Lisa Nichols

Amadeus Consulting discusses Art + Science in Custom Software Development

12 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Amadeus Consulting discusses Art + Science in Custom Software Development

As someone who has witnessed the amazing changes in custom software development over the past 25 years, I have seen the vast improvements that both the Art and the Science of technology have experienced. While they once stood independently, those two principles have definitely converged. Personally, though I have been in the development world for a while, I am still amazed at the level of creativity, technology and change that we see every year. Could anyone 20 years ago have pictured the capabilities of Silverlight’s Deep Zoom? Or Flash’s level of glossy interactivity?

One of Amadeus Consulting’s Guiding Principles is to ‘Develop great software with both science and art,” because we feel so strongly that these two software development factors converge to make the most successful and inspiring technology for our clients. To us, science means how you use something, and art is not only how something looks, but how you interact and think about something.

Let’s walk a little bit through the history of the two principles and see how they have finally come together to form and create the tools, Websites, and software we all use every day and at Amadeus Consulting.

We have Science, but where’s the Art?

The time was 30 B.C.

(Before Creativity) also known as the eighties, most people associate with the time of DOS and very minimalistic looking user interfaces, simplistic inputs and structure, structure, structure.

When COBOL was the primary development language, there really was not much of an Art to any of it, computers simply had not been thought of as a medium for wild creativity. Sure there were games, and word processing programs, but the design was pretty flat, very text driven.

The only real ‘artistic’ consideration was the background color, which certainly felt exciting at the time. I even remember my go-to method for text placement, counting pixels! (Can you imagine asking anyone to do that day-to-day now?)

Art + Science, working side-by-side

Fast-forward to 15 years ago or 15 A.D. (After Design). With the introduction of HTML 1.0, customization and art were starting to trickle into custom application programming, allowing people to not only choose background colors, but different fonts, font colors and even pictures. The science and art of software programming were working side-by-side, and often as is the case with tricky technology, against one another.

As this was the Web 1.0 phase of the Internet, the level of interactivity from a user standpoint was zero. If you lacked the technical skills to be a custom programmer, you interacted with the Internet in a very static and read-only way. One of the difficulties I remember having is getting photo and text to line up with one another. Because the tools for text input were far more developed than for graphical input, getting a photo in the right place required a lot of trial and error.

The Marriage of Art + Science

Bringing us up to current times or 2010, C.T. (Creative Technology). So much has changed in not only software application development over the past 15 years, but also the way that people interact with the Internet. The paradigm shifted with Web 2.0, where input on a technical and graphical way is not reserved for the expert, but now tools exist that encompass powerful ways for people to create Websites, blogs, videos, you name it. Interactivity is at a premium, and critical to not only the short-term, but long-term success of many online applications.

Tools like Microsoft’s Silverlight, allow software application development both graphically and technically to live within one tool, and work harmoniously together from wire framing in Sketchflow (a tool within Silverlight) all the way to creating 3D graphics. Many of the tools that our Creative Developers use integrate the best of Art + Science to create interactive web design. We develop for Silverlight and Flash in order to create highly-interactive and rich Internet Applications.

Lisa Calkins, is not just Amadeus Consulting’s CEO and Co-Founder, but also the Director of Creative Services. Lisa is dedicated to the infusion of creativity into every aspect of Amadeus Consulting, including our custom software application design.

Best Howard County Mom Contest Winner: Patricia Nichols

12 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

By Lisa Rossi Patricia Nichols is the Best Mom in Howard County. You have been chosen by your family as the “Best Mom of Howard County.
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Amadeus Consulting Discusses Designing Impactful Business iPhone Apps

11 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Amadeus Consulting Discusses Designing Impactful Business iPhone Apps

I was browsing the Design Observer the other day, (as I tend to do daily), and I noticed that they have just released an iPhone™ app, a pretty sharp one at that. This got me thinking about the best practices and design techniques to bring to iPhone apps and other mobile app development. After some extensive searching, I came up with a lot of recommended iPhone and mobile apps for graphic designers, but no articles about what to think about when designing for smartphones.

Our company, unlike the majority of app development companies, does not design for game-based mobile applications. Because our history is so rooted in large-scale business application software, that’s what we live and breathe. We have created over 30 mobile apps across all of the platforms, but they have been primarily business-focused, business-designed. This is why the Design Observer iPhone app struck me; it manages to balance business and leisure.

It’s beautiful and intuitive, and even introduces a new way to look at something: Mondrian-Style. So how do business-based iPhone app developers turn text-based material into well-designed and even sexy applications? What lessons can we learn from other successful business-function iPhone apps?

Brand Extension

Because most of these apps tend to come from existing businesses with existing websites, the biggest mistake in creating an iPhone app for your brand is to go off-base. This is an extension of your brand, so it has to reflect the same design principles and considerations that any other company materials might have. Remember your brand colors, typefaces, logo presence, messaging behind your brand and even the interaction paradigm of your website.

What is the ultimate goal of your website? Translate that goal to the iPhone app.

App Icons

App icons are something so small, yet very important. When iPhone users are looking to add another app to their roster, they are very much influenced by the icon, because it is the visual representation of the app. Most users will not go to iTunes™ to download the app and sync with their phone. They will download it straight from the app store on their phone, meaning the initial contact they have is with the icon, and not the description of the application. For business iPhone apps, the icon truly depends on brand recognition.

