Ryan Prins' Blog

PHP Security Consortium – A brand new site dedicated to secure PHP programming practices. Not much there yet, but this could be, as Martha says, “a good thing.”

Form Usability – A good article on the usability of different form layouts.

Anybody who designs anything knows how difficult it can be to have a completely original product. This is even more so when you are designing a product for a market that has a very dominant product established. So, my current thinking has similar thought processes as one might have if they were in a corporation designing a product for market, but mine is for a class project.

My problem is deciding what is outright copying versus implementing ideas that I feel are very good. I can only think of the iPod (yes, so cliche) when this crosses my mind. The iPod was the first widely popular mass marked portable MP3 player that really took off with people. Yes, had to state the obvious. Now, there have been many new players into the market that the iPod created. This seems only logical, right? I mean, if you can tap only a little bit of the market share, you are bound to make a little money (pending product quality among other things). But, they had to build off what worked to even have a chance.

My problem is within the visual design of our project. I have tried to take the effort to take ideas I like and implement them in what I am doing. I have also tried to not “lift” designs from other products already out in the market. But, my main question is this, where is the line between stealing a design and implementing things that have just worked?

Tonight some of us went to the IMA to play basketball. However, after seeing that every court was filled we decided that we needed something new to play. So, Jamie and David were going to play pickle ball. I have actually never heard of this game before. What it is like is ping pong but played on the ground. You can find more about it here.

We started off playing doubles and the winner got to stay in. Early on Jamie and David owned everybody. But, soon after they got on their hot streak, Stephen and I got into the swing of it and just dominated. Towards the end my endurance was lacking and I was cramping and just getting flat out tired. Thus, my play dramatically decreased. This is why Stephen owned me big time, like 13-4, when we played one on one. I’ll get him back… in due time.

But, it was nice to be out with friends at the IMA. This was similar to what we did last year duing autumn quarter. Maybe there will be more to come? Let’s hope so, pickle ball was good times. If you’re nice I’ll see if we can get some action shots next time.

SIMpill: Medicine Bottle with SMS Reminders – Now, this is pretty cool. Forget to take your meds, you’ll get an SMS reminding you that you need to take them.

Just thought I’d let you know that there are…

• 87 Starbucks within 5 miles of where I live
• 143 Starbucks within 10 miles of where I live
• 226 Starbucks within 20 miles of where I live
• 318 Starbucks within 50 miles of where I live

That is just kind of sick. Really. I mean, U-Village has what, 3 of them? And “The Ave” has 2 of them? Geeze. I guess that is what we get for being in the coffee capitol of the world.

If you are curious on how your location stacks up, use the Starbucks store locator. The total number is at the bottom.

via Kottke (link)