An application programming interface (API) is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a Web-based software application or Web tool. Ok, so what does that mean to you? Let's try to demystify what it actually means.
The word to really pay attention to is “Interface”. If you have any
experience at all with programming, all kinds of abstractions and
contracts must be coming to your mind when you hear the word “interface”
but we are more interested in the classical meaning of the term.
An interface is a common boundary between two separate systems. It is the means or the medium via which these two systems communicate.
Why do you need it?
You cannot run an API like you would run say a Notepad (a pad of blank or ruled pages for writing notes on) application. This is because APIs are generally invisible to the end
users like you and me. APIs are carefully thought out pieces of code
created by programmers for their applications that allow other
applications to interact with their application.
APIs are specially crafted to expose only chosen functionality and/or
data while safeguarding other parts of the application which provides
the interface. Creating an API is indeed time well spent, because
ultimately the more applications that interact with your application the
more popular it becomes. A really good example of this is Tweet feeds. There are a lot of web sites these days that you will often find a section of live Tweet feeds. You can interact with Twitter whether you are using a mobile phone, a
smart phone, an iPod or a computer. This has been made possible by the
excellent Twitter API.
As we have seen, APIs facilitate communication allowing different
applications to communicate effectively with each other. So these are
really well suited for extending a platform and for mashups (a web page or application created by combining data or functionality from different sources).
We have already seen Twitter as an example of how APIs are useful in
extending a platform. When you combine data or functionality from more
than one application to create another application, you have essentially
created a mashup.
Such mashups are extremely popular on the
Internet these days. The Internet thrives on communication so it is an
ideal place to take advantage of APIs. It is a common practice to expose
part of your functionality or data as an API to others on the Web. They
can then tap into what you offer, combine it with what they (or someone
else) offers and then provide improved and added functionality to their
users.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Monday, April 22, 2013
Reinventing YOURself (Marketing Yourself)
Whether you are bored or curious, a victim of layoffs or the economy, or just looking for something new and exciting, the opportunities are limitless today in the global economy. But in order to make that career change, you’ll have to embrace the concept of reinvention.
Here are seven simple steps in order to reinvent yourself professionally:
1. Understand how you’re currently perceived. Many of us think we have this down – but it’s easy to miss something. Google yourself and specifically ask: if this were the only information someone had about me, what impression would she get? It can also be helpful to do your own “360 interviews,” where you specifically ask your boss, trusted co-workers, and colleagues where you’re strong and where you should be focusing more. No, they may not be transparent, but it’s a lot better feedback than you’re likely to get without asking at all.
2. Test-drive your path. Don’t jump right into a reinvention. If you’re thinking of trying a new career or job, take small steps to see if it’s a good fit. You can join a nonprofit board to learn new skills (like finance or marketing), or shadow a professional for a day to see what her job is like.
3. Look for mentors. Many people look for the classic mentor archetype – an older professional sagely guiding you – and get disappointed when they don’t find one. Instead, broaden your viewpoint and develop a group of mentors. They don’t have to be older; it can be anyone you admire and would like to learn from.
4. Don’t be afraid to go backwards temporarily. When you reinvent yourself, you may have to downshift in the short term – maybe taking a pay cut in a new field, or having to take on additional projects to prove yourself. Don’t stress out: if you’re moving in the direction you want to go, it’ll pay off in the long term.
5. Use social media to build connections. You can send anyone a tweet or comment on their blog, and they’re likely to respond back. When you’re entering a new field (or a higher echelon of your current one), relationships are everything, and social media can help you develop them rapidly.
6. Show what you know. As “knowledge workers,” it can sometimes be hard to demonstrate what we’re really capable of. So act like an artist and develop your own portfolio. Start a blog or find other ways to create content (white papers, podcasts, a great Twitter feed) and let the world see what you care about, what you know about and what your perspective is.
7. Get a wingman. Psychology research shows (no surprise) that people who talk about their own accomplishments are viewed unfavorably; no one likes a braggart. But if someone else touts your accomplishments, you’re golden. So find a like-minded friend or colleague and make a pact to talk each other up. You’re likely to notice an immediate difference, as more people become aware of your skills, abilities, and accomplishments.