Small Companies/Startups

Because smaller companies and startups do not have the brand recognition that larger entities like Chase Bank® have, it’s critical that the design of the icon strike a balance between brand building and function of the app. For instance, say you are a startup bank, looking to create presence in the app store. Because people won’t know your logo quite yet, you’ll want to incorporate your logo and something that indicates the financial world. It is easier said than done, especially given the real-estate of the icon, but a trusted graphic design partner can help you with that.

Large Companies/Well-Known Brands

Larger companies have longer history and brand recognition, so it’s likely that they can get away with using their logo as the icon for their iPhone app.

Introducing New Views

The thing about mobile apps in general is that people tend to interact with them in a fairly static way. They like knowing what to expect and that their next step will be intuitive. This doesn’t mean that you cannot be creative. Think about elements of the design as a “new view, with a similar interaction.” Like the Design Observer app, that brought the “Mondrian View” to the table, which displays articles based on their photos, in a tile-like display. The user clicks on the picture to read the story. The thing to remember is that these new views should not be the main function of your app, they can add to the value to the app overall.

Graphic Considerations

Because this is not a gaming app, there needs to be a different consideration for graphics. The cost-benefit of good graphics is that often the better the graphics, the slower the application. It simply takes a long time to load quality (isn’t it always the way?). However, when people are using business applications, they are more concerned with the function and ease. Their expectation is greater for the task of accomplishing something than the visual impact. Clean and sharp design is usually the best way to proceed; it keeps things simple but not boring, making sure that the design does not compete with the function.

About Lisa Calkins

Lisa Calkins, Amadeus Consulting’s CEO and Co-Founder, is also the Director of Creative Services. Lisa is dedicated to the infusion of creativity into every aspect of Amadeus Consulting, including our custom software application design.

Lisa weight loss free download21 files

11 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

lisa weight loss download on FilesTube.com search engine – Conquer Weight Loss With Dr A, Host of the Dr A Show and Guest Expert, Lisa Nichols,Using Weight …
www.filestube.com/l/lisa+weight+loss
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

As Finances dip Winter Cold Becomes more Tolerable as People Adapt

10 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

As Finances dip Winter Cold Becomes more Tolerable as People Adapt

As finances dip winter cold becomes more tolerable as people adapt. It has become a challenge to families. Laura Nichols in her home in Maplewood, New Jersey cuddles up with her dog to share the warmth. Her four children try to get close to fight the 50 degree bite of cold in their residence.

Nichols has joined a contest she found on the Internet known as “furnace abstinence”. Those who can stay the longest without switching on the furnaces get rewards. More and more of these type of challenges are popping across the nation trying to put some spice into reality.

In 2008 Nichols won a trophy and she is hoping to repeat her performance this year.
At play are two factors – slim budgets and environment awareness. Right across the country hundreds are vowing to control use of air conditioners.

Nichols explains, “Heated homes are a modern concept. Over 120 years ago, people had a stove fireplace, and that warmed their homes to a point. They didn’t walk around in T-shirts and shorts all year long.” Currently Nichols is without a job and is looking around how to save money. She got a credit of $ 1,000 on her utility bill in 2008. Her 14 year old son has joined in the competition and is game to the idea of winning. He commented, “I actually like to be cold when I go to sleep.”

The competition rules are varied.

In Maplewood families were challenged to go cold as long as possible. Space heaters and fireplaces are allowed. One blogger suggested the setting of thermostats a few degrees below normal. In most of the instances there are no material rewards.

In Seattle a mother of two working as a computer programmer saved $ 8,000 in 2008 by setting thermostat at 62 degrees during daytime and 55 degrees after dark. For her more than the carbon factor saving dollars is vital. The change in lifestyle has made the family wear more clothes.

The mood of challenge has shown that people are more adaptable than previously thought. Over 200 from USA and Canada participate in the challenge that is now in its third year. The threshold of cold tolerance for many is increasing and they are getting used to its bite. James Lee of Chester is the father of two. He warmly noted, “We wear wool slippers, flannel pajamas and a robe; it’s not that bad. Training yourself to live cooler is a good thing.”

Julie Thompson, has been working on ForeclosureWarehouse.com studying the foreclosures market, helping buyers on the finer points of New Jersey. Try to visit ForeclosureWarehouse.com and find all related information about foreclosure

.

FREE Call With George Fraser, Lisa Nichols, & Veronica Conway …

10 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Here is a FREE Life Changing Interview with the Dynamic Lisa Nichols. This is one of the powerful calls that are a part of the Preview Series leading up to.
brobedford.com/free-call-with-george-fraser-lisa-nichols-vero…
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Creating a “No Matter What Mindset” for Success with Lisa Nichols …

09 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Lisa Nichols has lived on both sides of the mindset equation. She understands, firsthand, how extraordinary the power of the right mindset can have on your life …
ewomennetworkconference.com/LisaNichols
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

The Prescription HCG Diet – It’s Day 14

08 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

The Prescription HCG Diet – It’s Day 14

Lisa and I are both enjoying our fabulous weight loss results. Lisa’s my dieting buddy; we’re dieting through the Prescription HCG diet renewal kit from Prescription HCG. Lisa hasn’t lost as much weight as I have which I didn’t REALLY need to note down here, but I just wanted to because I’m a brat.

