Author: Brian Dys

  • A Family Man (2016)

    Warning: Spoiler Alert!

    An exhilirated Lou Wheeler in front of the bathroom mirror.
    A screencap from the movie A Family Man (2016) showing Lou Wheeler (Alfred Molina) pouring out his emotions.

    The most memorable part of the movie for me was when Lou went into the bathroom to pour his overflowing emotions upon knowing that he got the job. He won the jackpot that he did an Elvis and a Rocky.

    I sensed a familiarity with this scene because I once lost a job and thought it’s the world’s end. Yet my mom simply laughed it out. It made everything bearable. All hope and confidence were restored upon landing another job.

    All families got problems but you only got one.

    Lou Wheeler
  • From Cataract to Drugs – Part 1

    It’s just another morning to the office I thought as I rode my Grab. At the gate, our resident guard who’s got something in his eyes caught the eye of my Grab driver.

    “I got a friend who’s got white in his eyes just like that guard,” he said pointing back at the guard as we joined in with the vehicles along the road.

    “He reads text like this,” holding up an imaginary phone touching his nose, close to his eyes.

    Conversations with drivers keep me occupied throughout the ride and I would assume that it’s the same for them. Topics were commonly about their history of driving—from being family drivers to driving Grab for a living. Topics that are not too personal for a conversation with a stranger.

    A few times, conversations would turn into story–telling of a colorful part of their lives. Strange conversations.

    From Riches to Rags

    “They got lots of money before. He’s dark–skinned that’s why he really likes a lot of gold jewelries all over his body—him and his father. Now I just command him around,” he said in jest.

    “His sister worked in Japan and had a Japanese partner, that’s why,” he explained about the origin of the guy’s riches.

    “They’ve got several branches of Tatsuya, a Japanese surplus shop. They’ve got three cars. Now, all those are gone ever since his sister was left by her partner,” he continued.

    “Back in her early days in Japan she was beautiful. Now, her belly’s popping out of her shirt you wouldn’t recognize her,” he blabbered.

    “Tough luck for them, they are all dimwits,” he said as if the guy’s family only knew how to spend money.

    “They weren’t able to invest in anything?” I asked.

    Down the Drain

    “Well, hands down. Their house is gorgeous. Until now, it’s the best in our street. But inside, you won’t find anything,” he answered.

    “Too bad he and his brother got into drugs,” he said, casting a new light into this character.

    I looked at him at the rearview mirror. My head nodding with occasional “uh–huhs” while listening. This story was getting deeper as I get closer to my destination.

    I was amused by the flow of his stories, I admitted.

    On the next part—drugs and plenty sex—from our driver–host this sunny morning of Friday.

  • Ever-Fleeting

    When can one manage to be perfect in everything that they do? Yet here we are, always waiting for the perfect moment. For the perfect words to come by. Even though we very well know that they are ever–fleeting just right above our heads—so near yet so far from our minds.

  • NTT Information Architecture

    Internal / Function

    • Download (Parent Theme)
    • Child Themes (Theme Switcher)
    • Snap–ons (Style Switcher)

    External / Operation

    • Documentation
    • About
    • Blog / News
    • Contact
    • Credits
    • Lexicon
    • Privacy Policy

    Default Site

    ntt.dysinelab.com/<section>

    • ntt.dysinelab.com/download
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/snaps
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/plugins
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/about
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/privacy
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/credits
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/lexicon
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/contact

    Multisite

    ntt.dysinelab.com/<multisite>

    • ntt.dysinelab.com/codex
    • ntt.dysinelab.com/themes
  • Perceptual Elements

    • Color
    • Typography
    • Spaces / Layout
    • Shapes
    • Icons
    • Illustrations
    • Media (Photos, Videos)
    • Animations
    • Voice and Tone
    • Sounds
  • Are tabs as a pattern good for mobile design? How do they affect an app’s usability?

    What kind of app are you working on?

    Let’s set two facets in this answer:

    1. Trend – are tabs being used in Android and iOS mobile apps?

      Yes, as evidenced in popular mobile apps (Quora, for example).

    2. Nature – can tabs function well in limited spaces?

      Yes, it is implemented in a single row which can also accommodate an overflow of tab items within a horizontal scrollable container or a sub–menu of overflown items.

    Tabs perfectly facilitate the navigability of a mobile app’s sections.


    Originally published in Quora

  • How can designers leverage audio to enhance user experience?

    What kind of experience do you want for your users?

    Here’s a checklist:

    1. Business and User Objectives
    2. Features and Requirements
    3. Information Architecture and Interaction Design
    4. Navigation and User Interface Design
    5. Accessibility and Visual Design
      • Visual
        • Layout
        • Colors
        • Typography
        • Animation
      • Audial
        • Text–to–Speech
        • Sound (cues and effects)
        • Music (background and foreground)

    While one of sound’s purpose is enhancing the user experience, it’s primary goal is to provide accessibility to non–visual users.

    And in cases video games and devices that only has VUI, sound is one of the primary elements.


    If you’re working on a site or app, prioritize the checklist before leveraging audio to enhance the user experience (along with animations).

    Think of a chat app wherein there are sound cues and animations when someone is composing a reply, when you successfully sent a message, and when you receive a message.

    One can still use the app and accomplish the task at hand even without those sound cues and animations—but they are important aspects in enhancing the usability and user experience.


    Originally published in Quora

  • HTML & CSS Principles

    1. Readability
    2. Completeness of names that are being used globally
    3. Maintain hierarchy
    * No .elem { .parent & { … } }

    – Put font-size in object-level

  • Usability Testing Notes

    Study participants saw a number of charts in six different color palettes. Just like the first study, users shared first impressions, preference, and value feedback, and the speed and accuracy with which they made decisions were captured. Source

  • Working on a new WordPress Theme called NTT (entity).