I discovered SocialScope today, a potentially fabulous service for managing social networks. I haven’t been able to actually use the application due to being unable to register in light of the recent twitter issues. However, I digress, as this isn’t the point.

While trying to register, which is done on your phone after you install the client, I discovered one of the most sexy web forms I’ve ever seen and I felt the need to share it with all of you through the wonderful world of screen capture.

The registration process asks for a few basic items including desired screen name, password, email, and real name. It auto populates your phone number.

Here is the first of two screens

Instantly it can be seen that it doesn’t look like your typical web form. There aren’t boxes and such to enter your information in. I was completing this form from my BlackBerry curve and I never once had to press the trackball to put the focus on any area of the form. When I scrolled over it, I was able to type instantly. The use of white space and design rather than “form standards” works well.

The feedback given as I start to type a username in is very well done. The use of color as well as instructions simplify the interface. Similar feedback is given upon entering and confirming a password:

The second screen works in a similar fashion and asks the user to enter their name and their email address. Their phone number is already listed and is not a field they can edit.

Love this form!!

So three months ago, I broke down and bought a macbook. It wasn’t an impulse decision as I had been threatening my dad that I was going to buy one as my next notebook for a year or so prior. However, it was impulsive in the way that the driving to the store to buy one did happen a little impulsively.

I can say that I’ve set up my airport, moved my files over, connected my hard drive and my printer and am not solely operating off of my mac. I haven’t completely set it up the way I’d like, but I haven’t touched my dell notebook in at least two months other than moving files off of it a month ago.

The more I use my macbook and tote it around with me, the more frustrated I am with my dell notebook at work. Usually I can’t pinpoint it other than it’s slower. Well that and I keep trying to zoom in and out of windows by pinching and expanding on my mousepad, which doesn’t fair so well on my dell.

I’m starting to wonder though why exactly I like it so much more than any pc I’ve ever owned. What about the user experience and usability is better? Is it the marketing getting to me subconsciously? Is it really easier to use but in little ways that people do not typically conceptualize? I don’t know. All I know is I think I’ve actually entered the dark side. This was my first official Apple purchase (I didn’t pay for my iPod). I’m hooked. I’ve entered the dark side. I’m not sure I want to go back. Hell, I can’t even stand office anymore and am debating getting iWork for my mac instead of my current office program.

Last night I tried out a Refresh Phoenix gathering that was held at Gangplank. Refresh Phoenix is just one chapter of the Refresh project. Refresh is focused on the creative, technical, and technical culture by promoting design, technology, usability, and standards.

I had attempted to attend a few Refresh gatherings back in Detroit while I was there, but most of them I was told were geared towards more of the technical and coding end of the spectrum and less on user experience and usability standards. I was hoping that this would be different.

While it was very interesting, it was definitely not geared towards user experience and interface design. There was a talk on Adobe CS4 and one on developing applications for Android. I loved hearing about the Android development. I only wish there was more talk on accessibility and user standards.

I am even more determined to have an IxDA local group in Phoenix. While Refresh Phoenix is a very great organization, I’d love to bring some more interaction design and user experience focused opportunities to the area. I miss that.

I just posted on Snuggle Taxonomy in regards to the usability of vehicle registration and licensing.

Enjoy.

A few months ago I agreed to write an article for an upcoming issue for UX Professionals, an eZine for the User Experience (UX) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) professions. Today, the article was officially released to the public. It was hard work, but I love learning and I love teaching others about what I have learned and it was a great experience. My bio will eventually list my company and title as well.

I am pleased to present The Importance of Strong Usability within Web 2.0 Content Managed Systems.

If anyone has any questions or anything like that at all, please let me know, and of course, please spread it around