Reinventing you might not be easy – but in the end, it will be well worth it to move on in your career to something you’re more passionate about. And thanks to the internet and social media, it’s easier than ever to get started on the reinvention process. Start with these seven steps – and here’s to the new you!
Here are seven simple steps in order to reinvent yourself professionally:
1. Understand how you’re currently perceived. Many of us think we have this down – but it’s easy to miss something. Google yourself and specifically ask: if this were the only information someone had about me, what impression would she get? It can also be helpful to do your own “360 interviews,” where you specifically ask your boss, trusted co-workers, and colleagues where you’re strong and where you should be focusing more. No, they may not be transparent, but it’s a lot better feedback than you’re likely to get without asking at all.
2. Test-drive your path. Don’t jump right into a reinvention. If you’re thinking of trying a new career or job, take small steps to see if it’s a good fit. You can join a nonprofit board to learn new skills (like finance or marketing), or shadow a professional for a day to see what her job is like.
3. Look for mentors. Many people look for the classic mentor archetype – an older professional sagely guiding you – and get disappointed when they don’t find one. Instead, broaden your viewpoint and develop a group of mentors. They don’t have to be older; it can be anyone you admire and would like to learn from.
4. Don’t be afraid to go backwards temporarily. When you reinvent yourself, you may have to downshift in the short term – maybe taking a pay cut in a new field, or having to take on additional projects to prove yourself. Don’t stress out: if you’re moving in the direction you want to go, it’ll pay off in the long term.
5. Use social media to build connections. You can send anyone a tweet or comment on their blog, and they’re likely to respond back. When you’re entering a new field (or a higher echelon of your current one), relationships are everything, and social media can help you develop them rapidly.
6. Show what you know. As “knowledge workers,” it can sometimes be hard to demonstrate what we’re really capable of. So act like an artist and develop your own portfolio. Start a blog or find other ways to create content (white papers, podcasts, a great Twitter feed) and let the world see what you care about, what you know about and what your perspective is.
7. Get a wingman. Psychology research shows (no surprise) that people who talk about their own accomplishments are viewed unfavorably; no one likes a braggart. But if someone else touts your accomplishments, you’re golden. So find a like-minded friend or colleague and make a pact to talk each other up. You’re likely to notice an immediate difference, as more people become aware of your skills, abilities, and accomplishments.
Reinventing you might not be easy – but in the end, it will be well worth it to move on in your career to something you’re more passionate about. And thanks to the internet and social media, it’s easier than ever to get started on the reinvention process. Start with these seven steps – and here’s to the new you!
Monday, April 15, 2013
More Graphics Icon Collection
In efforts to build my portfolio graphic gallery up I usually go an a 'Graphic Binge' (I like to call it). I will spend a day just doing different designs.
Graphic Designs is one of my favorite spare time things to do. If you are interested in anything you see please contact me at info@dianamagers.com. I hope you enjoy the different kinds of designs.
Graphic Designs is one of my favorite spare time things to do. If you are interested in anything you see please contact me at info@dianamagers.com. I hope you enjoy the different kinds of designs.
Graphic Library for Developers and Designers
This is a collection of some of the graphics that I have designed. I am a big fan of pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.
If you would like to order any of these you can contact me at info@dianamagers.com and I would be happy to send them to you.
If you would like to order any of these you can contact me at info@dianamagers.com and I would be happy to send them to you.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Most Important Phrase to say......
The most important phrase you'll ever say in a meeting isn't "Please" or "Thank you." It isn't "How are you?" to open the meeting or "What are the next steps?" to close the meeting. No, the most important phrase you'll ever say in a meeting is:
How can I help you?
My father-in-law taught me to show your friendship first. There's no better way to show that you care about the person you're meeting with than to genuinely, authentically ask her what you can do to help.
There are two possibilities when you ask how you can help:
1) The person will tell you, thereby giving you an opportunity to help, after which the person you helped will feel compelled to return the favor, and help you.
2) The person won't tell you, instead politely declining, but then she will still feel like you care, and will be emotionally invested in helping you.
