Hi folks, apologies for the month long absence from posts/email in this place.
A few friends and I have been away on a few personal matters, uni and also work projects… but, we’re back online and rocking once again. :)
Why are flamingos pink?
Ever wondered why flamingos are Pink?
Well, New Scientist have posted an answer in The Last Word. Interestingly it’s all about diet.
CHI-Place is relaunched
CHI-Place an online community forum site on Human-Computer Interaction has been relaunched.
The website, continues to be a resource for information on related topics, interviews, extra reading, external resources and discussions with experts and the community to share ideas, debate important issues, and keep abreast of upcoming events in the HCI field, industry and community.
Scientists map the Dog Genone
Well, it was only a matter of time, but the poodle has become the fourth mammal to have its genome mapped, joining the list of mammals including the rat, mouse and human being. The preliminary findings show that dogs and humans are more like each other genetically, than either is to a mouse.
Up next are the chimp, cow, and rhesus macaque, whose genome should be complete by 2005.
INFront profiles the SBS creative team
Australian INFront have profiled 5 designers from multicultural and multilingual broadcaster, SBS (Special Broadcasting Service).
Their creative and profiled work is really amazing and worthwhile checking out.
The profiled designers include, Tanya Creer, Stefanie Kenyon, Matthew Edwards, Vanessa Power and Simone Wright.
Digitally Imported Di.fm Trance channel
Been listening to di.fm (trance channel) all week via WinAmp. It has some of the best mixed trance, well worth checking out.
AIfIA template documents
Erin Malone has uploaded a collection of useful documents and tools on the Asilomar Institute for Information Architecture (AIfIA) website.
The tools, which include document templates, process map posters, briefs and other documents have been designed to help people in their practice and are available for free.
The origins of writing
The Utah State University has created an insightful micro site on the origins of writing.
The micro site covers also writing systems, particularly the topic of Runic writing – the generic name for an ancient alphabet used for over a thousand years among a wide variety of cultures and traditions.
Screen reader friendly websites
The Australian Royal Blind Society have collated a useful list of websites that are friendly and accessible to screen readers.
These sites include audio books, games sites, media and news, reference, online tools, search engines, tv guides and online shopping.
China’s first manned space flight
New scientist reports that China will launch their first human space flight following week-long celebrations on 1 October.
The Shenzhou spacecraft will carry a single Chinese astronaut into space and if successful will make China the third country alongside the US and Russia to reach space.
The Web Standards Group
The Web Standards Group is a Sydney based collective which aims to provide web developers and designers a forum via a discussion list and meetings, to discuss issues and share knowledge in web standards and web development.
The resource section and list contains a collection of useful links to related articles and other resources.
Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 23 October, 2003 at the Australian Museum, Sydney. (Thanks to IAWiKi for the link)
IA Sydney meet this thursday
Eric Scheid, who runs the really cool wiki site, IAWiKi is once again organising a meet for this coming thursday for like-minded Information Architecture folks in Sydney.
It is an informal event with no set agenda where you can sit back, relax and talk IA.
More info can be found on the Cocktail Hour page, but don’t forget to RSVP if you would like to come along.
Go Digital on the BBC World Service
I was up late listening to ABC News Radio and I came across the BBC World Service programme Go Digital with presenter Tracey Logan.
The programme is quite interesting, covering a multitude of topics and areas on how technology is changing our lives.
This week’s programme covered ubiquitous computing, language learning via sms and the largest weather prediction project ever undertaken.
The Usability Methods Toolbox
The Usability Methods Toolbox by James Hom is a collection of useful information on the various methods and techniques used in usability evaluation.
The list contains a large selection of methods by Inquiry (Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews, etc.), Inspection (Heuristic evaluation, Cognitive Walkthroughs, etc.), Testing and related techniques.
Galileo space probe mission end
The Galileo space probe, which launched October 18, 1989 onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis will end its mission on the 21st of September, 2003 by plunging into Jupiter, the planet the space probe was originally sent to study nearly 14 years ago.
The Nasa Galileo Project homepage contains everything about the mission, discoveries, facts about Jupiter, its moons, the impact on Jupiter in July 1994 by comet Shoemaker-Levy and the space probe impact.
There will also be a Webcast from the Jet propulsion Institute.
The New Yorker has a nice summary on the life of the Galileo space probe, titled What Galileo Saw by Michael Benson.