But she’s not too far behind me in total weight loss. I hope that I stay ahead because I like winning and we have a bet on.

I volunteered in my son’s classroom today. While I was there the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) dropped off huge, iced sugar cookies as a Thank You treat.

They looked amazing. And do you know what I did? I didn’t eat it. YEAH! Instead I snuck it into the desk of the first kid that I walked by. I figured that would be a nice little surprise for him. I’m sure you agree.

So I just threw that highlight out there because I’m proud of myself for having such a yummy treat in my hands and being able to get rid of it. Let’s get to the basics…I weighed in at 159 pounds this morning. I thought I’d lose more because I was SO good yesterday, but then I did not behave well the day before that so here’s my punishment, I suppose. (To refresh yourself as to the lowest of my low moments on the Prescription HCG diet go ahead and scroll back to the article on Day 12).

Lisa and I were talking about the injections and we both agree that it’s a “nothin’ doin’” type of procedure. You’re scared of it and imagine it’s going to be a big deal and then…surprise! Nothin’ doin’! You hardly notice it and you feel like a pro immediately. I also explained to her the advantage of the B-Total because she didn’t order any. It’s amazing! Energy in a bottle. I love it.

For lunch I had grilled chicken again. I won’t tell you that I used the same Creole seasoning because that would be repetitious. I also had some Melba Toasts and I piled them high with a mixture of chopped tomatoes and onions. It was really quite good.

I also had a tiny bowl of cut strawberries. Today I’m drinking as much water as I can – once before I eat and then again after I eat. I figure that will make sure I always walk away from the table without feeling the need to indulge in a few extra bites. It helps me stick to the single serving like I’m supposed to.

I felt like I was going to turn into a chicken if I didn’t get away from that particular protein so we had steak for dinner. I chose lean cuts and stayed away from the high salt seasonings we usually use. Since my kids both LOVE steak…they loved dinner tonight even though they wanted nothing to do with the steamed asparagus that went along with the Beef! The two of them had fresh French Bread instead of the Melba Toasts I stuck to and then when we were done we all enjoyed the Mock Apple Cobbler (from the Recipe Guide).

Thomas T. Wright has studied neutraceuticals and hormone related pharmaceuticals for more than a decade. He discovered the benefits of The Prescription HCG Diet more than five years ago and has been a staunch supporter since then.

latansky.com Mykola Latansky — the World’s First Russian Speaking Motivational Speaker, #1 Trainer & Success Coach — speaks about Lisa Nichols his public speaking and story telling coach.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Lisa Nichols on LIFEChanges With Filippo – Live Segment – Part 1

08 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Lisa Nichols is a best-selling author, a popular public speaker, a powerful coach, and a charismatic teacher! Lisa Nichols has reached millions, both nationally and internationally with her powerful message of empowerment, service, excellence & gratitude.. Her participation in the self-development phenomenon, The Secret, catapulted her popularity across the globe. Lisa has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Extra,” “Larry King Live” and on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning show, “Starting Over.” In addition, Lisa is the founder of Motivating the Masses and CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit, LLC. Her transformational workshops have impacted the lives of over 210 thousand teens and over 1 million adults. Her new book, No Matter What! Hit 6 bestsellers list, including the New York Times list, in the first 37 days of being released and has already been sold in 20 foreign languages. Lisa has been coined “The Break through Specialist” by her peers in the industry.) Lisa has been honored with many awards in recognition for her empowering work, including the Humanitarian Award from South Africa, the Ambassador of Good Will Award, Emotional literacy award, The Legoland Foundation’s Heart of Learning Award. The Mayor of Henderson, Nevada has proclaimed November 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day. And recently the Mayor of Houston, Texas proclaimed May 9th as Lisa Nichols day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing. Lisa is a dynamic speaker with an extraordinary …
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Local Colleges: Webber Racks Up Titles, Honors

08 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

By Lisa Coffey The Warriors won The Sun Conference golf championship for the first time, and coach Nancy Nichols was named conference coach of the year.
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Foo / test / Lisa Nichols | Active.com Race Results

07 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Lisa Nichols. 05/06/2012 |. a. Tweet · Foo / test / Lisa Nichols. Tweet. Large. Event Overview · Fun run · test. Race Bib #. 3968. Lisa Nichols. San Diego, CA …
results.active.com/events/foo/test/lisa-nichols
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Amadeus Consulting Discusses User Experience Design: Defining Critical Paths

06 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Amadeus Consulting Discusses User Experience Design: Defining Critical Paths

Defining critical paths to enhance user experience design sounds quite serious because well, it is. It’s one of the elements that can really give you a great framework and go-to reminder for designing a website, custom application etc.

What is a critical path?

The critical path of an application is the most important function/purpose in the application/website. Therefore, the navigation to those portions of the application should be the easiest to get to. The critical path should be among the first things to define when sitting down with your user interface development company.

Think about the critical path as the best way of satisfying two questions:

Where does your user ultimately want to end up?

Where do you want your user to ultimately end up?

The user’s ultimate goal will likely be to satisfy a need/want, while your goal is business driven.

What are the critical paths of many websites/applications?

E-commerce website -> Final Purchase

Databases -> Finding Critical Information

Social Networking -> Referencing/contributing in-the-moment information

Surveys -> Finishing Meaningful Feedback

Marketing Sites -> Finding/Providing key information to make decision

Mobile Applications (Games) -> Playing the game

Mobile Applications (Other) -> Performing mini-tasks within larger web-based applications

There are many more websites and application types to go over, but we thought those were in the top occurring right now.

How -To’s of Critical Path Implementation

Remember: a user should be able to get to a critical path within two clicks

Information architecture/site-mapping: determining what your websites pathways are, demonstrating the flow and seeing the pages before they are created, what needs to be added/culled-down/reprioritized

In-line links: linking from all pages to your critical path (in many cases a ‘Contact Us’ page)

Calls-to-action: using the in-line links to suggest further action (‘Learn More, Contact Us, etc.)

Situational testing: learning by watching your user find what they need

Our user interface design team has helped many clients with their critical path definitions, which assist them in the main focus of their site, and creating the site to support their business goals.

About Lisa Calkins

Lisa Calkins, Amadeus Consulting’s CEO and Co-Founder, is also the Director of Creative Services. Lisa is dedicated to the infusion of creativity into every aspect of Amadeus Consulting, including our custom software application design.

Lot of Books Mitch Albom Lisa Nichols Saskatoon Books For Sale …

06 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

1st picture: mitch albom, for one more day and the five people you meet in heaven. $ 6.00 lot of 2 2nd picture: no matter what by lisa nichols, hard cover.
saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-books-Lot-of-Books-Mitch-…
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Leeds Has Indeed Welcomed This Cuckoo Of Upscale Stores

05 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Leeds Has Indeed Welcomed This Cuckoo Of Upscale Stores
The store’s menswear areas, now ranged across every floor level of the Regent Street building, cover a splendid variety of sartorial styles. At basement level, the theme is sporty and casual. Street-level features shirts and knitwear alongside a fine selection of ties and Latex Catsuits. One up, you’ll find designer menswear by , Helmut Lang, Issey Miyake, Vivienne Westwood…….and Ozwald Boeteng’s splendid Savile-Row-with-a-twist tailoring in high octane hues.
Harrods may be vast, and justifiably celebrated for the magnificence of its Food Halls and enthralling Toy Kingdom, but Harvey Nichols long since won the Knightsbridge style wars, defining the way an aspirational elite wants to shop in the nineties. They want to be told what to have, within, of course, the parameters of a certain classy and rather sassy urbane style. And they need head nowhere else to find it.
The regeneration and rejuvenation of the store has been a marvel of modern British retailing. No square inch of British retail floorspace grosses quite as much money, it is said, as the Mac counter on the ground floor. The mens -wear business is exploding far faster than even Topsy grew.
The foodmarket is a great place to find gifts for those who want to have those distinctively packaged HN foodstuffs displayed prominently in their kitchen . Coffee, speciality teas, pannetone, shortbread, champagne ……all are now available with that reassuring logo.
Could the tongue-in-cheek chic which defines the spirit of Harvey Nichols possibly work anywhere but Knightsbridge? We are on the point of finding out. For, there’s a new kid on many blocks up north Jodie Kidd, announcing “Harvey Nichols Leeds (not follows)”.
Leeds has indeed welcomed this cuckoo of upscale stores into the heart of its city, fronting the smartly got-up Victoria Quarter – a magnificent stretch of nineteenth-century arcades well-suited to speciality retailing in the 1990s.
“It’s perfectly okay to touch the bags,” suggests the smartly suited young salesman on the counter of the dazzling new store. “Pick them up, if you want to, and look at them properly. Some people seem to think that this is some sort of museum where you’re not supposed to handle the exhibits!”
The first thing which strikes home about HN, Leeds is the warm welcome and formal but friendly tone set by the predominantly young personnel, who seem neither stand-offish nor overly familiar. The company has done a splendid job in selection and training.
Solid county types, with their silk headsquares knotted at the throat, seem a little confused by this glamorous new upstart in town. For it’s really not dedicated to people like them. Harvey Nichols may be the preferred shopping destination of Princess Diana. Yet it really doesn’t pander to the upper echelons of traditional society.
Money, of course talks, as in, “Yes, I’ll take the Prada handbag at 495,” but in fact it is about as truly classless as a very classy store stuffed with highly-priced merchandise could ever possibly be. No glass cases or security barriers here – you really are allowed to feel the width (and thereby understand the quality) of those flares.
The staff seem assiduously non-judgmental. They won’t give you a disapproving glance if they think you’re not quite the Harvey Nick’s image, or you’re spending an amount which others might consider either tediously trivial or obscenely extravagant.
In fact, HN, Leeds seems a jolly fine place to shop. Of course you have to share Harvey Nick’s vision of fashion – madly elegant and decidedly metropolitan – and have the wherewithal to find at least some small trinket within your reach. But it is all very seductive. Only at Harvey Nichols will you find the Lycra Leggingsultimate little piece of fluff – a marabou-feather handbag by 31 Fevrier of Paris for 110. However, an Estee Lauder lipstick costs exactly the same here as in the neighbouring Debenhams.
In preparation for the Harvey Nichols opening, House of Fraser has now rationalised its presence in Leeds to one expensively refurbished store. Only, the effect is less than ravishing. The colourless environment isn’t fashionably blonde; it’s just plain bland. And the merchandise is invariably far too expensive to be so deeply unspecial. Floors seem swamped with highly -priced designer lines, but it all adds up to absolutely nothing in particular. For this store has no personality and no real sense of style.
People surely shop here by default, not aspiration. The key is not seduction – but reduction. Yet, if you need to rein in your wanton ways and temper your extravagance, this could be your ideal destination. For, in contrast to the great stores of London and New York – not to mention glamorous HN in Leeds, it provides the Christmas shopping equivalent of safe sex.

Lisa Nichols (@LisaNicholsLMT) on Twitter

05 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Sign up for Twitter to follow Lisa Nichols (@LisaNicholsLMT). Hi! I am a Team Beachbody Coach, Fitness Junkie, Marathoner, Cyclist, Hiker & Yogi. I am about to …
twitter.com/LisaNicholsLMT
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Get Complete Solution for Online Tax Return Preparation

04 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Get Complete Solution for Online Tax Return Preparation

It’s famous that the IRS adapts to new knowledge reluctantly, if at all — the jump to punched cards would still be a long way off if taxpayers didn’t occur to be voters, too. So it should come as no shock that, even though the IRS permits some online tax preparation, they haven’t completed it simple to do your 2011 tax return online. But even if they don’t desire it to be suitable, they have completed it possible to complete that filing almost completely via Internet.

The IRS system is quite complex, but what they boil down to is simple: you can do your present taxes online, with the assist and blessing of the tax establishment. But if you want to do any obscure, complex, or late filings, you’ll require jumping through some hoops. If you’ve tried to fill out your 2011 tax return online before, you be acquainted with what that means: they want you to send in a paper copy, along with another form telling them that the present one is late.

It might sound like lots of extra work, but it’s in point of fact rather simple.

Of course, the palpable question is: if I could do my 2011 tax return online when it was due, why can’t I do it now? It’s solid to speak for certain not on time taxes are already more work-intensive than taxes paid on time, so forcing populace to do them on document only compounds the difficulty. In reality, this might lead the IRS to gather even less money than they’d usually get, since people might guide clear of the late-filing method altogether. But perhaps the IRS thinks it’s better to make it more inconvenient to do your taxes late: if you can’t file them online, they might think, you’re more inclined to fill out your 2011 tax return right when it’s due.

But your doing your 2011 tax return preparation online isn’t not possible.

In fact, many sites make it simple to do your 2011 tax return online, and to total other required tax forms. If you require doing your tax return online, you can simply visit a website that specializes in helping people pay taxes after they’re due. Your complete tax return online is just a few clicks away! Granted, the IRS will make ask you to send them a printed copy – but you can get all the convenience of filling our your tax return online, with only the price of printing a few sheets of paper and buying a single stamp.

Doing your income tax return online now that 2012 has come and gone might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. The IRS may not be on your side here (though they’ll still gladly gather your money!) but you can use online resources to make the procedure much easier. Once you get started, you’ll observe how swift and efficient tax filing has become. You’ll also be able to see how much somebody can contribute by taking a new look at an old problem like taxes. Filing your tax return online is almost as simple now as it was on the day it was due.

Get complete information about 2011 tax forms and free tax filing

Lisa NicholsAt The End Of My Block YouTube

04 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Lisa Nichols read her poem, "At the End of My Block.," at the Rio Hotel, Las Vegas, November, 2011. I asked her to read this poem to the audience.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzM2RWcxg0
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Amadeus Consulting Discusses Using Minimal Content to Drive Mobile User Experience Design

03 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Amadeus Consulting Discusses Using Minimal Content to Drive Mobile User Experience Design

As we discussed in our previous post “Using Content Strategy to Drive User Experience,” we talked about the importance of content in driving user experience design. But what does one do if you are talking content for mobile app development or mobile site design? Content is (or should be) decidedly limited, and therefore needs special considerations.

Designing the content for mobile applications is something we have become quite good at in a short period of time. Our mobile application developers are close to reaching their 50th application (iPhone™, Android™, BlackBerry® and Windows Phone™ applications) in the span of about a year and a half. At the beginning we did not quite know how to handle this new content scenario, but we have rapidly learned what works and what is simply too wordy.

Here are some considerations when designing content for mobile applications:

Convey Actions/Directives

When it comes to mobile apps, people like to be told what to do.

Not in a negative way, but in a way that allows them to never be confused about their next action. Verbs with a noun or short adjective can go a long way, and are really the only things the people need to guide them.

Stick to phrases like:

Play New Game

Email Us!

Login

These may sound basic, but simple is better when navigating.

Minimalism & Focus

In his article, “What Websites can learn from Mobile,” Michael Wilson brings up a great point that seems so simple and obvious, but is often overlooked in mobile application development. When people user their smartphones, they are rarely just browsing. Rather, they are rather focused on a specific task.

Smartphones really aren’t set up for effective and easy browsing and that often gets forgotten. This means that people try to throw everything but the kitchen sink into an app or a mobile site, leaving the user to sift through several levels of content till they get where they need to go.

Something that helps minimize the amount of content needed is to think about how someone is using your application. By the time they reach it, they will already know what they want to accomplish, and there is little need for wordy explanation.

Not only will focusing the function of the application to include a core set of functions benefit the flow of the overall application, but it will also make your content much easier to use. It will break it down to the functions and actions that make navigating so much easier.

