Amazon has a good example of the selective and sensible use of AJAX type controls in an interface.  In various presentations on software design I often talk about using AJAX and Javascript wisely and sparingly. Too much and the rate of confusion and user error rises significantly.

On Amazon’s holiday-ready site they use Javascript pulldowns and mouseovers to show the user the different departments they can shop from. However when letting the user select different areas to search on, the site doesn’t automatically take the user anywhere. It lets the user manually select the specific area they want to go to, enter a search term, then click GO.

If a user knows exactly where they want to go its important to make sure they can get there unhindered. The interface shouldn’t try and guess what they want or, worse yet, mistakenly take the user somewhere they don’t want to be.  A good interface should show the user all the options available to them, then let them get there quickly and directly (and help them avoid any wrong turns).  Nice job Amazon.

Found a good use for the magnetic strip, credit card style room keys from hotels - use them as a shoehorn when going through airport security. 

Its an eco-friendly re-use,  doesn’t set-off metal detectors and helps keep the backs of shoes in shape.  

Mind you, I’m not advocating taking them just for this purpose but I know how easy it is to forget to return them (and that there are plenty of people who do take the keys on purpose for fear of any personal information that’s stored on the magnetic strip.)

My recent presentation on software development and the importance of useability is available online. 

Thank you to Charlie Arehart and the Online ColdFusion User Group for hosting and recording the event.

Thank you, as well, to everyone who participated in the question and answer period.

The Vertabase Timer is now available for download directly from the Adobe Exchange.

It is a great way to track time on projects or to track time on clients (or really anything).  

This is an alpha build so please sign up for the updates or check the time track message board for known issues. 

Also, development of the Vertabase time tracking tool will be driven by user feedback, particularly early adopters. So fire away.