Usability test sample size bibliography

Jeff Sauro does an excellent job of detailing all of the work that's been done on the topic of sample sizes for usability testing. His bibliography is annotated and many of the entries have links to pdf files of the original papers. If anyone is interested they can go through the literature very easily. I'm happy to point out that I have a couple of entries on the list.

Voice test for autism

This is interesting. Speech researchers claim to have invented a voice test for autism. From the article:

“This technology could help paediatricians screen children for ASD to determine if a referral to a specialist for a full diagnosis is required and get those children into earlier and more effective treatments,” ‘The Daily Telegraph’ quoted lead scientist Prof Steven Warren of Kansas University.

Very nice. I love to see speech research put to practical use.

Prepping for the NPDP test

I'm doing a self-study course for the New Product Development Professional (NPDP) certification. There is no test prep material like there is for the PMP test. Fortunately, there's a reading list that's not too extensive and the books and articles are easily available if you have access to a good library. Many of the books and articles are real classics in the field.

Some people think certifications are a waste of time, but I've gotten a lot out of studying for them, and then trying to apply the knowledge.

Turning license plates into commercials

I wonder if the speech IVR at the California DMV is going to have trouble with this one. California license plates may soon display ads and other commercial messages.

IVR: "What's you license plate number?"
Caller: Well, I'm not sure. If flashes and shows a movie of kids eating cereal, or something like that...
IVR: "Sorry, I missed that. What's the license plate number?"
Caller: I told you, it's just a bunch of pictures. Happy kids, parents, that sort of thing...
IVR: "Let's try one more time..."

...and so on. Seriously, though, wouldn't putting flashing messages on the backs of cars be just a little distracting?

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, everyone. If you're a father, enjoy the day.

FYI, Ancestry.com is a great place to learn about your family history. You can search census records online, and it's always improving its service. They sometimes have specials that allow you free access for a couple of weeks. I've used this service before and was delighted with what I learned about my father's family.

Dolphin gets an iPad

Merlin got an iPad...and the first thing he said was, "so long, and thanks for all the fish."

The anti-creativity checklist

I found a nice little feature called The Anti-Creativity Checklist, a tongue in cheek presentation of typical responses to new ideas. It may seem strange, but a lot of people try to make their reputations by shooting down others' ideas rather than generating their own ideas.