Comments on: Q from MA http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/ Same old blog, brand new place Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:50:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Doc Searls http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18268 Doc Searls Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:37:02 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18268 Good points all. Mostly I was kvetching. What I'd prefer is an easy-to-do selective disclosure system that's in my control and fills any form with one click; or wouldn't even require a form. Most of the sites requiring forms only need a fraction of what they're asking for in any case. Good points all. Mostly I was kvetching. What I’d prefer is an easy-to-do selective disclosure system that’s in my control and fills any form with one click; or wouldn’t even require a form.

Most of the sites requiring forms only need a fraction of what they’re asking for in any case.

]]> By: Michael Flanagan http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18172 Michael Flanagan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:03:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18172 Regarding the "just use a zip code" idea.. fine, if you've selected the US as your home country, but also *please* remember that not every country has a zip or postal code. In Ireland we've got neither and it's very often a required field. Bizarrely, even Irish websites have been known to get this wrong. Regarding the “just use a zip code” idea.. fine, if you’ve selected the US as your home country, but also *please* remember that not every country has a zip or postal code. In Ireland we’ve got neither and it’s very often a required field.

Bizarrely, even Irish websites have been known to get this wrong.

]]> By: Russell Nelson http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18112 Russell Nelson Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:35:45 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18112 What Hanna said, only I hit the first letter of the item 6 times ... because I live in NY. But wouldn't it be better to ask for the zip code first, and then ajax in the town and state? What Hanna said, only I hit the first letter of the item 6 times … because I live in NY. But wouldn’t it be better to ask for the zip code first, and then ajax in the town and state?

]]> By: Don Marti http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18094 Don Marti Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:43:29 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18094 Make it validate back to the server for state/province abbreviations in the user's chosen country, and you can put "AJAX" on your resume. Make it validate back to the server for state/province abbreviations in the user’s chosen country, and you can put “AJAX” on your resume.

]]> By: Ted Roche http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18071 Ted Roche Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:26:19 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18071 Q from MA or from Mac? You can't tab into dropdowns on OS X, but can in Windows and most *nixes. I know it's four taps of the 'N' key to get to 'New Hampshire,' unless they've included New Brunswick. As a data application developer, I'll tell you that people can't remember which M state is Mass, Missouri, Montana or Mississippi. And which is ME? None of the above. A dropdown restricts creative typists from creating new states (though developers need to remember VI, GU and PR, often forgotten). A far smarter system asks for your ZIP first and works it out from there. Q from MA or from Mac? You can’t tab into dropdowns on OS X, but can in Windows and most *nixes. I know it’s four taps of the ‘N’ key to get to ‘New Hampshire,’ unless they’ve included New Brunswick.

As a data application developer, I’ll tell you that people can’t remember which M state is Mass, Missouri, Montana or Mississippi. And which is ME? None of the above. A dropdown restricts creative typists from creating new states (though developers need to remember VI, GU and PR, often forgotten).

A far smarter system asks for your ZIP first and works it out from there.

]]> By: AEP528 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18062 AEP528 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:16:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18062 For that matter, why do US companies require anything other than a street address and zip code? City and state are defined by the zip code, so isn't that a little redundant? If you choose country first, then it should automatically disable the city and state fields if the country choice is US. For that matter, why do US companies require anything other than a street address and zip code? City and state are defined by the zip code, so isn’t that a little redundant? If you choose country first, then it should automatically disable the city and state fields if the country choice is US.

]]> By: Geoff http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18059 Geoff Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:02:48 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18059 Think yourselves lucky that Country=USA is always the first choice. If you happen to be in the UK you can never find it! Can be UK, GB, England sorted alphabetically or just floating around in the list. Think yourselves lucky that Country=USA is always the first choice. If you happen to be in the UK you can never find it! Can be UK, GB, England sorted alphabetically or just floating around in the list.

]]> By: Matt V http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18056 Matt V Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:58:23 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18056 I usually type in the first letter of the state and then arrow down to the correct state. I usually type in the first letter of the state and then arrow down to the correct state.

]]> By: PXLated http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18050 PXLated Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:40:18 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18050 Yes, it's irritated me forever. Try arguing it with a client, they seem to insist and you finally just give up. Yes, it’s irritated me forever. Try arguing it with a client, they seem to insist and you finally just give up.

]]> By: Hanna Cohen http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18042 Hanna Cohen Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:45:16 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2007/12/19/q-from-ma/#comment-18042 You don't need to use the mouse. TAB to the list and type the first letter of the item you need to choose. Then you can use the up (and down) arrow keys to move to the right place on the list. Then TAB to move to the next form input. You don’t need to use the mouse. TAB to the list and type the first letter of the item you need to choose. Then you can use the up (and down) arrow keys to move to the right place on the list. Then TAB to move to the next form input.

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