Inspiration: Subtle, But Nice Effect for a Video Player/Browser

December 7th, 2011

It’s subtle, but the New York Times designed a nice effect for a full page video player/browser: the left nav and Other Videos nav on the bottom dim unless you roll over them. It helps the video stand out, and provides fewer visual distractions while watching it. Subtle. Not setting the world on fire for video online. But a nice touch.

Now if they could only dim that Citibank ad…it’s like a flashlight to the face during the movie.

See it in action.

By Brian Ragan |
Interaction Design

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Troubled experiences that need a little counseling ("Interventions"), great experiences that serve as role models ("Inspirations"), and curious or questionable experiences teetering on the brink of a breakdown ("Investigations"). We'll showcase smart experience strategies, great interaction design, and thoughts on transforming marketing meltdowns into model experiences. Our mission: help companies create great experiences that attract attention, convert new customers, generate engagement and cultivate loyalty.

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I'm available to help clarify your user experience strategy and define better interactions between your brand and your customers. For top-tier brands and startups alike, I have architected new websites and mobile experiences, improved usability on existing sites, and revamped customer acquisition touchpoints to achieve higher customer conversion rates, stimulate greater customer loyalty and set the ground for long-term customer evangelism. Find out more about me at BrianRagan.com.

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Florida blames the voter (again) in an election fiasco
“Voters also jammed the scanning machines in some instances by stuffing all of the ballot pages in at once, [Christina White, the deputy elections supervisor] said.”

—Miami Herald story

Way-way-wait. You don’t get to blame the voter for your failure to adequately plan election systems, processes, and logistics.

As for the machine problem:

A) Consider a better vote taking mechanism that minimizes user error. People put multiple sheets in a fax or copy machine and it works, so why wouldn’t it work here? Voters are to be blamed for not knowing that? As system/software/experience designers, we have to think about real world scenarios and what mental models people are likely to bring to a given experience. We must anticipate and plan around potential problems, and take time to educate our clients.

B) Post election officials at these machines to explain how they work, if they’re that unintuitive.
11/08/12
My next train ticket is for Friday—odd that I should get this alert from Amtrak on Monday. Will Amtrak do this every time I go near the train station between now and then? Some scenario planning during app development could have identified and prevented this potentially confusing message.

UPDATE: There appears to be no way to get rid of the message. When I swipe I land in my ticket (for Friday) in Passbook (iOS). So looks like I’m going to have to look at this for the next four days.

11/05/12
One of the poorer product re-branding efforts I’ve seen: “New Morning is now Erewhon” (from attune foods). With all due respect to Mrs. or Mr. Erewhon (I’m guessing), this is difficult to pronounce and impossible to remember. And attune foods? Too much messaging on this box.

11/03/12