Things I Learned at Interaction 08
Bamboo chairs are aesthetically pleasing, but they aren’t very comfortable.
Appetizers are apparently best served in an assortment of glass dishes and vases, and some orchids are edible.
Rock Band is a lot of fun. The UI is well designed, and the gameplay is quite sophisticated. I must be getting old, though, because I didn’t know any of the songs.
The name tags were well designed, making people’s names easily readable. However, they should have been printed on both sides. I lost track of the number of times I walked up to introduce myself to someone and was then informed that my name tag had flipped around.
Never depend on an internet connection for examples during your presentation. Aza Raskin wasn’t able to demonstrate his points, nor even his own Songza.
A conference program should not only indicate which meals are provided, but what type of meal they are. On Saturday, we had a sit-and-be-served breakfast and a boxed lunch. On Sunday, we had a boxed breakfast and served lunch. Many ate breakfast in their hotels the first morning, and were then disappointed when they showed up expecting something as elaborate the second morning.
Eating for free rocks! Between the provided meals, the local leaders dinner, and the reception appetizers, I only had to purchase two meals: lunch on Friday before my first workshop, and Sunday’s dinner at the airport on my way home.
If your schedule is tight, call ahead for a cab. I made it to my gate just as they called my zone.