Either way, establishing that you care and that you're there to help is a powerful emotional bond. It's a paradox, I know - you're not meeting with someone to find out how you can help, you're likely meeting to get something sold, or bought, or done. But it's through helping that you'll gain trust, and eventually, influence.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
What does it really take to Succeed
The modern marketplace demands that people possess a wide range of skills. But what core qualities are truly essential to career advancement, regardless of industry or job? The answer could fill a book and it has, thousands of times, if not more. Myriad experts claim that career advancement is a function of everything from extreme self-confidence to extreme humility (or both at once). Still others make the case that big-time professional success derives from more sinister behaviors, such as callous ambition or unfettered narcissism. And then there is the whole “positive thinking” bandwagon, which claims that getting ahead is primarily a function of believing you can. In sum, there’s so much contradictory advice out there about the core components of success that it’s enough to reduce you to a weary sigh of: “Whatever.”
Which is just fine. Because we’d suggest that you can’t really manipulate yourself into success with personality tweaks or even major overhauls. In fact, we’d say just the opposite. The most powerful thing you can do is, well, be real. As in not phony. As in grappling, sweating, laughing, and caring. As in authentic.
Yes, yes, we know the upper echelon of the corporate world has its share of slick super achievers who appear simultaneously all-knowing and unknowable. They’re cool, poised, almost digitally enhanced in their affect. But such bloodless executives, even the most technically skilled ones, rarely reach the highest heights. They’re just too remote to move people. They can manage, but they can’t motivate.
Now, we’re not saying that authenticity is the only quality you need for professional advancement. Everyone knows that to succeed in today’s competitive global marketplace, you also have to be smart, curious, and highly collaborative. You have to be able to work with diverse teams and ignite them as a manager to excel together. You need heaps of positive energy, the guts to make tough yes-or-no decisions, and the endurance to execute—get the job done. And, indeed, you do have to possess self-confidence and humility at the same time. That combination is called maturity.
We would also add two other qualities to the must-have list. One is heavy-duty resilience, a requirement because anyone who is really in the game messes up at some point. You’re not playing hard enough if you don’t! But when your turn comes, don’t make the all-too-human mistake of thinking getting ahead is about minimizing what happened. The most successful people in any new job always own their failures, learn from them, regroup, and then start again with renewed speed, vigor, and conviction.
The other quality we’d mention is really special but quite rare: the ability to see around corners, to anticipate the radically unexpected. Now, practically no one starts their career with a sixth sense for market changes. It takes time to get a feel for what competitors are thinking and what product or service customers will eventually want - once they know it exists. But the bottom line is, the sooner you develop this acumen, and the more you hone it, the farther you will go.
But not if you’re not real, too. Think of authenticity as your foundation, your center, and don’t let any organization try to wring it out of you, subtly or otherwise. That happens. Companies have a way of tamping people down, particularly early on. Not that it happens with any kind of conscious planning, of course. But too many organizations manage to surreptitiously nudge people toward a generic type who keeps it all pretty well tucked in.
Meanwhile, if you put your whole self out there, bosses can complain that you act too emotional or get too close to teammates or become too worked up in meetings. Your performance reviews will note: “Tom has some potential, but he just doesn’t fit in.” Or “Sally has some rough edges, but with coaching, her intensity might even out.”
In time though, if you have everything else you need in terms of talent and skill, your humanity will come to be your most appealing virtue to an organization. Your team and your bosses will know who you are in your soul, what kind of people you attract, and what kind of performance you want from everyone. Your realness will make you accessible; you will connect and you will inspire. You will lead.
So, getting back to the original question of this missive: Yes, the modern marketplace does demand that people possess a wide range of skills to achieve success. Most of them you have to acquire, develop, and refine. But one of them - the most important one - is already inside you, ready to be let out. Don’t get in its way.
Which is just fine. Because we’d suggest that you can’t really manipulate yourself into success with personality tweaks or even major overhauls. In fact, we’d say just the opposite. The most powerful thing you can do is, well, be real. As in not phony. As in grappling, sweating, laughing, and caring. As in authentic.
