::slingthought::

The jury is still out, but the trend is in to use “Twitter-like” functionality to keep your workmates and bosses updated on even the most granular project details.  It would seem there will always be an importance to report project status and progress to PMs and Business Leaders, but I think that micro-blogging is a fantastic way to keep those who need to know what you’re up to.  It also creates a certain sense of ownership and accountability.  In the case of virtual collaboration, where I can’t just walk over to your cubicle, this could be the way to augment “watercooler” discussions.  I’ll be interested to see how the enterprise handles this trend.

Some interesting info…
A sideways look at Twitter in the enterprise.

Some other contenders that are hustling right along with Twitter…
Live Blog with Traction Team Page- the demo video will quickly help you get your head around it.
Socialtext- the 60 second demo video also gets you up to speed quickly with the service.

I have finally downloaded the WordPress App for the iPhone/iTouch. Since this posting is about usability, I’ll be brief. The app is useful but typing with your thumb presents many challenges. I’ve had to correct several typos and it has taken a virtual eternity to create this message, making me miss my keyboard. It’s definitely a wortwhile download since it is free, just make sure to find time to practice texting with your thumb. Happy Thanksgiving and please excuse my grammatical errors.

Michael Sampson shares his thoughts on Virtual Team Meetings. One part advice and one part etiquette.

Read Write Web did a nice wrap up/overview of tools for Virtual Teams.  I found it helpful because it was broken down into categories, which the information architect in me appreciates.

Check out the Virtual Teams article.

What’s happening at your company? Share status updates with your co-workers.

Check out the video explanation by clicking “Watch the Tour”

To me it looks like a great way for teams to stay up on projects by following each other.  This would be great to test within a design or development team.

It appears to be as easy as adding your email address and the emails of the people you wish to Yammer with.

Slick integration.  Too bad it’s only with other Gmail users.  Hopefully all email will work this way in the near future.

Andy Rutledge has a very interesting take on what might happen in the near future for freelancers and how large interactive agencies might be impacted by the economy.

Here’s his take.  Definitely worth giving a read.

I completely agree that professionalism and knowing how to manage a web project are two things Web professionals should be capable of.  While I don’t consider myself a project manager per se, I do consider myself professional and someone who has followed the Web process closely for years and knows how projects should be run.

Whatever happens, there are bound to be noticeable changes to how we work.  We’re starting to feel the impact of the economy in business and our personal lives.  Jobs are being cut, budgets are getting tight and companies are requiring more out of one person in terms of skill.

Here are some personal work philosophies that I stick to…

1. Always work to have absolute clarity in communications with clients and fellow team members
2. Always deliver what you say you will deliver and if it can’t be delivered in the time you said, set expectations and communicate a plan for when it will be delivered.  No surprises.
3. Treat everyone with respect and embrace their ideas and perspectives.
4.  Assume that the best ideas will come from a group mind and not your own.
5. Look to the open and social Web for cues on how to tackle user experiences.  Learn from the paths forged by others.
6. Bring the familiar experiences that people have with the Web into your projects.  It’s the place we spend most of our time.
7. Take a no fear approach to developing skills.  If you are a designer who doesn’t code, get your feet wet and learn CSS or the most basic Javascript.
8.  Lastly, bring a sense of humor.  Work doesn’t have to always feel like work.  I’ve seen great ideas come out of people who are loosened up and thinking more spontaneously after laughter.

Just my thoughts.

I’m eagerly anticipating the forthcoming beta release of Axure.  Here’s the skinny on what’s going to be possible in terms of wire framing and prototyping…

Part 1: Widgets Pane and Custom Widget Libraries covers enhancements to the Widgets pane (including Search) and creating and using custom widget libraries.

Part 2: New Interactions and the Advanced Interactions Editor provides an overview of the new actions (Set Focus on Widget, Bring Panel(s) to Front, Set Widget(s) to Selected State) and creating animation using the new Advanced Editor.

Part 3: Dynamic Panel Manager, Image & Button Shape Enhancements, and Diagram Editing shows the new Dynamic Panel manager, the Preserve Corners feature for images, editing MouseDown and Selected styles for images and button shapes, deep selection in groups, and the “Visio style” selection mode.”

The ability for 9 slice scaling to preserve corners on widgets makes me smile.

I can’t wait to delve deeper into this thoughtfully designed document.  I love the diagramming style and the fact that it is served up as a PDF book, a slick site and has downloadable idea cards tucked inside.

Thank you Flashbulb Interaction for giving me something juicy to sink my teeth into.

I’ve been using Mindjet MindManager for quite some time, but I have to admit that MindNode operates more the way that mind mapping software should.  Not only is it fairly intuitive in terms of creating new nodes, but you can arrange thoughts into more of a designed format.  I love how colored node lines magically appear and can be bent, moved and grabbed in a natural way.   Give this one a shot for sure, but only if you’re running on a Mac.

I dig Mindjet’s philoshophy…”You’re full of great ideas—but ideas are perishable.”