Archives: December 2006
Thu Dec 21, 2006
Fireworks and Dreamweaver Tutorial: Design from A to Z
My very good buddy Sheri German has just published a series of articles at the Adobe Developer Center along with the fabulously talented Gordon Mackay.
Sheri and Gordon take a look at the entire process of creating an initial design composition in Fireworks and taking the completed design over into Dreamweaver for the final assembly of a standards-based, CSS intensive page design. Here are the links to the three articles for posterity's sake:
Part 1: Initial design
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/web_standards_layouts_pt1.html
Taking a Fireworks comp to a CSS-based layout in Dreamweaver
Part 2: Markup preparation
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/web_standards_layouts_pt2.html
Taking a Fireworks comp to a CSS-based layout in Dreamweaver
Part 3: Layout and CSS
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/web_standards_layouts_pt3.html
This is one of the more difficult design tasks to learn, but it lies at the core of where web design is moving these days, and the foundational and practical approach that are presented here are worth their weight in gold if you've been busting your butt trying to learn these techniques.
From working with Sheri on the Dreamweaver 8 Visual Encyclopedia I know that her writing is always lucid and to the point. You'll get a chance to see that here along with the exceptional design work of Gordon Mackay to boot.
via Alan Musselman
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Wed Dec 20, 2006
The 15% Factor in Educational Technology
I was talking with our network security specialist yesterday about a thorny problem he was trying to work through--denying the latest exploit discovered by the kids to get around our firewall while still allowing access to legitimate sites. As our discussion wound on, we ended up talking a bit about the irrefutable fact that especially in the week leading up to a major holiday there is a lot more use of the internet in the classroom as a virtual arcade and entertainment system than there is for educational purposes. In many ways classroom computers at this time of year are the functional equivalent of the video/movie/film strip. Something to keep the kids entertained and quiet while the teacher does other things. And kids being kids, without adult supervision they're going to do the things that kids do. Goof around.
Which leads us to the 15% figure mentioned in the title up there. From my years as a school-based technology coordinator I know that about 15% of the teachers in a typical school are, shall we say, less than you'd hope for in a professional educator. (Principals might say the figure is higher.) That figure isn't unique to education. Take a look around the place where you work. If you have a large enough sampling of employees you're going to have about 15% that don't exactly have it on the ball.
But on the other side of things, in most workplaces you also have at least 15% of your staff that are go-getters. The superstars who bust a hump in extra ordinary ways to excel at their work.
In the field of educational technology these are our classroom teachers who are following trends in not only pedagogy, but also in the world around them. They see and appreciate the powerful ways that technology can be used not just to present canned lessons, but as a tool to awaken and excite learning in our students. And as a way to better prepare lessons and track the performance of their students. To communicate with parents and to share the success stories that are happening in their classrooms. Those are the teachers who stay late and take extra classes, who work at home on their classroom web page or blog or podcast. The ones who spend their own time learning new things and thinking about better ways to reach their kids.
The challenge for leadership in this area is to tap into those 15% who are excelling and translate their enthusiasm and experience into lessons that will pull up the other 85% of the faculty. If you can do that, you might even have an effect on that other 15% of your population.
Those that are spending the next few days telling kids to "Just do something on the internet today."
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Mon Dec 18, 2006
A Guy's Perspective on the Four Stages of Marital Disagreements
The other day I was thinking about how most of the disagreements in my household seem to go, and I noted that there was a definite pattern. Almost like one of those fancy decision tree things.
But as it turns out, things are much simpler than that. In fact, you can boil the entire exchange down to four simple stages, which always flow one after another. Simple, at least from a husband's perspective. I'm sure that ladies will find this wildly overly simplistic, but from a guy's point of view it all comes down to this:
1. Statement
This may be phrased in the form of a question, but it generally goes something like, "Honey, I think we should...", or "Honey, don't you think we should....?". Either way, this is the opening salvo. In a few rare instances you might get away with pretending not to hear The Statement, but in almost all cases you'll have to move on to the next step.
