Though I am not an über guru of usability, over the last 20 years of software development I have picked up a few tricks and lessons (many the hard way, the best way to learn) on how useful what you see on your computer screen is and can be. Many times it is familiarity what makes something usable – if you have seen something like it before, the learning curve should be less. And I don’t mean stealing a Web site’s design; think of how most Windows applications start with the first drop down menu being “File” and you’re onto my train of thought.

Speaking of trains, I made a few observations first-hand involving public transportation in Minneapolis. The first was positive, the second threw me in for a loop. I will talk about the great one here, the second one I will save for a post on secret shoppers.

The bus and light rail system in the Twin Cities is called Metro Transit. The accompanying photo shows their name and logo, a letter T centered in a circle. This was extremely familiar to me, growing up in Massachusetts and living in Boston for many years. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or MBTA, is called the T, and has a similar logo. In Twins county, the circle is red, and in Red Sox country, the circle is black.

Having similar public transit logos helped me identified light-rail stations and bus stops. And if my memory is correct, I believe Pittsburgh has a similar logo. What if every public transit system in the US had a common symbol, similar to how most parking lots are identified by a blue background and white letter “P” by the entrance? Or in the world? It would make using public transit that much easier, as you could identify what and where it is. It is only buses and trains, how hard should it be?

Perhaps living in Chicago and learning its transit system and struggling with its inconsistent signage over the last few years had some input into this thought?

Technology • (4) Comments • Permalink

The next likemind will be tomorrow Friday, June 15 in 25 cities around the world. In Chicago, it will be at Intelligentsia Coffee,, 53 E. Randolph, at the corner of Wabash.

Business • Technology • (0) Comments • Permalink

This blog post is to claim The Hot Iron for my Technorati Profile.

More writing to come.

Technology • (0) Comments • Permalink

I am fresh back from a couple of days in the Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. My wife had a business trip and I tagged along, a good fortune I have with the work-anywhere capability of the Internet. I made several observations during the trip, and they will comprise my next few blog posts.

The accompanying photo is of the Mary Tyler Moore statue that stands along the Nicolett Mall in downtown Minneapolis. It was placed by the TV Land network and is similar to the one of Bob Newhart at Navy Pier in Chicago. I took the photo a day after I walked by the statue and didn't notice it, as it blends into the landscape of the former Dayton-Hudson department store behind it.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

A little less than a month ago was the first ever Looptopia, an all-night celebration of art and culture in Chicago’s Loop. Where there were critiques and complaints about the crowds and the lack of capacity to meet the almost doubling of the expected crowds, I see this as an opportunity for an even better Looptopia 2008!

As I joined family and friends and traversed the many venues, I had my camera in hand and captured photos and videos of the event. Rather than just send around links to Flickr and YouTube, I decided to build a micro Web site around them… because that’s what I do!

Check out Looptopia Memories. Tell your friends. And help it grow – I am looking for links to photos, videos and stories from the night to add.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink