Archive for July, 2009

Analytics : retro-fitting measurability – part 2

In my previous post on analytics and retrofitting measurability, I talked about the first two phases of getting to grips with metrics and analytics in an existing system. I divvied it up so because otherwise it would have been too long to read.

The Zen of Analytics (or, “this guy GETS it…”)

Just before I post part 2 of my humble ‘Analytics and Measurability’ articles, I would just like to invite all analysts, optimisers, and everyone of that data-harnessing ilk to join me in a deep bow of respect.
Read Avinash Kaushik’s post titled ‘This I believe [A Manifesto for Web Marketers & Analysts]‘.
Embody his five-fold path in [...]

Analytics : retro-fitting measurability – part 1

Measurability operates over an incredible range. It’s the ‘gravity’ of the metrics universe. Why do I say so? Because it is a quality attribute that manifests itself at business-level decision-making, without being constrained to that realm in the least.
Measurability permeates everything; it goes past the business level, down through engineering and development activities, and even [...]

“Here’s your sign.”*

This question (which presumes a lot of things) about “why women don’t watch more porn” suffers from the same problems that most “why don’t women” or “why don’t little girls” questions suffer from. And this class of questions is best answered koan-ically:
Did you ever have that thing happen when you were a child and you [...]

Goodbye, visual design.

A prediction: the next big leap in design will be to make the transition from the visual to the aural and kinesthetic realms. Why do I say that? because of the evolution of human-computer interfaces to include motion and gesture recognition.
As interfaces shift into 3D / 4D as well as involving other senses, design will [...]

Media channel schmedia channel

Check out this site: virtual paper allows you to just throw up those ole pdfs and flyers and whatever else you’ve got lying around onto a website. Then, it lets you collect web analytics as well as understand user interaction with your content.
The first instance I came across was a mag for toronto rentals that [...]

Let n beings approach nirvana…

Let n beings approach nirvana. What is the limit scenario when n is very large?
Wordwide bliss? Peace on earth?
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Lunchtime. The perfect time for my colleagues and I to insult each others’ intelligence with bizarre postulates and nonsensics.
The day’s what if:
What if we were all to suddenly, overnight, become:

aware of ourselves, others, our surroundings and our [...]

Playing in a sandbox: what every software developer should be encouraged to do

[updated 2009-12-24]
It amazes me how often this simple practice eludes modern software companies.
A sandbox is a setup on your local machine which allows you to:
1. check out software from source control, and
2. build and test changes or additions.
To (2), I should perhaps add “without making a fool of yourself or jeopardizing the fruits of everyone [...]