helping engineers search
While most of the RFID audience at TI was atypically business-driven, we did have a significant minority of engineers. To assist them in purchasing the right product, a parametric search application was built. Parameters were to be driven using the PSBA (Parametric Search Business Tool, an in-house content management system dedicated to this purpose), into which product owners could enter the appropriate categories, measurements, and values (e.g, Operating Temperature Range, ºCelsius, -40-+85).
Below is the beginning interface for RFID readers parametric search:
Here, the user has refined the search by temperature range. So long as there are multiple products, users can narrow searches by any of the displayed parameters.
A taxonomic emergency
Alex single-handedly saved the launch. —Jeff Knowlton, manager (Read more from Jeff on LinkedIn.)
This taxonomy was to be developed by our RFID engineer product owners. Unfortunately, they were unable to integrate the 17 schemata for the various product types within the three month time frame, and we were one week away from our anticipated launch date. So I volunteered.
Within one day I had standardized measurements, established a controlled vocabulary (there were a few synonyms), and developed the necessary categories. The next day I learned the PSBA tool and began inputting parameters and values. All told, it took three very intense days to develop the taxonomies, learn a new tool, and input the necessary data, with one day left for QA. We launched on time, and I received a small cash reward in recognition.
what, where, & when
Web Content Manager
Texas Instruments (TI.com)
Dallas, Texas
2006-2008
keywords
UX, content strategy, IA (information architecture), usability, SEO (search engine optimization), user-centered design, branding, copy writing, global virtual teams, project management, taxonomy, usability, B2B, B2C, HBX (with ReportBuilder), Google Analytics, parametric search, web analytics, Microsoft Office (especially PowerPoint, Excel), Visio, WebIQ, Adobe Dreamweaver, PhotoShop, competitive research.