2. Comment
Your reaction to The Statement will go a long way in determining how difficult and lengthy the rest of the process will be. Your job here is to evaluate carefully the ramifications of The Statement and determine just how much you're willing to lose if you take a contrary position. It may help to know at this point in the process that eventually you'll arrive at Step 4 below regardless of what you do or say here. The only intervening event between your comment and the final conclusion of the process is the,
3. Argument
This is where you will often, at least eventually, say, "Boy, I really stepped in it this time." Save yourself all that wasted time and longing for just a little "FREAKING PEACE AND QUIET AROUND HERE"........ahem.........
Well, you get the idea. Hey, if it's really a big deal and you're willing to lay it all out there and go toe-to-toe with someone who is FAR more experienced in getting her way than you are, then have at it. Just understand that in almost all cases you'll eventually,
4. Relent
That's right guys. You'll cave. You'll give in. You'll roll over faster than the French Army. It's just a matter of time and how much pain you want to endure between the initial idea presented by your significant other and the moment when you cry 'uncle'.
Sure, sure, there are compromises and not every situation lends itself to this model, but for about 98% of the interactions you'll have with that special female someone in your life, it's good to remember that ultimately it all comes down to these steps: Statement, Comment, Argument, and inevitably, Relent.
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Fri Dec 15, 2006
6 Words That a Father Might Think When He Looks at His Teenage Daughter and Realizes (Again) Just How Beautiful She Has Become
I better stock up on ammo.
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Fri Dec 08, 2006
The Perfect Christmas Gift: Dreamweaver 8 Visual Encyclopedia
I know many of you are struggling right now with what to get your loved ones, acquaintances, or co-workers for Christmas. As a public service I'd like to remind you that the perfect gift is just a few clicks away. That's right, it's the Dreamweaver Visual Encyclopedia from Wiley and Sons Press that I co-wrote with Sheri German, and you can get it right now at Amazon for an incredible price.
Now, you're asking yourself, why your book Kim and not one of the many, many, many others? Good question. Here are some sound reasons why this will be money well-spent and will cause your loved ones', acquaintances', or co-workers' faces to light up with joy when they open the package.
1. The book is heavy, but not too big. The full-color pages require a nice heavy paper stock, so while the book is relatively slim, it's impressively weighty. Imagine them hefting the un-opened package and trying to guess what could be inside such a heavy gift.
2. The book is really pretty. With lots of great screen captures from faux sites that I created and some of Sheri's actual clients the pictures are nice to look at. If you listen closely you can almost hear them saying "Hey, wow!" as they thumb through the pages and see all the vibrant colorful sites that are used as examples.
3. The book is well-crafted and quite useful. Well, not to toot my own horn too loudly, but trust me when I say that Sheri and I seriously worked on each and every example and reference in the book. Looking back on it now this was easily the most difficult book I have ever written owing to the strict format that had to be followed, but in the end it's a very useful book, which brings us to....
4. It's an excellent reference for anyone who uses Dreamweaver. The book is divided into two categories--Tools and Techniques. The Tools section features one-page descriptions of the most common interface options, panels, settings, and commands that you'll find in Dreamweaver. In the Techniques section you'll find two page descriptions of everyday--and some not so everyday but handy to know--things that you need to do with Dreamweaver.
5. Finally, unlike this posting, the book gets right to the point. The idea here is that you can open the book to the exact technique you need to learn about, read a short introduction, then see step by step illustrated screenshots with further descriptions of how things are done. And all of the entries are cross-referenced to other parts of the book so you can dig deeper if you want, or just learn that one thing and move on.
Relational databases are standing by to take your order over at Amazon so don't delay! You still have time to order the book, have it wrapped, personally addressed, and delivered to your loved ones, acquaintances, or co-workers in time for Christmas. All with just a few clicks of your mouse.
Just think how thoughtful they'll believe you to be when they get a gift that has so much going for it!
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Tue Dec 05, 2006
The Adobe/Macromedia Merger After One Year
John Dowdell marks the anniversary of the Adobe/Macromedia merger over at this blog and notes that the sky didn't fall in.
Well. Good to hear about that sky thing JD.
I suppose if I were asked to provide a grade to the combined companies on their first anniversary I'd give them a good solid B. Plenty of room to improve, but still far too early to say this is their final grade. The new Creative Suite and all the upgrades to formerly Macromedia products will appear sometime in the spring according to public disclosures, and that will be the first truly tangible evidence for the largest set of Adobe's customers.
