Board Meeting

Attention all board members and interested investor a board meeting will be held on Jan 31 2010.  The meeting will cover the cost of a server, which direction to take KSI in the internet business.  The main options we will be looking at are as a web host, PDF publisher, social network, cybermall, and webservices.

Update

I have recently repaired a computer that had viruses on it.  The upsetting part about it is realizing how many people complain about the repair bill that viruses can cause.   Yet they wont take the preventitive action to avoid getting them. Several of the computers I have repaired had not been updated.  As annoying as the process may be updating the OS is one of the biggest steps in keeping a system safe.

Optimal Resume at Colorado Technical University

Optimal Resume at Colorado Technical University

A Website of Substance

I have designed a few websites and there are times I have forgotten the major scope of the purpose of a site. As web designers we need to keep in mind what the purpose of publishing a website is. It is not a sign of how cool we are nor is it a media of showing off the collection of web graphics we have. It is purely the point of sharing information or attempting to get our point out there. Here is a rss feed I recieved on the matter of website design.
The original article can be found here

A Website of Substance - Design and Functionality (or Beauty and Brains)
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 1969 5:00:00 PM
If you've got a website that's beautiful but lacking in substance, you're not alone. In the early days of the web it was tough to get a good looking site and all the technical smarts in the same package. Countless businesses chose looks over tools - and maybe for a brief time it worked. Nowadays, you can have it all - and you should. You can have an engine like our own coreDNA powering your site, in a slick, fully-optioned design package.

The design is not about you.

Memorise this simple mantra. Repeat. And repeat again.

Great web design is about empowering the user. Making it easy for them to use your site and purchase your products and services, all the while growing their appreciation for your brand and the ease with which you've allowed them to quickly and painlessly complete their required tasks.

Let's face it. There are few sites that are actually fun. Most users are there for a purpose, and often a purpose they're not that excited about. Putting the ego aside is essential when it comes to a great experience. There are and increasing number of usability specialists (we'd like to think that xxx websites later we know a thing or two about it too) but what it boils down to is whether your website is easy to use. Is it? Really?

Simple is beautiful.

I'm not going to pretend it's easy, but it's essential to make things simple. See above for the mantra. Share with others as necessary.

Whether it's a brand new site, or a new edition, the requirements of your stakeholders will make simplicity seem impossible. Yes, your website should reflect your brand and help users learn about your organisation, but the number one(#1!) thing it must do is allow users to quickly and easily access the products, services and information they're looking for. Why? Otherwise users will leave. No threats, no drama - they'll just leave. Navigation must be intuitive. Calls to action must be clear. Thinking must be optional. Full stop.

By all means, put a cherry on top. Add a bell and even a whistle if you must, but don't allow the extras to interfere. A recently released report from Corbis Creative Intelligence Group confirms what you probably already know - constant information overload and visual bombardment online has created a desire for greater simplicity, and a trend towards clearer, minimalistic, online media. Simple just got even more beautiful.

Business is the bottom line.

The design is not about you. It's about giving your users what they want - ease and simplicity.

Your audience are all-important. Sometimes they need edgy and different, sometimes they like cool and funky - most of the time they just want ease. Great web designers, won't produce an edgy design for your conservative organisation. If it's not what your audience is crying out for, we won't risk disenfranchising the end customer just to keep you happy. We'll tell you what's what because your audience won't - they'll just leave.

It's simple. Beautiful really. The design is not about you. Take the ego out and put your audience first. Create positive user experiences that will drive repeat traffic, spread positive word of mouth, generate quality leads and convert visitors into customers to grow your business.

Don't settle for anything less. Insist on a website of substance