<? DriftLogic ¿>

Something about Boston food doesn't agree with me. But that said, yesterday was informative, with Dries being the highlight.

The crux of Dries' keynote yesterday was about the development of RDF and changing the way we thing about websites. Sementanic web transitions websites, in this current ideal, from just simply presenting information and allowing interaction, to becoming a datastore.

I had heard of RDF some time ago, but now it seems alot more relevant. Sparqle is a new one tho. It feels very similar to AJAX a few years ago, which also exploded very shortly after the first time I hear the term. I'll try to be a bit further head of the curve.

While interesting, I disagreed the most with Claudio's Edge of Drupal Design. It seems to be a common designer standpoint that the web operates the way I use it. Lots of designer seem to fall into this trap of thinking about web in terms of presentation and not functionality. Some of his thoughts in regards to modifying the user interface for content posters might actually reflect a more effective design, but most of his presentations in regard to design for regular users just isn't effective.

Sites likeDiggSwarm are good examples of high design. High design sites are awesome for showcasing, but poor for actual functionality. DiggSwarm is a big of an exception considering what it's target technical audience. Claudio's contention is that basic applications like calendars don't need to keep the usual tabular form. I really don't agree. Anything in a tabular presentation with a month at the top is immediately recognizable as a calendar. The purpose of keeping elements like calendars and more web oriented elements like search boxes, menus, and links in a familar presentation is to allow users to become immediately productive with them.

Users don't like to feel stupid. The web, for alot of users, is one seemless application, not a collective of independant websites. This idea will change over time, as new users get exposed to more indepth interfaces. Right now, however, the sites most effective tend to be consistant in presentation and interface.

Last note, the internet at the conference SUCKS. Big ball drop guys.