  

A trio of systems illustrates the challenges of designing large displays for use in ubiquitous computing environments that are, indeed, unremarkable.

Russell, Daniel M., Norbert A. Streitz and Terry Winograd. Stanford University (2005). Articles>Computing>User Interface

Clean URLs for a Better Search Engine Ranking

Search engines are often key to the successful promotion and running of your website. Read more on how clean URLs can influence your ranking and how clean URLs can be achieved for dynamic applications.

Opitz, Pascal. Content with Style (2005). Articles>Computing>Content Management>Search Engine Optimization

Co-Design, China, and the Commercialization of the Mobile User Interface

The mobile user interface is becoming a key differentiator for mobile telephony devices and services. The increased focus on usable, emotive, and branded user interfaces is the result of three key drivers.

Williams, David M.L. uiGarden (2006). Articles>User Interface>Ubiquitous Computing>China

Comments on Comments

The right kind of comments to speed up the development process and enable a couple of interesting possibilities to generate documentations automatically. This article tries to reflect on the pros and cons of comments and to show some interesting possibilities for automatic comment parsing. Comment Basics

Opitz, Pascal. Content with Style (2006). Articles>Computing>Programming

Datensicherung und Archivierung

Many computer users ignore the risk of data loss - until it is th late: Imporant Data have vanished. Who then desperately seeks advice in any of my mailing lists might get my try answer: "Simply restore from your last backup." OK, I do confess: This might contribute to a nervous break down. So better be prepared!

von Obert, Alexander. Techwriter.de (2003). (German) Articles>Computing>Workflow>Security

Deployment of the MobiLink Synchronization Model Wizard in SQL Anywhere 10

This builds on the previous article, 'MobiLink Synchronization Wizard in SQL Anywhere 10.' The new Deployment Wizard in SQL Anywhere Server 10.0 makes it painless to deploy the model, a task which was script based and terse.

Krishnaswamy, Jayaram. DevShed (2006). Articles>Computing>Databases>SQL

Equipment and Software

The essential equipment and software include a current PC -- should be a Pentium II or better -- and licensed software. Ideally, the PC should have at least 128 MB of RAM, a 19-inch monitor (min.), a high performance video card with a minimum of 64 MB of video RAM, and adequate storage for graphics and photos – at least an 80 GB hard disk. These are general specifications. Your requirements may be different depending upon what area you specialize in and to what extent you work on your own.

Tech-Writer (1996). Articles>Computing>Writing>Technical Writing

Getting Organized

Before I swapped my desktop computer for a laptop a couple of weeks ago, I had visions of reclaiming my desk and basking in the openness of white space. The reality, of course, was a fresh jumble of cables and wires—not to mention a CPU, a flat screen monitor and other assorted computer equipment strewn around the edges of the room.

Steigman, Daria. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Computing

Good Times, Bad Times

The first 'macro viruses' attached to Microsoft Word documents emerged within weeks after Office 97 was released, and sounded the warning that a new era was upon us.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (1999). Articles>Computing>Security>Viruses

Leveraging AJAX and JSON using Dojo Tool Kit

This article shows how AJAX calls are made using the JavaScript extensions developed by the Dojo foundation to retrieve data using the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)and displaying the results on the browser.

Krishnaswamy, Jayaram. ASPAlliance (2007). Articles>Computing>Web Design>JavaScript

The Needs of the Many

Installing major software patches or upgrades ranks right up there with paying your taxes in terms of stress. Why the stress? Well, first, there's the instinctive fear of screwing up something that's already working reasonably well, thank you very much, and spending the next 60-hour week trying to get back to where you were before you 'improved' things.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (2000). Articles>Computing

On the Road, Again  

An overview of portable technology - not just computers but also printers, presentation devices, and peripherals.

Larkin, James. Adobe Magazine (1996). Articles>Computing

On the Social Implications of Invisibility: The iMac G5 and the Effacement of the Technological Object

Many people use a Macintosh computer and choose to do so because of their hip, popular designs. The look of Apple's competitively priced desktop, the iMac G5, exemplifies the company's attempts to beautify digital technology with a sleek shape that inserts the computer into the monitor. Yet the tool's attractive appearance also disguises socially problematic aspects of the production and disposal of new media devices.

Schaefer, Peter D. and Meenakshi Gigi Durham. Communication Currents (2007). Articles>Computing>Aesthetics>Macintosh

The Right Tool for the Job  

A monitor that's perfect for one job might be inadequate - or overkill - for another. Here's how to find one that'll fit your needs.

Bury, Scott. Adobe Magazine (1996). Articles>Computing>Ergonomics

Search for Elbow Room  

In the world of storage, options are multiplying, prices are falling, and confusion is rampant. Here's a guide to the options.

Roberts, Paul. Adobe Magazine (1996). Articles>Computing>Technology

Too Connected: Utopias and Dystopias of Communication

The more you blog, the more people you attract through Google. The more search-engine-optimized your posts are, the more people find you. The more tweets you send, the more people follow you. The more social networks you join, the more people add themselves to your page. The better posts you write, the more people subscribe to your RSS feed. The more content you generate – in whatever form and media – the more trackbacks and links people generate about you. The more you produce, the more emails and questions you get. You become like a content cloud – attracting Google searches.

Johnson, Tom H. I'd Rather Be Writing (2008). Articles>Communication>Ubiquitous Computing>Online

Trouble Free Computing: Leveraging Published Information to Assist with Computing Errors

As computers become more complex and pervasive in modern society, humans also become more dependent on the systems and services supporting the computer. The ability to efficiently deal with problems when there is a break in the technical system will be more critical as society heads down this technological path.

Bennett, Benford A. Orange Journal, The (2004). Articles>Computing>User Centered Design

Under the Desktop: The Real Nitty Griddy

For creative professionals working in digital video and other media that demands high-performance computing, dual-processor machines are a godsend. But what happens when even two processors aren't enough? Welcome to the world of grid computing.

Morgenstern, David. Creative Pro (2004). Articles>Computing>Multimedia

User Expectations in a World of Smart Devices

I'm increasingly convinced that, as networks of smart objects permeate our environment, people's attitudes toward technology will become more animist. In other words, we’ll start to anthropomorphize our stuff.

Kuniavsky, Mike. Adaptive Path (2003). Articles>User Centered Design>Ubiquitous Computing

Using Linux at Work and Home    

For those who dream about gaining high-speed, efficient, and bug-free performance from their PCs, Archee discusses the option of Linux, the world's most developed computer operating system—and it's free.

Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2008). Articles>Computing>Software>Linux

Wash Your Hands After Reading This Manual

The next time you complain about the usability of your computer, think of this: despite patently suboptimal design, Windows computers are really no more difficult to use than your washroom, and the washrooms have been around for an awful lot longer. The bottom line--you should pardon my choice of words--is that despite manifest flaws in both technologies, each lets you accomplish surprising quantities of work. And technical writers take heed: this appalling gap in end-user documentation could just be the next million-selling 'for Dummies' book.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (2001). Articles>Computing>Help

Women's Technologies, Women's Literacies: Sewing and Computing Across the Years    

This article compares the historical and contemporary clothing industry with the current microelectronics industry. It argues that the development of paper patterns, along with the perfection of the sewing machine as a technology in the 1870s, democratized fashion for lower and middle class women just as the development of the World Wide Web and Web-making software has democratized publishing for authors before unable to gain access to an audience for their writing. Comparing the businesses of three groups of women using the World Wide Web, this article finally problematizes these historical and contemporary democratizing technologies the sewing machine and the computer by pointing out both obvious and more subtle socioeconomic realities which undercut some utopian promises of publishing in Cyberspace.

Rohan, Liz. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2001). Articles>Computing>History>Gender

First Fictions and the Parable of the Palace

this column will take the form of a journey through a wide range of topics at the intersection of user experience design and everyware.

Lamantia, Joe. UXmatters (2008). Articles>Technology>Ubiquitous Computing>User Experience