Facebook, Pandora, YouTube, Stocks, Fandango or TMZ - what’s your favorite iPhone app? Communication has changed greatly with the emergence of the iPhone and the hundreds of applications available. Whether it’s games, music or organization and finance tools, many iPhone users say they can’t live without their apps. It’s a world of unlimited entertainment at your fingertips.

Still just using your voice to communicate? Or is SEND and END the way you are used to communicating while on the go? Let me explain how iPhone apps are changing the way iPhone users communicate and seek information. Read the rest of this entry »

Company’s software serves diverse industries

by April Wilkerson
The Journal Record November 9, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – When business doesn’t operate as logically as it should, a local Web and software development company is writing code for a smoother venture.

Oklahoma City-based Phase 2 Interactive has enhanced the daily functions at DrillRight Technology Inc. and S&S Promotions Inc. with software that has a similar effect on two disparate companies.

But it’s far from adding a bit of programming to a snazzy Web design.

“We don’t just sit down and start writing code. The up-front planning is just as important,” said Heath Clinton, president and chief operating officer of Phase 2. “If we do a good job of planning and communicating, the programming comes very easily.” Read the rest of this entry »

In my previous post I talked about why we have a  Software Bill of Rights and described in detail the first Right.  Let’s talk about the second Right.

1.  Clients have the right to working software, at regular intervals, throughout the implementation life cycle.

2.  Clients have the right to usable software.

3.  Clients have the right to clear, non-technical communication about the software being developed and the development process.

4.  Clients have the right to the best solution available.

5.  Clients have the right to be regularly involved in the software development process.

Good software should work well, but you’ll notice it doesn’t say clients have the right to working software.  “Working” software means different things depending on who you’re talking to at the moment.  To some “working” can mean the software works if you do things just right, if you enter all the correct information, you remember the correct order of operation or you’ve read the instruction manual ten times through.  To others “working” means a piece of software should do everything they can think a user will ever want, everything they can dream up or everything a competitor is doing.

“Usable” means something different and gives us the right foundation.  It implies a balance between over-engineering vs. under-engineering and feature creep vs. under-development.  Usable means the software does everything that it needs to do, nothing more and does so elegantly.

The key to “Usable” is that it puts the focus where it should be, the end user.  While most of the time the client and the developer have great ideas and intentions, neither can be the objective third party necessary to create great software.  By focusing on exactly what end users need inorder to accomplish their tasks we get an unbiased judgement about that button placement, this workflow order or the proper number of navigation elements.

Without fighting for this Right, a project will only be a success for the end user through pure luck.  Watch this video for a hilarious but oh so true example of what happens when you don’t value “Usable”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVb8EC1Y2xM

At Phase 2, our mission is to improve our client’s business through web based software. Here’s one example of how we have done this recently:

Drill Right Technology – Drill Right Technology is one of the top directional drilling companies in the region. Early in 2008 they identified a need to improve their business processes using technology tools across their drilling operations. Working closely with key personnel we created a software solution that would help them accomplish their goals and solve some nagging issues. Using a variety of cutting edge technologies including Microsoft’s Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) framework, we built a world class software solution that :

• A top of the line User Interface and intuitive User Experience - Our excellent UI/UX team used the power of the WPF framework to craft a software experience unmatched in the Energy Industry.
• Synchronization of data from operations across various field locations to central data store - The ruggedness of the oil field does not provide the luxury of reliable internet connections, so we developed a partially connected desktop application that allows uninterrupted productivity with all the benefits of an online application when a connection is available.
• Advanced three dimensional drilling predictions – Drill Right needed their field operators to have access to the same advanced well path mapping capabilities as engineers using other costly software tools. By quickly understanding the complex three dimensional well path calculations our team was able to build in well path prediction software that allows field operators to react, in real time, to dynamics of a directional drilling operation.

Yukon Public Schools – Yukon Public Schools began the 2008- 2009 school year by rolling out their newly designed Web site. YPS came to Phase 2 with a set of goals that needed to be met by their Web presence. Not only should the site be a place to find the school phone numbers, but it should become a central hub of information for parents, students, faculty, and the community. To accomplish this, the site would have to be easily maintained with a content management system (CMS) but more importantly, feel organized and attractive. Using a number of solutions and tools within the CMS, we built a Website that:

• Provides clear & well organized navigation
• Is easily updated and maintained by administration and teachers, therefore, providing the Web site with fresh and relevant information at all times.
• Provides easy access to user specific groups such as parents, students, staff, and the community.
• Has an up-to-date attractive feel.

These are only two examples of recent projects where we’ve been able to help our clients improve their core business, in substantial ways, with well designed software.