Tech Culture

The X-factorisation of the Web

Over the last few years I've noticed a strange and disturbing trend amongst web practitioners. There was a time—not so long ago—when passionate individuals would blog about their work for no other reason than to share their discoveries. The more prolific of these individuals built up an online reputation and became seen as experts. Some of the more articulate ones were asked to write books or present their thoughts at conferences, and received a modicum of success.

Cargo Cults, Artificial Reefs and the East London Tech City

Back in November 2010, David Cameron announced plans to turn the Olympic Village in East London into a technology hub to rival Silicon Valley. These type of Grand Plans are great at generating headlines and creating a legacy for all those involved, but how likely are they to succeed? Are we going to inherit a shiny new creative centre in the aftermath of the 2012 Olympics, or will it become just another mediocre science park like the ones clinging to the sides of the M4?

The app goldrush is over — it's time to apply some business sense

The rise of smart devices like the iPhone and iPad has led to an application goldrush, with companies racing to stake their claims. In the early days we saw a few lucky pioneers strike gold with novelty apps. There were also a handful of independent developers and well-known brands that invested in user experience and captured the high end of the market.

Redesign outrage

It’s surprisingly common for redesigns to cause outrage amongst their users. People complain that they weren’t consulted, criticise the quality and appropriateness of the new solution, and state that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However if you leave the site for a while, you often see the most critical detractors become the most vocal supporters. Why is this?

Are SEO practitioners the digital equivalent of bankers?

This morning I'm going to be standing in front of a room full of SEO people to let them know how I feel about their industry. Here's a rough outline on what I'm planning to say...

Stop the press! Design costs money?

The most recent guardian technology podcast opened with these headlines!

"On this week's podcast, we're looking closely at why a 32x32 pixel digital icon designed for the UK Government's Information Commissioner's Office cost £585 of public funds!"