Instructions/Storylines

The only place where wordiness might work is in instruction sections, about the application, or storylines that are critical explanations of the mobile application. This often occurs when creating mobile apps for games, or critical applications like banking or finance (times where people get nervous about what they are seeing). Take a note from mobile app development companies like Rovio, who developed Angry Birds. Instead of explanation they give a cool mini-video teaser as the backstory for the application.

If it is necessary to have paragraphs of information, try to make it the least intrusive. One explanatory paragraph before the user begins the function of the application. If further explanation is needed once in the application, try making info bubbles. These would be buttons for them to click on if they want more information, but won’t pop up until the user has need for them.

The same rule that applies with search results applies with content; you will probably lose many people after the first scroll, so keep it as brief as possible. If you find yourself writing too many of these, it might be time to reconsider the core function of the application. Think about it this way: if it requires too much backstory or explanation, it is probably too complicated for most users.

Does it fit in a button?

Now that question can be subjective depending on the size/need of a button, but if the text of your button requires two lines or more, you know the content might be too long. Use this as a litmus test to determine whether you are being too wordy or not.

Feel free to share your best practices when it comes to creation of content for mobile applications in the comment section, and follow up with our team if you are interested in mobile app development.

About Lisa Calkins

Lisa Calkins, Amadeus Consulting’s CEO and Co-Founder, is also the Director of Creative Services. Lisa is dedicated to the infusion of creativity into every aspect of Amadeus Consulting, including our custom software application design.

New Book: Official Book Launch February 28th, 2012 Official launch of Sacred Cows Dancing Volume #1 Financial Enlightenment For Today (thesecretlawofattractionparty.com) Sacred Cows Dancing Volume #1 Financial Enlightenment For Today Dr. Houston Vetter (Author), Dr. Joe Vitale (Contributor), Dr. Joe Rubino (Contributor),John La Valle (Contributor), Morty Lefkoe (Contributor), Pat O’Bryan (Contributor), Connie Ragen Green (Contributor), Wendy Down (Contributor), Geoff Hoff (Contributor), Jerry Stocking (Contributor), (http is a brand new book designed to complement and enhance what the cast of the move “The Secret” were trying to get across. If you like the work of John Assaraf, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Lee Brower, Jack Canfield, John F. Demartini, Marie Diamond, Mike Dooley, Bob Doyle, Hal Dowskin, Morris E. Goodman, John Gray, John Hagelin, Bill Harris, Ben Johnson, Loral Langemeier, Lisa Nichols, Bob Proctor, James Arthur Ray, David Schirmer, Marci Shimoff, Dennis Waitley, Neale Donald Walsh, Fred Alan Wolf, Jerry and Ester Hicks (Abraham) you will love Sacred Cows Dancing Volume #1 Financial Enlightenment For Today (thesecretlawofattractionparty.com) We are so delighted about releasing a book that will shift your perception, change your beliefs and allow financial abundance (ie money) to flow into your life easier, faster and with less effort on your part, each time you read this book that I can’t wait for you to read it. Within the pages of this book you will find …
Video Rating: 1 / 5

Rogue crocodile captured after dogs go missing

03 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

By Lisa Mosley A rogue saltwater crocodile has been caught in a trap at the … Service Senior Wildlife Ranger Tom Nichols said the Crocodile Management …
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Health Fears For Mali's Refugees

02 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Lisa Nichols is Project Director with ATN Plus, a health project funded by USAID. She's lived in Bamako for over eight years. Anchor Marco Werman speaks …
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Party Planning: How To Successfully Throw Large Events

02 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

Party Planning: How To Successfully Throw Large Events
Much like show business, catering companies have to entertain guests in the form of food and hospitality. When planning for different venues and events, it is imperative for catering companies to have every angle covered, even if it involves Plan B and Plan C. Its important to have a great plan in place, says Lisa Mandigo, owner of Epic Catering in San Diego, CA. Flexibility, organization and having the ability to adjust are key.

The Companys website states: At Epic Restaurant & Catering, we are all about great food, living well, enjoying life, building relationships, and making a difference. Whether your catering needs involve a simple delivered lunch, or a formal dinner engagement, our goal is to be the one and only phone call you need to make.

We are a full service caterer and would love to help not only custom design your menu but also take care of the rest of your event needs including site referral, event design, theme, props, placesettings, tables, linens, florals, music and more.

Mandigos company has catered events for venues held at the Lyceum Theater, the La Jolla Playhouse, Museums in Balboa Park, galas held at the YMCA and parties at numerous private mansions throughout San Diego. Not to mention weddings and big corporate functions.

According to the Companys website, Epic is short for Epicurean, which means those who have a spirit for life and enjoy eating and drinking well. Epic Restaurant & Catering can provide the essence of dining pleasure in our restaurant or create lasting memories that live on long after your catered event.

With a fulfilling mission statement such as that, obviously a lot of preparation goes into a catering event. Having six months lead time gets the most attendants, says Mandigo. With six months lead time we can send out invitations eight weeks in advance.

With six months lead time allowing a considerable amount of preparation, Mandigo said she has been able to put together an event within one week. Her experience allows her to orchestrate how the process will flow with all the key players at hand.

Mandigo holds meetings the day before an event with a plan to execute, handing out diagrams and maps, having the right equipment for loading and taking inventory, and getting to the venue way ahead of schedule in anticipation of things going wrong with plenty of time to execute Plan B.

