Archives 2011

I admit it … I’m a user experience geek. And at times, I can drive my wife nuts.

On a recent shopping mall outing, my wife and I paid a visit to an upscale department store, just to use the facilities (of course). While waiting for my wife, I observed a major user experience flaw. What made it so amazing is the this upscale retailer prides itself on its presentation. As men and women entered the restroom lounge area, over 70% of them appeared confused as to the location of “their” restroom. Several men were seen entering the women’s restroom in error. Not to be outdone, women were seen stepping into maintenance closets and service areas. Yet there were signs marking each restroom by gender. So why the confusion? Hadn’t the retailer done enough?

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This topic was presented at the October 2011 Chicago Web Professionals Meetup.

What are Variables?

The sole purpose of a variable is to store a value. The reason why it’s called a variable is the value can change at any time within the JavaScript application. Variables are used throughout programming with JavaScript, there’s just no escaping them.

Before you can use a variable, you must declare it. To declare a variable, you use the var (for variable) keyword, followed by the identifier (or variable name).

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Expressions are operations on numbers or text strings.

Numeric Expressions

On numbers, you typically perform arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc. To code an arithmetic expression, you use arithmetic operators to operate on two or more values.

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A brief diversion from my “Learning JavaScript” series, to discuss a major secret in email marketing. I call it “Single Theme to Right Audience.”

The idea is this; when you send out your blast emails, make sure you’re sending the value that your recipients opted-in for. Now, for some businesses, that’s simple. Say you sell electronic widgets (sorry, couldn’t help myself) and people opted-in for deals on electronic widgets. As long as you give them electronic widgets, whether their blue, green, etc., they’ll likely be happy.

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There are three types of data in JavaScript:

• Number
• String
• Boolean

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JavaScript Identifiers are names; names that you give things in JavaScript. These JavaScript “things” include

• variables
• functions
• objects
• properties
• methods
• events

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JavaScript statements are the core building block for anything JavaScript. A JavaScript statement is merely an instruction, telling your JavaScript what to do. Here are some examples of basic JavaScript statements:

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Before you write your Javascript, you have to know how best to incorporate it into your pages. Officially, there are three methods.

• In-line
• Embedded
• External

Inline “was” one of the more popular methods of including JavaScript on a page. However, in keeping the web standards approach in mind (seperation of content, design & functionality), we’ll focus on the last two.

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Things come easy, things come difficult.

For the past 17+ years, I’ve created websites. HTML, XHTML, HTML5, CSS, CSS3, you name it, I’ve done it. I’ve even used Flash, JavaScript and jQuery to enhance my sites. Again, I’ve used JavaScript & jQuery, but I haven’t known it up to this point.

I’ve spent over a decade trying to grasp it; each time, it would elude me and/or I’d become distracted by something more digestible. With the JavaScript renaissance (the advent of JavaScript libraries, AJAX, and all the other developer toys), JavaScript and related libraries have become a requirement in the front-end developer’s tool belt. And overnight, I was behind the ball instead of alongside or in front. So this year, I’ve made it a priority to not only learn, but know JavaScript. I don’t want nor need to be an expert (as I’m heading down a UX track). But I have to know it, create it, manipulate it.

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I just returned from attending a web-related event, WordCamp Chicago. It reminded me how valuable these type of events are. Not only for the formal presentations, but also for the networking and connecting with like-minded people with similar interests.

There are a few excuses I frequently hear for not being able to attend a web event; money and time.

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There’s two things that befuddle me (well, there are more, but I digress…). Job titles in the web/internet industry and Twitter.

I love Twitter. I primarily use Twitter to follow my mentors and peers in the web/Internet industry. One thing though that frustrates me to no end is that lack of dialog, discussion. I’m also frustrated by the lack of engagement when I post items/questions of interest. I’ll eventually figure that out. But discussion on Twitter is lacking. Sharing online resources and Instagrams is hot, but not opinions and discussions (@mollydotcom, excluding you for now, but you’re my fav).

This was true until this morning. A fantastic thread started between Andy Budd (@andybudd) and Mark Bouton (@markbouton), then spread to a few other luminaries in the web design and user experience industries. For now, I’ll leave them nameless. Below, I’ve attempted to capture the thread in its entirety for posterity, awareness and a note on how a proper debate should be handled. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies/order discrepancies. Maybe our politicians should consider Twitter during the upcoming campaign. Keep rebuttals down to 140 characters … HA!

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I previously wrote about an experience where a restaurant forced me to visit their website for their menu, only to discover that their website (including their menu) were in Flash.

Recently, I again had the need to lookup a restaurants menu online, via a mobile device. This time, the menu was in PDF format, making me traverse virtual hoops to see what the restaurant offered. Why do restaurants make it so hard to obtain information?

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