Craig.Carlen[Online].com

Something I truly enjoy about the Internet - and specifically the World Wide Web - is that it’s constantly in flux.  It’s always changing - never quite the same as the last time you saw it.  But sometimes when things change they are really remaining the same - they just look different, or feel different.  Something that my studies at Michigan State focused on quite a bit was usability and sustainability.  Looking at how usable a website or web application is and how sustainable will it be.  This is accomplished with a variety of methodologies like play testing, focus group analysis, competitive analysis and so on.  Usability testing can be rather tedious - but its fruits can be very valuable.  Just ask Google.

Is it me or has Google grown? I know that’s sort of a rhetorical question but I guess I get so accustomed to utilizing Google from my browser’s toolbar I never took the time to really notice what Google has been up to. And I’ve got to say, I’m rather impressed. I know there are plenty of people convinced that any company that large and with that much control is too large and has too much control. But come on - at least Google doesn’t treat their users like Microsoft (can you say Vista?) or even Apple. I found it pretty interesting that Google makes much of their code available to outside users - even for profit companies. I’d like to see Microsoft or Apple do that (without asking for an arm, leg and your next born in return).

A few things about Google that really intrigue me: