upward spiral

4sq Superuser: “With great power comes great responsibility”

Kshipra — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:25:27 +0000

Ever since the “Superuser” was introduced for 4sq users, many users all over the globe cribbed on blogs that they never received their “power” even after they did so much to control the quality of User Generated Content on their beloved 4sq database. It must be massive with the number of absurd places, tips & photos upload every day, minute or second on the 4sq servers.

Though Cafe Coffee Day, the first to offer “Specials” [India-specific] was introduced on 4sq, many managers/staff claimed ignorance of such offers. Not sure of actual numbers of them though. Lot more specials at other brands did get introduced later

Why am i stuck on the app, even after a year? because of all the “tips” my 4sq friends update about food places & their discoveries. The ease of use, badges & mayorships do add up to the delight. The mayorships are sometimes funny though! [probably due to the territorial nature?]

Well to get back to the “Superuser”-ship, will the “Supers” be loyal, non-biased & retain their integrity to get rid of the “scum”? How long will they survive? Will they continue their righteous path in-spite of no benefits?

How to simmer for 20 mins on low flame on an Induction stove?

Kshipra — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:16 +0000

It is quite amusing how the knowledge transfer [over the mobile phone] for recipes happens between my mother & me [the new bride] because she uses LPG stove whereas i use the induction & electric cookware.

She would say “Simmer on a low flame for 20 mins” & i would have to relate that with 6 types of induction cooking styles of “Hot Pot”, “Boil”, “Saute”, “Fry”, “Stir Fry”, etc & the temperature variation between 120 degree centigrade to 2000 degree centigrade. Of course over time i.e., burnt spices, asphyxiation, etc [The apartment complex where we live actually upgraded their fire extinguishing equipment] we did get to create edible food

Contextual Aisles anyone?

Kshipra — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:18:02 +0000

Have you ever gone to a supermarket, picked up couple of cans of beans, gone home to find that you have forgotten to buy a can-opener?

Well, i definitely found one supermarket (a kind of a local chain) that actual organises products together contextually! yes, of course, using that word is getting a bit overrated but doesn’t it make sense? Can-openers sold at the same section with the canned food is easier to relate to than remembering to pick up the can opener from the hardware section where otherwise the can-opener would have been sold.

Surprisingly, “larger” chains of supermarkets have not really cracked this yet.

a cleaner blog for 2012

Kshipra — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:15:44 +0000

Yes, i should blog more often about the miserable user experiences out there from all devices possible.
Hopefully with the new theme & updated wordpress (3.3) blog, i hope to capture & upload most of my thoughts on user experiences.

Gifts for User Experience Geeks 2010

Kshipra — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:01:12 +0000

Thank you Nick Finck for compiling this ultimate list for the UX folks!

Gifts for User Experience Geeks 2010

Free User Experience books @ The UX Bookmark

Kshipra — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:49:31 +0000

www.theuxbookmark.com/2009/07/interaction-design/printed-books-on-user-experience-free-to-read-online/

10 User Interface Design Fundamentals

Kshipra — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:10:36 +0000

Once in a while i do come across there Fundamentals in one form or the other, of course being in the industry for too long, you obviously know all that! But i do like giving credit to the people who post the articles for all the newbies who learn from the internet, Thank you!

thinkvitamin.com/design/10-user-interface-design-fundamentals/

By Kyle Sollenberger

17 August 2009

The App Buzz & all that!

Kshipra — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:01:04 +0000

It has been more than couple of years of Android app watching & evolution that i have been mentally info-burdened with.
With Apps like Layer & Hoccer/Bump that amazed people, of course our Macs do teleport! it was app frenzy that market went crazy with app after app being released into the marketplace.
So now what, with the Tablet boom what’s new? are you kidding me? i don’t believe i can blog this as, everything sounds outdated the minute i post something.
After the zillion social networking apps comes the new social reading/news apps, of course: Flipboard, Zite, Editions, LiveStand & the much expected Propeller from Google.
How much can we socially share, read & recommend? How much info can we intake individually & from out peers?
For that, the new crazy app would be something with AI who knows out personality: or whims, fancies & not just what we would like to appearing to be reading to our peers!
Even though we all have our waking moments being documented by us, we still own the content: we appear the way we would like to appear to the online peer-community. Of course, some do have the fabulous lifestyle & would love to flaunt it
we all update through the apps, can we live without them?

So do still use email for correspondence?

Kshipra — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:44:39 +0000

Is email really out of your life? Do you no longer check your email as often you check your social network updates? True isnt it? You no longer email a friend & ask him/her “wassup?”; you just open her feed … Continue reading →

essential android apps summarized

Kshipra — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:25:41 +0000

100+ Absolutely Essential Android Apps & Tips is out on App Storm & contains the most of the crazy essential apps for your android phone outta the inane