Fortunately for Mandigo, living in San Diego makes for pretty predictable and steady weather conditions, considering rain seldom falls from the Southern California skies, making for pleasant surroundings should an event be held outdoors.

However, sometimes it is necessary for caterers to assess if it is necessary to bring along heaters if the weathers too cold or deciphering if the weather is too warm and forgoing the heaters, any way they can save money for the venue.

You have to be a problem solver and not get stressed out to work in this business, Mandigo expresses. Working your way through all of these problems makes for a successful event; you just have to roll with the punches.

Mandigo and her associates bring grills and miniature ovens along to work out of back rooms or loading docks a couple of hours before an event, whatever it takes to ensure that guests are sampling the freshest food possible. I cook seafood on site, I get up at the crack of dawn and make sauces, says Mandigo.

Everything is prepared under health code. Theres lead time that has to be considered when preparing cheese trays and cooking salmon. I cook the salmon at the venue itself, which only takes between fifteen to twenty minutes.

Lisa Mandigo lived on the island of Maui for two years and while living there, expanded her culinary horizons and worked for Roys, intensifying her knowledge of the Pacific Rim and Asian fusion style of cooking. Growing up in New York, Mandigo had obviously been influenced in the Italian cooking genre.

Thai foods are also her specialty as well as Greek dishes after having traveled to Greece. Thats what keeps it exciting, Mandigo says. I get to deal with different places, different menus and different people every day.

Food & Drink News and Information for Executives specializing in stories about Hospitality and Catering, Food Production, Retailing, Franchising and more on our online Food & Drink Digital Magazine.

Raise Money For Surgery To Support Lisa Nichols

01 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

The friends and family of John Nichols are uniting to raise money to help him with his battle against cancer.
www.giveforward.com/johnnicholsroadtorecovery
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Midtown Health Center to expand its headquarters

01 MAY
2012

Author: The Oracle

… said Midtown Executive Director Lisa Nichols. Six of the 10 dental rooms will be used to train dental hygiene students from Weber State University.
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Leatherman Knives- Offering The Best Of Quality

30 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Leatherman Knives- Offering The Best Of Quality
Leatherman was actually established in the year 1983 in Oregon. The company was established by Tim Leatherman along with the CEO and president, Jake Nichol. The Leatherman knives are not just pocket or hunting knives, they are more of a multi tool. The company makes pocket knives but it is more popular for the multi tools it offers to the customers. Leatherman serves to be one of the popular brands available in the whole world. It is mainly admired and accepted for its multi tool features. It has been observed that many a people forget to carry the important tool when they plan to go on a camp. But with Leatherman, you can easily carry the important tools like knives, flashlights and other accessories in just a simple keychain. This way, you can carry the crucial tools in a small keychain.

There are indeed different kinds of Leatherman knives available in the market that you can utilize for different purposes. It has also been noticed that Leatherman was the first company to offer such amazing ideas to the general masses. In todays world, people wish to have everything compact and handy and so Leatherman offers its knives and other multi-tools just like that. The best part about these knives is that they offer utmost quality at reasonable price tag so that everyone can afford the tools with ease.

Multipurpose knife sets include various tool kits that one generally gets in an elaborate tool box. As for the small jobs, you can use the tool combos that are offered by Leatherman Handtools. You can use the knives to do petty tasks like cutting your fingernails to the more delicate ones like screwing the spectacle handles. If you even wish to trim the beautiful roses in your garden, you can use the Leatherman multi tool knife to do this task with ease.

With Crater c33 Lx locking knife, you can get the Blade Launcher technology working hard. You can position the blade safely or keep it packed to be hung from your belt or bottle opener. This knife is light and nice to be taken along. Also, the tool has taken the world of knives to a new level. With the 154CM stainless steel blade of Expanse e33Lx knife, you can enjoy raised edge retention by about three times. The stainless steel reinforced handle offers the knife a sleep, slim profile weighing at just three ounces. The exceptional features of this Leatherman knife include removable pocket clip, locking liner, thumb stud, handle with 60 percent glass nylon, 25 years warranty and blade launcher.

As for the occasional tightening and twists, the Expanse e33Tx by Leatherman serves to be a workhorse of slim line, light weight folding knife. This knife is further attached with stainless steel reinforced handle, premium material used in blade and the fixed screwdriver so that the users can slip it with ease and carry around.

So if you are planning to go for camping or otherwise, you can make use of the amazing Leatherman knives and that too at pocket friendly rates.

Tom Smithson is the author of this article on Leatherman Knives.
Find more information about Leatherman Juice here.

EMSA medics to receive national award

30 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Paramedics Kelby Nichols and Lisa Alexander each will receive the American Ambulance Association's Stars of Life award on Tuesday.
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Four Essential Marketing Fundamentals That Are Omitted By Nine Out Of Ten of All Business Owners

29 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Four Essential Marketing Fundamentals That Are Omitted By Nine Out Of Ten of All Business Owners

If you want to be super productive, you must master these four essential marketing concepts.

Concept Number One: Choose a unique niche market for your product or service and make sure people in that segment have the desire and means to buy what you offer.

The more you can pare down your target market and still have a feasible universe of potential customers, the less you’ll have to spend on marketing and the more you can charge for what you offer.

