Why the Demand for Usability Will Continue to GrowUsability is an important aspect of any software system. It is often a driving factor in the popularity of software today. Yet, usability is only just in its infancy in terms of the importance it will play in future software systems.
Gamification Can Work—If Done RightGamification is about applying game-design thinking to non-game applications to make them more fun and engaging. Pamela Rentz profiles some gamification projects that are getting it done right, and she highlights some guidelines for making gamification projects successful.
When Does Choosing a Mediocre Technology Make Sense?The technology world is obsessed with the latest and greatest. This doesn't come as a surprise. After all, we're all about innovation and building something better today than we built yesterday. Are there times when choosing a mediocre option—or even the worst option—makes sense?
Patent Assertion Entities: Trolls or Angels?A patent assertion entity (PAE) is a firm that acquires and licenses patents with no intention of manufacturing or marketing the invention itself. Is the bashing of PAEs justified because they’re "patent trolls" or misguided since they’re "angels" for inventors and investors alike?
James Bond Drives 3D Aston MartinFor the action scenes in the latest James Bond movie Skyfall, British company Propshop Modelmakers used innovative 3D printing technology from Augsburg-based voxeljet to create the three Aston Martin DB5 models that double for the now priceless original vehicle from the 1960s.
Don't Hope for a Happy UX—Build One YourselfYour site's UX is just as important as the product or service you're selling. Too many businesses wait for input once their site is online rather than involving potential clients from the start. Learn how to ensure that users love your site—and that they will return to it.
TV’s “Lost” Creator Visits MIT Media LabEmmy award-winning film and television writer-producer J.J. Abrams recently gave a talk at the MIT Media Lab on the creative process as he sees it. The Media Lab focuses on research projects at the convergence of technology, multimedia, and design and has created some noteworthy offshoots.
3D Printing Software Capabilities Just Keep Growing3D printing was certainly one of 2012's biggest buzzwords, and as these machines continue to drop in price—while producing higher quality items—the technology isn't likely to stop making headlines any time soon. From toys to fully-functional bodily transplants, 3D printing software can do it all.
