WebWord.com Newsletter Issue #44

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ISSUE #44

26-March-2000

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                WebWord.com Newsletter
           "Technology. Humans. Experience"
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                 Newsletter Editor
                   John S. Rhodes 
                     John@webword.com
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March 26, 2000                      Newsletter #44
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Table of Contents

1. XML: What You Need to Know
2. Preference Does Not Equal Performance
3. WebWord.com Discussion Board (Update)
4. WebWord.com -- We Do Testing, and More
5. Pesky File Name Extensions -- No More
6. Why the Future Doesn't Need Us
7. What Can You Find at WebWord.com?

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ITEM #1

A new WebWord.com Interview is now online:
--> http://webword.com/interviews/stlaurent.html

"XML: What You Need to Know"

Over the past several months, I have been on the 
hunt for useful XML information. It is coming 
like a runaway train and I want to avoid the
collision. I'd much rather understand what is 
coming and what I need to do to capitalize on XML
for WebWord.com's clients.

At every turn, I saw the name "Simon St. Laurent".
I'm very happy to inform you that Simon has 
answered several XML questions. For example:

 * How is XML related to usability? Or more generally
   how is XML related to web site design?

 * Why do people often say "XML" and "Java" in the 
   same sentence? 

 * If I wanted to learn the basics of XML, what 
   should I read? What web sites should I visit? 

 * Will XML revolutionize business? In particularly, 
   how does XML relate to Business to Business (B2B) 
   transactions? 

This is an Q&A interview that you don't want to miss.
Experts and novices will equally benefit.

You can read the interview here:
--> http://webword.com/interviews/stlaurent.html


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ITEM #2

A new WebWord.com Article is now online:
--> http://webword.com/moving/preference.html

"Preference Does Not Equal Performance"

People are always telling me that they like certain
web sites. They tell me that they visit them often
because they are fun, useful, and colorful. They
often tell me that they *prefer* certain web sites
over other web sites.

Customer preferences are dangerous. They lull you 
into thinking you have your act together. The truth
is that preferences tell you very little, or nothing
about how people will actually use a web site, or
any product for that matter. You simply have to test
your customers or you will not know how they will
actually act. 

Read more at WebWord.com:
--> http://webword.com/moving/preference.html


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ITEM #3

WebWord.com Discussion Board (Update)

In a little over a month, the number of discussion 
board participants has doubled. There are now over
100 people discussing usability, web design, and
more. Many great questions have been asked and 
several useful answers have been given to people.

If you'd like to preview the board, or if you'd like
to join this lively community of people, go here:

--> http://www.vicinities.com/webword/


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ITEM #4

WebWord.com -- We Do Testing, and More

We'd like to remind people that WebWord.com does 
usability testing and a whole lot more. Most people 
only see our news, reports, articles, and interviews. 
But the reality is that we do testing, we consult, 
and we use our usability knowledge to solve hard 
problems. 

If you have a challenge, we're interested in hearing
from you. Drop us a note at:

--> mailto:info@webword.com


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ITEM #5

Pesky File Name Extensions -- No More

Have you ever received a file with an extension that
you did not know? This happens to us about once
every couple of weeks. It is such a pain. If you just
knew the program to use, you could open the file and
get to work. 

We recently came across a site that lists file name
extensions (or suffixes). The site indicates the 
format of files. It is an excellent resource that 
we've used about 5 times in the last month alone.

--> http://www.whatis.com/ff.htm


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ITEM #6

Why the Future Doesn't Need Us

  (from Wired 8.04, by Bill Joy of Sun Microsystems)

  "Our most powerful 21st-century technologies - 
  robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech - are 
  threatening to make humans an endangered species."

I am mentioning this article because it really struck
me. It really put fear into me and I think that if
you work with technology, this is required reading.
The basic idea, as the title suggests, is that we
are in charge of our own demise. Our technology will
overcome us. We must wake up or we will be extinct.

--> http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html


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ITEM #7

What Can You Find at WebWord.com?

Articles (Moving WebWord)
<http://webword.com/moving/>

Discussion Board
<http://www.vicinities.com/webword/>

Expert Interviews 
<http://webword.com/interviews/> 

Recommended Books
<http://webword.com/books/booksindex.html>

Newsletter Archive
<http://webword.com/archive>

Weblog Archive
<http://www.webword.com/weblog>

Usability Reports 
<http://webword.com/reports>

Recommended Web Sites
<http://webword.com/hotsites.html>

Free Stuff
<http://webword.com/freestuff.html>


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