Still, the new releases at Adobe Labs and the focus on new technologies all seem to have Adobe headed in a direction that will be beneficial to its customers, as well as opening new methods for connecting people and ideas. Yeah, a bit hackneyed I know, but there does seem to be a fairly clear vision of how the tools will be developed that will lead to new ways to leverage the power of connecting people. Powerful stuff.
Now, that doesn't mean we loyal customers aren't going to set high standards and be vocal about the company's ability to meet our expectations.
But hey! You guys were partially responsible for making it easy for us to publicly question everything you do.
Ain't technology great!?
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Fri Dec 01, 2006
How to Date a Web 2.0 Millionaire
There are an awful lot of people making ridiculous amounts of money these days by following a simple path to success. First, build a new Web 2.0 service that becomes incredibly popular. Second, sell your company to Google, Yahoo!, or one of the big corporations that's desperately trying to cash in on the newest hot thing. Third, sit back with your piles of cash and let the big company figure out how to make a profit.
Now, not everyone has the wherewithal to create these kinds of applications, but there are incredible opportunities for those who merely want to date, and potentially marry, one of the nouveaux riche of the web world. And we aren't just talking guys here. Lots of women are also working to develop these new services that spread like wildfire through the web and ultimately lead to a gigantic payday. As a public service then, here are some tips to know if your potential mate has what it takes to reach for the golden ring and help you live out your fantasy of being fabulously wealthy.
1. Vowels become an optional item in the spelling of proper names.
Does your potential date spell his name as Rbrt? Or perhaps she wants you to call her Stcy. This is a good sign that they're on the right track. Humor them.
2. Periods (aka dots) appear in strange places in in casual conversation.
Does your date tell you that you look fab.ul.o.us? Wond.erf.ul? Do they order zuc.chi.ni or a caes.ar salad when you eat out? Or perhaps they leave you a text message asking you to pick up something from the dry.cleane.rs. This is a good sign and you can play along by inserting dots into your words as well.
3. They rail about the design in MySpace but then sigh and wonder aloud how they can attract that kind of audience while delivering web pages that look like something the dog chewed up.
Every potential Web 2.0 millionaire thinks MySpace sucks. Every one also has deep envy for how popular the site has become. Your job here is to empathize with them and assure them that good design can ultimately win out over ease of use. Even if you don't believe it yourself.
4. They use the term "Old Media" incessantly.
Not that they wouldn't be happy to have their fledgling company acquired by NewsCorp or NBC or Universal. It's just that they don't understand how people can still be attracted to something that lacks interactivity and is essentially passive. Expect to hear them deride those companies often and loudly, while secretly hoping that the next phone call or e-mail will be from one of them. Practice saying "Old media is dead" and you'll score major points.
5. They drop names into conversation as if they're talking about a pantheon of Web 2.0 gods.
You'll hear a lot about Larry and Kevin and Tim. Doc and Joi are also likely to be mentioned frequently. Learn who they are (or at least pretend) and you'll have a better chance of connecting.
6. The decorating style they choose favors bright colors with lots of gradients.
This is a standard design criteria for all Web 2.0 applications, and they may carry this over into the real world. Just assure them that it's "fresh" and "usable" and know that once they've made their millions you can always redecorate.
7. Strange terms make their way into every conversation. Learn what they do--and don't--mean.
AJAX is not a cleaner.
Ruby on Rails is not associated with trains in any way.
RSS is not a new car from Mazda.
Flash video has nothing to do with dirty old men in raincoats.
CSS is not a TV show. Neither is API.
Flex is not about exercising.
Open source is not some sort of disgusting disease.
Folksonomy is not an acoustic musical group.
Load testing is not associated with structural engineering.
Vertical markets are not multiple-story retail outlets.
Synergy is not a sports drink.
Eclipse has nothing to do with planetary objects.
The 'rich' in 'rich internet applications' does not have to do with how much money you hope they make when they sell out.
Enterprise applications have nothing to do with Star Trek.
You will not find Java Beans at Starbucks.
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Best of luck! Sure, you may have to date too many guys whose fashion sense is limited to whatever black t-shirt is clean-ish, or too many girls who all wear the same cat-eye glasses, but in the end, the payday for you could be huge and well worth your efforts.
P.S. If you have tips of your own feel free to post them in the comments.
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