M Linden recently announced that the user interface for Second Life is being redesigned, making it “more user friendly” and while I scoured the forums I didn’t see the name of the firm announced by the Lab.
All indications are, however, that Vectorform may be extending its work with the Lab to a larger project that includes the viewer - and the hot bed for all this deep thought may not be California but…Detroit (or at least partially).
(Click above for larger image, from Vectorform Web site).
And Vectorform needs YOU. Well, they need you if you live in the Detroit area I guess, according to their job postings which includes a search for a “Second Life Subject Matter Expert“:
“Vectorform is currently looking for a Second Life Guru, who can assist in an exciting project that is currently in development. This candidate will be responsible for the research, documentation, and the development of new User Interfaces for the Second Life environment.”
The candidate would ideally but not necessarily have experience with:
- Dynamics and limitations of builds, textures, culture, etiquettes, navigation, etc.
- Understanding of Viewer Code
- Working knowledge of XUI
- Familiarity with the following research techniques:
- Building and administering questionnaires
- Interviewing / running Focus groups
- Analysis
- Report Generation
Now, that doesn’t sound to me like the kind of list that you’d need for their work on revamping the landmarks part of the viewer, about which Prokofy has comments and which will be included in a new release candidate that’s expected soon, according to Benjamin Linden.
What IS encouraging about the job posting is that it sounds like Vectorform takes usability analysis seriously - and have some serious process and innovation to back them up.
Vectorform is perhaps most recently famous for its work with Microsoft’s new Surface device, in particular its Surface DJ.
Which puts Vectorform in the middle of the interfaces + new devices + usability and fun intersection that the Lab is leaning towards, what with Mitch Kapor’s 3D camera and other floaty pointy ways of accessing the Grid.
And maybe there’s something comforting about having some of the UI brain trust outside of California, because Detroit gets us out of the corridors of Silicon Valley and out into the rust belt where grandma is dying to join a virtual world and find a job.
And if they need help in a pinch, maybe they can scoop up some outside help from Au Creative? I think there’s some crossover there.
Aha! The Landmarks & Navigation project is pretty much wrapped up, so I don’t see why they’d be hiring now — unless they’re going to be doing more SL work in the future.
Seems there’s more to the story than just the L&N project. Good find!
I’m not entirely sure what the big secret is, Jacek. Maybe they don’t realize they’re being secretive? In any case, a smoking gun maybe, but on the other hand maybe Vectorform a) doesn’t update their job listings or keeps old ones up for the sake of, um, looking busy or b) is being contracted by someone else to develop stuff or c) is referring to another project when they use the word, in plural, “interfaces”.
Here I am reading the Linden tea leaves again! Hahaha.
But at least there’s smoke - and it’s always fun to speculate. Plus, I live near Detroit so maybe I can pop by and, um, keep them honest?
Pretty sure that job listing has been on there since at least April, I remember looking at it when L&N was first announced.
Ah see? I wondered why there was no date on their job postings - always makes you wonder whether it’s a way of beefing up the sense of how busy they are. In any case, at least we can get a confirm or deny from someone. Well, maybe not, but let’s see.
Pffft. Michigan? Don’t they realize the Second Life powerhouse they have right in their own mosquito infested backyard? (hint: they should just fire up the ‘Lordfly Digeridoo’ beacon and shine it into the Michigan night sky…