Tools that I am keen to try out.

I was looking over a bunch of tools used by people mostly on the the net, and I have short listed the ones I would like to take out for a test drive this year.

They include:
Snagit
A screen capture application. I have always wanted a good screen capture tool for when I am creating instructions either for myself and others.

In my workplace many of our clients have to fill out an online web form. We occasionally get hard copies mailed in from people who don't have access to the Internet. The upside of this is we get familiar with the Web form and understand some of the problems and pitfalls encountered by our clients.

Unfortunately when I have them on the phone, I can't go through filling out the form at the same time as they are because we don't and a 'sandbox' version of our form. This means that if I fill out an application a mail is generated to our application queue.

So a good screen capture application with annotations would allow me to solve common problems our users are having and provide them with step by step guidance through the form. Having an accurate visual representation of the form would be great.

Google Alerts
I have just recently started playing with Libraries Australia's (LA) alert functions. Which got me thinking, what is Google doing in this area. I haven't really utilised watch lists before, but recognise the benefits they could bring in filtering and refining the flow of information on my 'topics of interest.'

Notepad ++
I have previously played around with Emacs and other notepad editors which highlight html and other coding formats. I haven't yet found an application which suits me. Maybe this is the one.

Twitter
Yeah microbloggig, moblogging, telling people what I have had for lunch. I could do that.

Zotero
I have a few topics I am interested in researching and would like to see what is out there as research aid. This aid is a Firefox extension and may have a little bit more usability that Endnote which I have used. More integration would be useful for more seamless citation recording and less double handling.

Google Reader
I am currently using Netvibes to manage my RSS feeds but would like to see how the Google Reader is set up. I imagine it has a pretty nice interface.

iGoogle (what is up with the whole non-capitalisation of the 'i' thing. I guess we can mostly say Apple is responsible.)
Likewise iGoogle could be a good alternative to Netvibes.

Hmm... am I the only one who thinks the applications are coming out too fast. Is it substance over style or is there an enhanced level of functionality in these tools that is going to make life easier for us all.

The only times these tools really succeed is when they make things easier for you, without you having to learn anything new. Great usability is the key and I guess the reason why nowadays user centered design is so popular.