Yes, yes, we know the upper echelon of the corporate world has its share of slick super achievers who appear simultaneously all-knowing and unknowable. They’re cool, poised, almost digitally enhanced in their affect. But such bloodless executives, even the most technically skilled ones, rarely reach the highest heights. They’re just too remote to move people. They can manage, but they can’t motivate.
Now, we’re not saying that authenticity is the only quality you need for professional advancement. Everyone knows that to succeed in today’s competitive global marketplace, you also have to be smart, curious, and highly collaborative. You have to be able to work with diverse teams and ignite them as a manager to excel together. You need heaps of positive energy, the guts to make tough yes-or-no decisions, and the endurance to execute—get the job done. And, indeed, you do have to possess self-confidence and humility at the same time. That combination is called maturity.
We would also add two other qualities to the must-have list. One is heavy-duty resilience, a requirement because anyone who is really in the game messes up at some point. You’re not playing hard enough if you don’t! But when your turn comes, don’t make the all-too-human mistake of thinking getting ahead is about minimizing what happened. The most successful people in any new job always own their failures, learn from them, regroup, and then start again with renewed speed, vigor, and conviction.
The other quality we’d mention is really special but quite rare: the ability to see around corners, to anticipate the radically unexpected. Now, practically no one starts their career with a sixth sense for market changes. It takes time to get a feel for what competitors are thinking and what product or service customers will eventually want - once they know it exists. But the bottom line is, the sooner you develop this acumen, and the more you hone it, the farther you will go.
But not if you’re not real, too. Think of authenticity as your foundation, your center, and don’t let any organization try to wring it out of you, subtly or otherwise. That happens. Companies have a way of tamping people down, particularly early on. Not that it happens with any kind of conscious planning, of course. But too many organizations manage to surreptitiously nudge people toward a generic type who keeps it all pretty well tucked in.
Meanwhile, if you put your whole self out there, bosses can complain that you act too emotional or get too close to teammates or become too worked up in meetings. Your performance reviews will note: “Tom has some potential, but he just doesn’t fit in.” Or “Sally has some rough edges, but with coaching, her intensity might even out.”
In time though, if you have everything else you need in terms of talent and skill, your humanity will come to be your most appealing virtue to an organization. Your team and your bosses will know who you are in your soul, what kind of people you attract, and what kind of performance you want from everyone. Your realness will make you accessible; you will connect and you will inspire. You will lead.
So, getting back to the original question of this missive: Yes, the modern marketplace does demand that people possess a wide range of skills to achieve success. Most of them you have to acquire, develop, and refine. But one of them - the most important one - is already inside you, ready to be let out. Don’t get in its way.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Web Page Contact Page
A website should have a clear an obvious way for visitors to get in touch with the site’s owner. This is normally done with a contact page. It doesn’t mater if you are a designer, creative studio, shop or anything else, it is important that your audience can easily find how to get in touch with you. And of course it is even nicer if your audience can find a contact page/form that shows your personality – something that shows that you care about your viewers and that you want them to contact you. To show you how to approach the “contact page” we gathered nice examples, showing that from super clean options to colorful ones, from minimal footers to complete drop down forms and maps, there is always a a creative approach you can take when designing a contact page.
Here are a few examples that I found:
Etch
Antilop
Sputnik Creative
Here are a few examples that I found:
Etch
Antilop
Sputnik Creative
Friday, March 8, 2013
Redesigning of my Professional Logo
In attempt to redesign my professional logo, I have come up with a final design after tweeking it about 36 different times. Here is some of the designs I have been playing around with.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Ok, and here is my final redesign of my professional logo.
I have put every creative thought I could out in Photoshop and Fireworks and I have decided to come up with this design which I think is very elegant. I am seriously thinking about coming up with a slogan: "My work is like diamonds; Cut to Perfection!"Thank you for reading my blog.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Mobile Websites vs Responsive Design
As more of your competitors building a mobile-friendly site becomes more of a priority for your business. Over the past few years, mobile search traffic has increased ten-fold. Customers are searching for your business from their mobile phones, and you need to engage them with a mobile experience designed for completing
on-the-go tasks from their small screens. Recently many businesses have been
asking us about an emerging trend among web developers—responsive design—and if
they should use it. While we believe that building a separate mobile website is
an appropriate solution for certain businesses, it’s also important to
understand how responsive design might fit into your plans.
