Can you really build a great Web site without having the visitor click their mouse button? I think that depends on the goal of the site. Don’t Click It is virtual catnip for those of us who feel compelled to click their mouse. I spent about 4 minutes on this site and although I mentally prepared myself not to click, I accidentally clicked within the voting area, damn it!

I enjoy a good site which makes me rethink my perception of a great user-interface; however I’m not sure we are ready to give up the mouse button just yet. For me, the experience of using mouseover as an alternative to the mouseclick just isn’t acceptable for a multitude of reasons:

1. Accidental Movements – While reading text I often will move the mouse off the page to avoid the distraction when reading. In a mouseover-only interface, this causes the content I’m reading to change. In addition, when moving across these regions the interface is constantly changing. This type of interactivity feels more like a loss of control rather then user-empowerment.
2. External Sites – Mouseover-only interfaces really eliminate the ability to link to external sites from within the Web content.
3. Direct Linking – This interface type doesn’t give the user the ability to share a link location to a particular page or frame within the site.

For me the overall experience was like cotton candy; nice to try but not something I want everyday.

Computer eye strain is a bitch, I know that now.

It’s been over two weeks now that I’ve had a chance to really size-up my computer glasses. I decided to shell out the $100 for a pair after suffering from 2 consecutive ocular migraines. These puppies aren’t the usual run of the mill headaches, no these bastards mess with my eye sight, cause numbness in my arms and slur my speech. After changes in diet, exercise, hydration and sleep nothing seemed to work to stop these headaches.

In an “ah-ha” moment after my last headache I realized that I never got these prior to moving to Colorado, and working with a computer 8 plus hours a day. After researching ocular migraines a bit more I decided to give computer glasses a try.

First off, I have 20/20 vision and no need for glasses… yet. I needed to find a pair of glasses which relieved computer eye-strain without a prescription. Google and Leo Laporte lead me to Gunnar Optiks. I opted for the Sheadogs because I’m still a fan of the metallic silver.

In Applesque style, they arrived in a slick package and the presentation was top-shelf. The glasses feel lightweight but sturdy. My only surprise is they didn’t come with a hardcase to lug them around in my laptop bag. That was remedied by a visit to my local Target, where they were nice enough to just give me a free case.

I was skeptical at first if these babies would really make a difference during the day. At first it felt foreign to be wearing glasses, but I got used to that after the second day. I think the hardest aspect to get used to is the yellow tint. All the Gunnar Optik glasses have this Bono-ish yellow look. For the designers out there, the yellow tint might be a deal breaker. There is also a very slight magnification which is noticeable as you glimpse down under the glasses.

Now, I can’t work on a computer without these glasses. After putting in a 10+ hour day yesterday my eyes still feel fresh and relaxed. Looking at a computer screen without them is intense. I notice a blueish brightness and intensity when I look at my screen now that I’m use to wearing these glasses. I haven’t had a headache yet, then again it will be several months before I’m willing to say the glasses have saved me from the ocular migraines.

I haven’t posted a critique on motion graphics in a while, and I know how much you have all waited and pined for another so here it is. What is the deal with all these commercials stealing their ideas from viral videos? (she says in her best Seinfeld voice). I get that it’s kind of cute and funny in an inside joke sort of way. One of the funniest music videos is Weezer’s Pork and Beans. This is mainly because they’re intentionally taking the viral videos that we all know and love and using that as a media.

What bothers me are the commercials that steal concepts from viral videos and it is unclear if they’re trying to be cute and pay homage to the original or if their just blatantly ripping it off. The video “Drive Through Rap” was remade into a commercial for Taco Bell. Personally I don’t think this is an homage, this is just a rip off.

Recently I saw a stop motion commercial that looked suspiciously like the animations from BLU. In this case I’m not so sure this was a rip off, because BLU themselves may have been responsible for the commercial. I unfortunately don’t know enough about the company (or who the commercial is for) to say for sure.

If any of you know any more please let me know. I am constantly amazed by the impact that YouTube has on our culture. (Please note, I intentionally left out the sand art commercial because I wasn’t sure if that was a viral video before or after the commercials — or if it counts as a viral video.)

I find this whole dispute about the President-Elect’s Blackberry comical. What does it say about our security and acceptance of technology when we restrict our President from using one of the most ubiquitous business tools? Sure, Parliament banned it, Putin doesn’t even call people and Skarozy isn’t allowed to have it either, but shouldn’t we lead the charge here?

I’m sure RIM would love to make a special Obaminator version of the Blackberry, perhaps one with greater encryption and the use of private communication channels. Take a look at what the NSA is using, Sectéra Edge.

The President’s Blackberry is always going to be a target; but then again hasn’t telephone communications been targeted as well. Think of how odd this would sound if we said the President couldn’t use a phone, get real! Put our best minds together to find a way to give our most tech-savvy President the tools he used to run the most effective presidential campaign ever… maybe he can translate that into running a more effective government.

Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do at Imulus?
I make myself obsolete. Everyday I try to start things up, get things going and then find someone better then me to get the job done. I’m always reinventing my job and I’m often critical of my own performance; most times I really wish I had a mentor to point me in the right direction. That would save a lot of time.

If you were a smell, what would you be and why?
I think the opinion of the office is different then mine. I would say I’d like to be Ammonia. It really wakes up the senses.

Where do you see Imulus going in 5 years?
I see us with several small web-products, a strong client base, a team of 20 or so people and a work environment and methodology which is emulated by others.

What do you love more than anything?
My baby girl Jillian. I thought I loved when I got married; but there really isn’t any love which is even close to the love of a parent for their kids. It’s way momma bear will always take on any foe which threatens her cubs, it’s hard wired love.

But if we are looking for something work related, I’d say I love change. I really enjoy adapting to the new challenges of the current economic crisis, shifting technologies and ideologies. It keeps my mind fresh and alive.

We all know that Kat is the best. What I want to know is, why do you think that? Please don’t be afraid to go into detail.
Well, she is. We struck gold when we found her and you’d have to pry her out of our cold-dead-hands before we’d give her up.

What kind of strange habits do you have?
I’m not a habit guy, sometime I really wish I had a few. But I honestly can’t think of any habits, maybe others have some opinion here.

How did you bag that foxy lady of a wife?
Roofies. I drugged her back in ‘96 and the effects haven’t worn off yet. Actually, I’m REALLY not sure. I certainly gave her plenty of reasons to go elsewhere but she stuck around and I decided to keep her. She is pretty awesome and I’m thankful to spend my life with her.

Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.
1. A Weapon
2. Lever
3. Catapult
4. Dart
5. A deadfall trap
6. Eating Utensil
7. Post for tying back indoor plants
8. Support brace for a broken finger
9. Add stiff wire to make stick figures
10. To hold the jaws of an attacking beast open

How do you feel about hot pants?
If I wore them I would look like a Perdue Chicken reject.

What kind of qualities do you look for in a client?
1. Decisiveness
2. Good Communication
3. Mutual Respect and Honest Feedback
4. Actual money to pay us.

With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.
Pull the fuzzy Velcro strap across the harder side. You do wear Velcro right?

Are you hungry?
For food no. For work, yes.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A Raven. They are key to so many stories across cultures and throughout time, yet they aren’t colorful and they aren’t song birds. They work well in groups but are just as often seen alone. They can survive in almost any condition and they aren’t hunted.

Where is my shaker of salt?
You used it up this morning on that Margarita.

If Imulus was a person, what kind of personality would he/she have?
An easy going, friendly, somewhat social 26 year old. Certainly opinionated, passionate and honest. It would look fairly fit but still carry a bit of a belly from all the partying.