In Friday's issue of RAIN (here), we expressed an opinion that the entire Florida presidential election balloting fiasco -- which has left the future direction of our whole nation up in the air at the moment -- could have easily been avoided with better user interface design and/or some basic user testing.

RAIN reader Michael Okuda, who is Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant on "Star Trek: Voyager" and has served in the same capacity on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and the last several "Star Trek" motion pictures, and who is famous for designing the sophisticated, elegant graphical user interface seen on computers throughout Starfleet (see background at left), writes in with the following observation:

"With regard to the Palm Beach presidential ballot controversy, I would like to suggest that the problem is not the double-paged ballot, but rather, ill-advised graphic design.

"By the way," Okuda added, "I also contend that my example shows that effective graphic design need not be overly elaborate or gimmicky. (And in fact, I contend that overly elaborate design is seldom effective.)"

"Attached is a JPEG image showing a minor modification of the ballot, preserving the enhanced legibility intended by Supervisor LePore, but greatly reducing the chance of voter confusion."

Okuda's proposed redesign, shown below, utilizes a simple graphic element to make the "butterfly ballot" far easier to understand and use.

No matter whether you're a Bush supporter or a Gore supporter, Okuda's solution is a clear example of the importance of carefully thinking out design issues -- and perhaps the value of engaging a professional rather than relying on amateurs.

Have an opinion on this article? Share it! Simply click the headline at left to bring up a convenient pop-up form.

From the press release: "RollingStone.com and RadioWave.com today announced the launch of "Rolling Stone Radio." RadioWave.com developed, designed and programmed the multi-channel radio offering which will be featured at RollingStone.com...

"The interactive radio platform allows fans to view artist/band biographies, photos and discographies, click to purchase CDs, as well as find tour dates and ticket information.

"At the launch of Rolling Stone Radio there will be 20 different audio channels of genre-based music and content running the gamut from indie to classic rock, hip-hop to pop. Special content culled from the pages of Rolling Stone Magazine will also be the source of customized, music programming. The first of these 'special content' channels, titled 'Pop 100,' will begin to stream on Rolling Stone Radio on November 17 to coincide with the issue of Rolling Stone Magazine that ranks the top 100 pop songs of all time. Rolling Stone Radio will allow fans to listen to the entire list 24x7.

"RadioWave.com will also syndicate the new branded music service to e-commerce, content, and portal sites across the Web.

"Rolling Stone Radio will feature RadioWave.com's iSpot advertising. The radio service allows real-time, seamless coordination of visual and audio messages that combine the branding effectiveness of a radio ad with the interactivity of a banner ad...

"Rolling Stone Radio joins MSN Chat Radio, ARTISTdirect Radio Network, Blue Note Records Radio, Astralwerks Radio, Alligator Records Radio, and the Susquehanna Radio Corp.'s broadcast station group as part of RadioWave.com's Internet radio network."

Simply click the headline at left to bring up a convenient pop-up form!

From the press release: "Listen.com announced today that it is launching Listen Radio, a new feature on the Listen.com site and one of the products and services that the company is offering as part of its new syndication focus. Under its new focus, Listen.com will concentrate on integrating and distributing online music products and services to its syndication partners, allowing them to offer the best and most complete online music experience to consumers.

Upon launch, Listen Radio features 17 stations on the Listen Radio Network and 46 stations on the Listen Radio Affiliate Network. Programming and stations will be added continuously in the months ahead...

The Listen Radio Network includes genre-specific stations programmed by the company's 30-plus person editorial team, guest artist stations and special event stations. It debuts with an online record release party for Fatboy Slim's new "Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars" LP from Astralwerks; BBMak Radio, programmed by Hollywood Records act BBMak; and Radio Badlands, featuring music from a Sub Pop tribute to Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska' album by artists such as Johnny Cash, Ani DiFranco and Ben Harper."

Read the entire press release here.

November 12-14	Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) "Broadcasting 2000: On-air / On-line," Calgary
Nov. 28-Dec. 1	Radio Ink Internet Conference, Santa Clara, CA,
February 1-4, 2001	RAB 2001. Details coming soon.