It’s not enough that your target market needs what you have. They must also want it. If what you have doesn’t solve a necessary problem, it’s not likely that people will have a burning desire to acquire it. So the solution is to find people that are having trouble sleeping because they have an issue that you solve.

And just because people want what you offer doesn’t mean they have the ability to buy it. So make sure the market you want to sell to can buy what you offer.

Concept Number Two: Select the single most important benefit that what you have delivers to your patrons.

Determine what the obvious result will be when people buy what you have.

Describe this benefit in such a way that it’s so lucid, there will be absolutely no question about how what you do will help qualified prospects.

If you really want to be effective, you need to choose the most important benefit of what you sell. This is easier said than done. But with careful testing, it’s possible to make this finding.

Concept Number 3: Establish and support your benefit statements.

In order for your benefit claim to be believable, you must give people reasons to believe what you say will be true. There are assorted ways to do this, and the more you use, the better.

Common sense approach – you relate why your product or service performs using simple, plain words that are easy to understand and relate to.

Actual experience method – you let people try your product or service to see if it delivers.

Credentialization – you relate how your product or service came to be developed, or how it is designed, created or produced.

Testimonials – people relate the specific results your product or service produced.

Strong Guarantee – you journey as far as you can to prove what you offer in a way that cancels as much of the purchase risk as possible.

Concept Number 4: Your “only one” edge.

This is where you manifestly differentiate your company, product or service from the marketplace. This is the most important yet most difficult of the four fundamentals to implement properly.

Many people think it’s not practical or possible to be meaningfully different from their competitors. If you want to be the obvious choice in your industry, you must be looked upon as being different – even if you are just like everyone else. Formulating a meaningful difference in the minds of your patrons as to why you are better is the most important strategy you can develop.

If you want people to buy from you, you must communicate to them how doing so will have an important impact on their lives versus not buying from you.

The key to ultra-success is: Position what you have as the most desirable choice and you can charge a premium.

If you can effectively describe your unique value more effectively than your competitors, it’s possible to substantially boost your income in a short period of time.

Marketing strategist Nick Nichols helps business owners increase sales and profits using a unique, proprietary system that instantly reveals the holes and flaws in your marketing and shows you exactly how to fix them using low-cost, no-cost methods – so you can stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work and start putting more cash in your bank account. For a complimentary review of your marketing initiatives that is guaranteed to make your marketing more effective, visit Nick Nichols’ Complimentary Review Request or see Nick Nichols’ Website for services provided.

Community Sports: Community Scoreboard for April 27

29 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Rolling Pins — Linda Nichols 212, Pat Richardson 195, Judy Cutting 179. … Jim Cutrell 205; Viki Springfels 199, Lisa Duryee 192, Jana Taylor 189.
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Pregnancy Miracle By Lisa Olson-Pregnancy Miracle is a 100% natural method and helps you get pregnant in a correct way

28 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Pregnancy Miracle By Lisa Olson-Pregnancy Miracle is a 100% natural method and helps you get pregnant in a correct way

A berry turns out into a bulb due to the abundance of clay, and in the agnate way the fertilized egg of women takes the appearance of a adolescent in women’ s uterus. about, not every woman is so advantageous to accept the adeptness to accommodate able altitude which could advice the egg to survive and this is all becould cause of inabundance.
Discount Click here
Inabundance is the inadeptness of women to accept afterwards accepting an caught sex for a year. It is not like added diseases which could appearance up the affection afore duke but is noticed if changeable fails to accept. There are several could causes for changeable inabundance such as aberrant or abundant menstrual aeon, ample, blocked fallopian tube, hormone botheration, age, booze, accent and so on.

Even so, you do not accept to adumbrate in abashment if you are a woman adversity from inabundance. It is just becould cause there are means to cure this action and the abundance phenomenon adviser is one of such manuals accessible out there to advice barren women get abundant.
Discount Click here
Lisa Olson, the columnist of such e-book, is able-bodied accepted as a Chinese anesthetic researcher, another bloom and diet specialist, bloom adviser as able-bodied as above inabundance dead. Based on her claimed 14-year balloon and analysis, she advised this book to advice added women get abundant by itself so that they can aswell acquaintance the joy of not acceptable a madded but acceptable a madded to a bloomy babyish.

The best affair about the arrangement mainly preached in this book is that all barren women can become abundant in a accustomed way after the use of decree drugs or convenance like surgeries that can could cause exceptionable ancillary furnishings. Furtheradded, such applied, accustomed and holistic arrangement to analytic botherations of inabundance aswell offers able clandestine email counselling and abutment from a dietist for chargeless.

Do you wish to get abundant in a accustomed way aural 3 weeks from now? If yes, I awful acclaim you use the tips and techniques referred in this book. just ascendancy your abundance by yourself!

Discount Click here

Find More Lisa Nichols Articles

Koch Brothers Exposed

28 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

Joel Rogers, UW Dean of Education Julie Underwood, Nichols & Pocan on Friday. $ 10 ($ 8 adv.). 241-8633 THURSDAY NIGHT CMD'S Lisa Graves, John Nichols of The …
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols

Review: 'The Pianist of Willesden Lane' a resonant tale of survival

27 APR
2012

Author: The Oracle

By David C. Nichols In “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” keyboard virtuoso Mona Golabek essentially channels her mother, pianist Lisa Jura, …
Google Alerts – Lisa Nichols