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Digital Asset Management Systems Specs and Pictures

I'm often frustrated by the tunnelvision that afflicts many software projects in civil society. One version of that tunnelvision is the way we falsely map personal needs and perspectives onto the communication needs of a group. It's amazing how hard it is for some people to take a systems perspective. Not so with Gavin Clabaugh who has written a lengthy piece (complete with screenshots) describing a Digital Asset Management System he designed recently. It's built on Sharepoint, but don't let his use of that platform (which despite its proprietary nature is very systems oriented) deter you from studying this. This is a great example of combining a bird's eye view with common sense design. Posted: 3/30/07; 8:22:54 AM #

Introduction to Screencasting

Idealware has done it again, this time with a great Introduction to Screencasting by the clear and thorough Beth Kanter. Screencasts are movies that capture tasks performed on a computer and I've found them to be very powerful communication tools. Beth gives examples, in the form of software tutorials, web project demonstrations, conceptual explanations, knowledge capture, and beta testing. Other than missing one key consideration on the topic of hosting (the copyright policies of the host), Beth also gives solid resources for every step of the screencast creation process. This is a must if you are at all interested in this medium. Posted: 3/30/07; 8:10:56 AM #

For Health’s Sake
	One of the most important roles played by history in contemporary society is the way it frames things. What we say about the past gives us both metaphors and facts with which to understand the present. For Health’s Sake, Phil Bereano weighs in on how the New York Times - ironically called the "paper of record" - can be strategically forgetful about recent history. Posted: 3/30/07; 8:04:10 AM #