Responsive Design, It is a website design technique that allows you to create a single website that will adapt to the device on which it’s being viewed, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone or tablet. A site built with responsive design will automatically resize for different devices, but it is up to you to prioritize the content that matters most to the mobile user. For example, a mobile user might need to quickly find your phone number or directions, whereas a tablet user might want a simpler way to make couch-surfing purchases. A site built using responsive design could prioritize click-to-call and click-to-map buttons, while the tablet site would focus on simplifying the shopping cart.
Ok so what now? Here are some questions you might have now.
So how do I know if I should build a separate mobile website or use responsive design? Here are some guidelines to help you decide what makes sense for your business:
If I decide responsive design is a better fit for my business, do I have to build my site from scratch?Not necessarily. A sophisticated web developer might be able to adapt an existing site with responsive design, but there will still be costs in terms of time and budget.
Will a site built with responsive design have more than one URL?
No. A site built with responsive design will have the same URL for desktop, mobile and tablets. When building a separate mobile optimized site, typically there is a different mobile URL, but the users will be taken there automatically as long as your desktop site is enabled with the auto redirect code.
How much does it cost to use responsive design for mobile?Prices vary across developers and agencies. I recommend reaching out to a developer and/or agency.
Responsive design can definitely minimize long term maintenance of your site, but many businesses can effectively connect with their customers with a separate mobile-friendly site. If you have the technical resources and a clear business need, then responsive design is a more advanced way to make your site mobile-friendly. No matter how you go about it, you need to ensure you are designing for mobile first, and engaging your customers when they're using their mobile phones to search for your business.
Responsive Design, It is a website design technique that allows you to create a single website that will adapt to the device on which it’s being viewed, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone or tablet. A site built with responsive design will automatically resize for different devices, but it is up to you to prioritize the content that matters most to the mobile user. For example, a mobile user might need to quickly find your phone number or directions, whereas a tablet user might want a simpler way to make couch-surfing purchases. A site built using responsive design could prioritize click-to-call and click-to-map buttons, while the tablet site would focus on simplifying the shopping cart.
Ok so what now? Here are some questions you might have now.
So how do I know if I should build a separate mobile website or use responsive design? Here are some guidelines to help you decide what makes sense for your business:
If I decide responsive design is a better fit for my business, do I have to build my site from scratch?Not necessarily. A sophisticated web developer might be able to adapt an existing site with responsive design, but there will still be costs in terms of time and budget.
Will a site built with responsive design have more than one URL?
No. A site built with responsive design will have the same URL for desktop, mobile and tablets. When building a separate mobile optimized site, typically there is a different mobile URL, but the users will be taken there automatically as long as your desktop site is enabled with the auto redirect code.
How much does it cost to use responsive design for mobile?Prices vary across developers and agencies. I recommend reaching out to a developer and/or agency.
