Over the internet?

(Just random thoughts/ miscellaneous rant)

I use the internet  quite a bit, mostly for work - researching techniques or finding information or images for project and clients. I also get much of my news through RSS feeds in my iPad mini. I have noticed that, maybe inevitably, I am not really finding anything new to do online. In a way it is similar to my experience with app stores. At first the app store seemed to offer unlimited ways to improve my workflow, fun etc etc but soon you are not finding anything really helpful or new…just alternate versions of things already there.

I’m not saying the internet isn’t expanding and spreading out more every instant, but I am wondering if, while there is more of everything already there. 

More ways than I realized at the start, the world wide web has exceeded it’s expectations. I remember when there wasn’t any browsers or search engines. As those things were developed the web grew and my interest grew and I was soon downloading programs, sending email to the 5 people I could persuade to use it. I was fascinated by the expanding access to information and ability to get software, and images without leaving my house. 

As time goes on I use the internet more than ever but like the app store, its more and more to do the same sort of stuff and there doesn’t seem to be anything really new out there anymore. It’s become like a fridge, you can get one with a screen on it or can make calls or whatever, but face it the function of a fridge is only to store food cold. Seems like the internet is being pushed into doing stuff it really isn’t needed for or I’m just not interested in the new stuff.

I guess I am sort wondering if all that cool stuff at the start of being online was really more of less the limit of what its best to use it for? At the moment, the compulsion to connect everything to the world wide web has far too many downsides. I would rather have the house controlled by my home computer than by someplace/somewhere on the internet. I also don’t really do any social media and that is a more recent addition along with true online shopping(which I do use) that really did bring new functionality online. It’s probably just a lack of imagination on my part but I just don’t see where something new will come from. I am not saying the internet is useless or will become obsolete. I am saying there we might be reaching the limits of what is really good for - at least for now. 

Flash Gordon site from the past

At one time, the use of Flash was considered more cool than it is today and the ability to interact with animations was fun.. it got out of hand pretty quickly. This might be an example of that. But it was fun to do and that was point… to make the site fun. Sound isn't exactly in sync as it was on the site originally. Being obsessed with Buster Crabbe… I had to do it.

New web site

TriFury, a club for triathletes in Massachusetts (USA) has hire me for remaking the team web site. It is still missing some archival information and the forum is not yet ready but the site itself is done. Because of possible changes in the menus and the need to update certain sections easily, I've used spry menus and spry html databases in the coding.

New website client updates

George Macneil's photography site received a complete overhaul recently. I went for a much more simplified interface and increased the amount of photos available for viewing by over 3 times.

Also Art Maps Boston got a facelift. Since the site's launch there have been a few changes in the gallery scene in boston and this reflects that. Dana Wynne once again provides the excellent map design.

Peter Brooke update

Some info updates to Peter's painting site. New exhibitions, CV updates etc. If oyu haven't been there in a while recently the art was all changed as well!

Take your workflow online!

I do most my work projects online, through the Internet and have for some time now. Sadly, it's a hard sell for many, even technically knowledgeable clients, who, oddly enough can be very reluctant to change. The resources and capabilities are fantastic right now. Below some tools we use.

E-mail: Hard to believe but it was once difficult to convince clients to use email. Now you can't get many to communicate any other way! Great for sending notes about changes, discussing the basics and sending small files and PDF mock-ups.
PDF: This format has changed a lot in recent years, now you can add notes, make changes and communicate in groups using the universal format, PDF. We use it for editing magazines and long form print documents as well as using it as proofs for smaller projects.
FTP: What used to be a daunting task is now super easy and for the most part even free. You can send HUGE files without having to resort to the very expensive mail services like FedEx etc which can take a couple days for international delivery. A multi gig file can take along time to up and download, but is still faster than even overnight delivery in most cases and virtually free. The Mobileme/dot mac account from Apple as well as many others allow you to send a link in an e-mail which lets the client download with a simple click.
Video/Audio chat: Another hard sell for some reason. The new ichat for example can handle large transfers, video conference with several people and allows some files to show up in the message window. It's perfect for making changes on the fly and finalizing work. You can even share screens now and actually do the work for the client on their own computer, eliminating confusion or long technical explanations.

Some misconceptions clients have:

Large files must be sent over and over again.
A photoshop file maybe, but a large print document (Indesign, Quark), video project (after effect, final cut pro, etc) will only be one large transfer. After that you simply send the changed After Effects, Final Cut file only. If the client puts the new file in the same folder and keeps the names the same, it will find the source files no problem and you are only sending a 1-5 meg file at most. Even normal e-mail can handle that! Video is especially good using this method.
It's slower that having meetings:
Are you kidding? Meetings are important at times, but often they simply bring all work to a halt. A video conference is just as efficient if not more so and can be done without needing to get everyone from where ever they are into one room at the same time. Even a sick member of the team can join in from home and stay in the loop.
Work will be delayed without direct supervision:
Sure there are lazy people out there. Creative work takes a degree of teamwork, but it requires a large degree of independence and « process time ». Ideas don't actually come out nowhere and some tasks, like animation, require a degree of solitude non animators simply find bizarre. My clients are always amazed at how fast I work and come up with things. The reason... I can work in my studio undisturbed for hours at time and focus completely on the task at hand.

Overall the pluses outweigh the minuses when taking your project work flow online. Suddenly distance is not problem and getting the work done better, cheaper and quicker is well worth any snags that might come up.