Usability and the Joy of Motoring

If you're not familiar with BBC's show Top Gear, it is ostensibly an automotive review...but the reality of it is so much more entertaining than just that.  The hosts are very funny, the metrics by which cars are tested and rated are, let's say, unique and quite often they touch on some interesting usability issues.

One such issue involved the Russian-built TVR Tuscan, a rather expensive roadster.  Host Jeremy Clarkson offers a group of people 20 quid if they can get into the car, start the engine and get out of the car within one minute.  Easy, right?  Watch for yourself.  The portion begins at 5 minutes 26 seconds into the clip.  

I mean, I've had occasional trouble figuring out how to release the keys from the ignition of some cars but this is a absurd. File under "Form Mugs Function."

Clay Shirky and the Cognitive Surplus

Clay Shirky gave a talk at Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco that is definitely worth viewing.  

My only point of contention?  Perhaps gin wasn't a reaction to the urbanization of the Industrial Revolution so much as the Industrial Revolution was a byproduct of the large migration of population to places that had gin carts.

Coming Up

I've been negligent in posting (again) but let me whet your appetites.  Coming this week, BBC's Top Gear Focuses on Bad User Experience.  

Really.  I'll do it.