Responsive design can definitely minimize long term maintenance of your site, but many businesses can effectively connect with their customers with a separate mobile-friendly site. If you have the technical resources and a clear business need, then responsive design is a more advanced way to make your site mobile-friendly. No matter how you go about it, you need to ensure you are designing for mobile first, and engaging your customers when they're using their mobile phones to search for your business.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Top 10 Writing for Design
This is what I think it takes to write in the Design World
—
—
1 ~ Remember, all designers are different
There are some designers out there who really can write. There are others who appreciate good writing when they see it. And then there are those who can’t and don’t. So the way your writing is perceived and received depends on not only how good it is, but who you’re dealing with. Maybe your words will transport the reader with unfettered delight, but on the other hand, be prepared to explain yourself or fight your corner. Just bear in mind that different designers (and clients) have different expectations and perspectives.2 ~ Know your place
A lot of writers moan about words not being given the respect they deserve. But they are missing the point. Good words deserve respect, bad words don’t. Besides, you can’t expect to be the star of the show in every performance — different design projects involve major or minor roles for the writer. You need to establish the part you’re expected to play from the outset. If you’re Hamlet, grab the opportunity with both hands. But if you’re Rozencrantz, make sure it’s a Rozencrantz to remember. And certainly, don’t let Guildenstern get a look in.—
3 ~ See your words
If a woman in a boilersuit and a man in a tutu utter exactly the same words, the effect is completely different. So before you start writing, it’s important to visualise what your words will look like when the reader sees them. How will the text and images relate to each other? What typeface will they be set in? What’s the format and medium? Too often, words and visuals inhabit the same world but look in totally different directions. Whereas they should be embracing like childhood friends.4 ~ Be yourself…
Of course you should be able to modify your tone and adopt different voices. One of the joys of writing for different brands is slipping into a variety of personas and being someone else for the day. But it’s also worth remembering that you’ve been asked to contribute for a reason — because the client wants a piece of you. Something about your personality or writing style has made an impression, otherwise they’d have asked someone else to do the job. Be a chameleon, by all means, but don’t be invisible.5 ~ …but don’t take it personally
No matter who you are, your drafts will be rejected and your best lines will be cut. You’ll be asked to write the same sentence over and over before the client decides he likes the first one best after all. Days will be long, repetitious and frustrating. You’ll have occasion to feel ignored, bullied and belittled. But most of the time, this will have absolutely nothing to do with you or the quality of your work. So you just need to keep smiling and do what you do until the sun comes out again.—
6 ~ Keep a lid on it
Too many punch lines can leave the reader punch drunk. Just like a good joke, writing for design is all about rhythm and timing, keeping it natural, not trying too hard. No one likes a show off, so try to curb your instinctive lexical dexterity. Of course, the odd clever analogy or deft turn of phrase doesn’t go amiss, but context is all. Think of a Paul Smith suit — impeccably tailored, but with a perfectly judged twist. Be disciplined, but know the precise moment to let go.7 ~ Be a stickler
When I worked on newspapers and magazines, there was a small army of sub-editors and fact checkers to make sure everything I wrote was correct — right down to the last dotted i. But writing for a brand or design company, the buck stops with you. You can argue as much as you like that spelling, grammar and punctuation don’t really matter anymore, but research has shown that a single spelling mistake can cut a website’s online sales by half. Punters equate shoddy spelling with shoddy service. It undermines your client’s credibility, making them look inept and even dodgy. So whether you like it or not, it’s your job to stop those typos in their tracks.8 ~ Break rules for a reason
Heeeey, I’m such a linguistic rebel. ‘And’ is my favourite way to start a sentence, and if there’s an infinitive around to mercilessly split, I’m your axe man. I’m not some kind of Trussed-up grammarian, but it’s almost become a rule to break the rules. Casual flouting is so commonplace that any impact or interest has long gone. It’s like swearing — do it all the time and it just wafts unnoticed into the fuggy atmosphere of expletives. Choose your moment carefully and it cuts like a blade. Sure, break the rules… but when you do, make it count.9 ~ Keep your distance
Call me old fashioned, but I like a bit of formality. I may not insist on being called ‘sir’ in a restaurant, but ‘are you guys ready to order?’ sticks in my craw. Similarly, the kind of ‘chattytastic’, over-familiar brand writing that’s become prevalent over the past few years is really starting to rankle. It’s like some irrepressibly cheeky chappie you’ve just met down the pub plonking himself on your sofa and telling you what you should be watching on TV. Too much of this writing is cocky, presumptuous and downright annoying. We keep being told that the modern consumer is a highly sophisticated creature, so maybe it’s time to show a bit of class and restraint. You know who you are.10 ~ Don’t jettison jargon
Once upon a time, I thought the merest whiff of jargon was unacceptable. If a word couldn’t be understood by the ‘man in the street’, I consigned it to the gutter. Often this meant using three words instead of one, or writing a really clunky sentence for the sake of common parlance. But actually, I’ve come to realise, it’s all about audience. If you’re writing for carpenters, call a skew chisel a skew chisel. A sailor will know what a baggywrinkle is. And similarly, if the business community feel comfortable with their resources and collateral and bottom lines, they can have them (up to a point). Only I draw the line at ‘leverage’.
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