In user interface design it is often thought that creating metaphors and analogies to real life items helps users translate these concepts to computer versions more easily. For example the idea of a computer desktop with files and folders is directly analogous to real life desks with filing cabinets. The idea is that a user who has never seen a graphical operating system before would intuitively understand what a file and folder represent.

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It upsets me when papers make the effort to do proper usability studies and then misuse the results because they get confused by qualitative and quantitative data.

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I found a really good article called the 10 usability crimes you really shouldn't commit and I have updated the website according to adhere to some of the principles - mainly making the website logo now a link to the home page and indicating the active form field for comments below. I didn't actually realise you could change the currently focused field in a form by adding in :focus. I disagree with the last point the article makes, about not justifying text because some people find it harder to read. I'm not dyslexic, but I personally find justified text much neater and easier to read than left-justified.

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I went to the Dean Gallery today with Steven since it was such lovely weather outside and we thought we'd do something cultural. The gallery sits opposite the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and houses a small, permanent collection of Surrealist and Dada art which is well worth seeing if you like Dalí, Miró, Ernst, Magritte, Picasso or Man Ray.

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From Lara's recommendation I went along to the arts & crafts fair being held in the gardens of St Johns at the West end of Princes Street called 3D/2D Craft & Design Fair with some friends. It runs until 30th August and is free entry.

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I browse Google news and Reddit every morning on my iPod and many of the websites that link from them look very poor on the iPod/iPhone. It's really not hard to make a website look good on a small screen but unfortunately mobile web usability is often neglected.

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