Hello » Usability

Feel Better. Work Better.

julienne — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:20:08 +0000

Working in the interactive design industry means we’re used to sitting in front of monitors all day. It also means we have firsthand experience with the pitfalls of poor ergonomics, which is why we were so happy to help Herman Miller launch their new Thrive portfolio of ergonomic solutions. The Thrive products are the result of over 35 years of ergonomic research designed to promote health and create a better work environment.

We were especially intrigued with Monitor Support products. Imagine how productive I’d be with eight screens. It’d be like “mega-desk” from The Office.

Helping Healthcare Keep Pace With Change

julienne — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:37:04 +0000

Compass System Visualizer tool we designed for Herman Miller’s new line of modular systems.

Healthcare facilities operate in a constantly changing environment. We launched Compass System with Herman Miller to provide solutions for healthcare organizations in managing their spaces. Compass addresses evolving healthcare facility conditions with a rail system that allows components to be adjusted, modified, and re-utilized over and over.

We launched a Compass System Visualizer tool to help users understand the product in a visual, responsive way. Users can explore the systems in different room setups and watch components interactively fit into setups like an exam room or emergency room. Hot points explain why a room setup would require components like a higher cabinet or a rotating counter surface. Play with the Compass System Visualizer.

“Rollable” OLED

julienne — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:35:08 +0000

We’ve always been excited about the potential OLED screens held for the future and how they will shape interaction with consuming and displaying content. A couple years ago, we designed a website for Sony’s launch of the XEL-1, the first OLED television in the industry, with a 3mm thin panel and an unheard of I million to I contrast ratio, providing higher contrast, black levels, and a stunning picture.

Sony is once again pushing the possibilities of OLED with their recently developed OLED screen that is thin enough to wrap around a pencil, about 4mm in diameter. We’re looking forward to the fresh, unexpected ways and places the new OLED screen will appear. We could start seeing curved digital billboards fitted to the shape of buildings, or transportable full-length videos that can be rolled up and stored in our pockets. It’s only a matter of time before touch sensors are incorporated into OLED and those flexible, go anywhere computers we’ve been dreaming about can become a reality. It’s exciting to see advancements like the recently announced Retina Display on the iPhone 4. OLED developments in particular have us really looking forward to new relevant applications.

Poll: Top Dash Apps

julienne — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:22:40 +0000

With the Sony Dash release last week, buzz has been generating about the touch-screen personal Internet viewer, which made appearances on the Today Show, Dr. Oz, and even some pop music videos. Having designed and developed the product startup video for the Dash along with a couple other apps – including CNBC – we’ve been running countless apps on the Dash to test which ones deliver the best personalized doses of information from the web.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

First in Line

julienne — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:34:48 +0000

Playing with the iPad at Hello.

The iPad is out and we’ve got two. Our test drives of the devices are generating a lot of new ideas for prototyping to take advantage of features like multi-touch, proximity sensors, and a larger screen. Stay tuned for updates.

The Dot Revolution

julienne — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:15:06 +0000

Having a true change in performance never hurt the industry.” – Ken Salsman, Director of new technologies at Aptina

We have to agree, and we’re excited to read that InVisage is developing a semiconductor called the quantum dot that could upgrade a three-megapixel iPhone camera to 12-megapixels, improving quality up to four times, especially in low light. Photos taken at night will no longer be misshapen blurs, not to mention our social media lives will become much easier.

One of our favorite cameras, the Canon S90, takes excellent shots in low light. The downside is it’s a heavy load in the pocket. Incorporating a high-quality camera into our phones is an overdue and much-needed upgrade for convenience. We’re looking forward to having high-quality blog photos come straight from our phones – it would take mobile blogging to the next level.

The Buzz on Google

julienne — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:52:19 +0000

Since its release two weeks ago, we’ve been playing with Google Buzz. We’ve realized that the top five Buzz features could also be the top five Buzzkill features. Here’s why:

Gmail Integration

Yes: Buzz automatically sets itself up in Gmail requiring no additional paperwork from users, thus saving everyone some much appreciated time.
No: The automatic setup would be readily welcome by users interested in Buzz, but an irritation to those who aren’t, especially since the disable button is buried in your Gmail settings.

Easy Conversation

Yes: Buzz updates can be sent to your email where you can reply directly.
No: One of the most annoying features of Facebook is when your inbox gets bombarded with post updates. Prepare for more bombardment.

Buzz Mobile App

Yes: The Buzz app lets you geotag your posts. You can share in real time AND share your current location.
No: It is because users share too much information on the Internet that web sites such as Please Rob Me have taken effect. Do we really need to be sending out more personal information into the web?

Auto-follow

Yes: Initially, Google picks who you follow. No more looking up names and adding.
No: Unless you make your profile private, now the world can see your most frequent email correspondents. For most professionals, they’d like to keep that information private, thus igniting the privacy invasion scare.

Internet Integration

Yes: One of Buzz’s main marketing tools is promoting its capability of integrating all social media outlets into one. Now we can share Flickr photos (in large view, too), YouTube videos, Twitter, and articles from Google Reader through one outlet.
No: Is Buzz making social media and information management easier, or just creating another outlet that we have to check? All its sharing capabilities can be done through Facebook, and for most people, the number of Facebook friends is larger than Gmail contacts.

Play with Me

julienne — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:18:41 +0000

While in New York, Hiro and David gave Microsoft Surface a hands-on test run. The demos felt like, well demos. Not sure we really need a virtual koi pond. As multi-touch interfaces become more common, we’re going to see more intuitive, gestural interfaces like Surface or Wii around us.

The on-screen keyboard, not quite there yet as you don’t get a tactile response when you press.

Pinch and pull like an iPhone to zoom in on the map.