KT's Blog

Tell us when you'll be up

2011-04-05T13:59:00.003+08:00

The Internet is here to stay. And we will rely on it more and more. So when will the people who provide online services start being mindful when they take their service down for whatever reason. Please say when services will be up again - especially if it is a planned downtime. Or at least say roughly when one should check back again to see if things are OK. If the deadline is missed then place an updated message. It's just a simple point of keeping relevant people - in this case, customers\clients\prospects - informed.

Here is an example courtesy of NTUC Income (Apr 5, 2011).

What are bus-lanes for?

2010-07-02T23:37:00.002+08:00

It is frustrating enough when all lanes on our Singapore roads are chock-a-block and we are not allowed to exercise discretion to drive on bus-lanes when it is evident there are no buses in sight. To add oil to fire, some times we see buses crowding with everyone else and not use their bus-lanes. Here is an example. Not visible from the picture but believe me, the bus-lane was completely empty - behind and in front. Hmm..... frus or not?

Better User Experience from Web Applications?

2008-11-24T22:27:00.006+08:00

Don't you sometimes wonder why the people who design web applications (for that matter any computer application) can be quite insensitive. Are they not users themselves?

For example, if you use DBS internet banking's EPS (Electronic Payment for Shares) when the system is making some back-end updates, you will get a message "Service Not Available" (see image capture). So when will the service be available?? They don't say.

If you look-up the help documentation, you kinda figure out that you should pay befor 2130 but no information on the so-called "not available" period. Of course, one possible "explanation" will be "since you missed making the payment for the day, just log in tomorrow-lah!". But what if you are like me - the kan jiong (anxious) type - it would be nice to know roughly when I can come back and try again within the same night. The guys who design the backend processing must plan for the "time window" so they can add some factor of safety and in the message, say check back again by 11 pm, say. (FYI - from experience the processing seems to complete before 11pm ).

Hill in the Forbidden City??

2007-05-18T21:33:00.000+08:00

If you enter the Forbidden City by the back - Gate of Divine Prowess - you will reach the Imperial Garden where you will see a rock arrangement no more than 1.5 stories high that has a sign to warn visitors of its "perilous" nature. Not sure if it is a hill even from a hobbit's point of view.

Save Rubbish

2007-05-18T15:42:00.001+08:00

Was touring China, end 2004, when I spotted this sign at a smallish park near the entrance to the Ming Tombs attraction, 50 km northwest of Beijing. I think they meant to say "Please do not litter" but then I may be wrong. Keep the rubbish.

Seen anything that makes you laugh?

2007-05-18T15:05:00.000+08:00

Have you ever come across a sign or notice that is phrased poorly or incorrectly such that it conveys a meaning contrary to what was intended? I am dedicating this blog to my encounters of such funny slips. Enjoy!