13 October 2007

Pack Your Bags

In the last couple weeks, I've spent some time doing very difficult and exciting web analytics research. I've also made some trips out to Las Vegas and Napa, California for the purpose of gaining perspective and insight to my practice. In the process, I had the pleasure of a lengthy discussion with Eric T. Peterson from Web Analytics Demystified.

We talked a little about the mobile web and web analytics 3.0. We touched on some philosophies and the evolution of the practice. Then, we decided I would move my blog and some research and testing methods contributions to his blog. That being the case, I will no longer be publishing new information at this address. There is a possibility we will be continuing this publication, however, at this point, it seems unlikely.

Moving to WebAnalyticsDemystified.com will hopefully provide Judah and Eric with a third useful contributor. From now on, please read up about analytics, testing methods and help us develop something akin to practicum. As always, my contact is open for any interested parties.

That said, here is a link to the new blog: Daniel at Web Analytics Demystified

See you there!!!!

28 August 2007

Blackle.com: Energy Saving Screen.....Bahhhhhhhhh!!!!

We love testing. Its what makes an analyst get up in the morning and drive 15 miles through bumper to bumper traffic a different way everyday to find the optimal path. Its what makes us count our gas efficiency in our Honda. It makes sense. Its who we are. In the spirit of this, CableOrganizer has taken to some additional testing methodologies with regard to the internet. Some of these have some very real world ecological implications. On this occassion, we've taken to getting to the real story behind Blackle.com.





Blackle.com touts a running count of how many Watts it has saved. This is a counter based on the idea that the level of energy consumption from non-illuminated pixels is significant enough to actually help ebb the wasteful flow of energy from the 17" screens in front of each of our faces. Did we believe it? Hell No baby...we question everything. At first thought, I said, I'll bet its true. I admit, I know nothing about LCD energy consumption. So, Paul, myself, and Jason Hernandez, the sales associate at the company who brougt this to our attention, slated and performed a test to see what the truth was. Hint: Get Snopes.com on this right away.

Our test included one 19" flat screen LCD model E197FP, FireFox 2.0 and a Watts Up? EZ Electrical Consumption meter in our offices. We opened the browser to the Google.com page, and opened a tab to the Blackle.com page. When in the primary position, Google.com consumed 28.2 watts, give or take 1-2 tenths of a watt. When we switched over to Blackle.com in the same browser, pointed to a primary navigation position, the same monitor consumed 29.4 watts, give or take the same confidence interval. In order to help with our validation of this test, we performed the test again with the camera running for everyone to see. Now, keep in mind, we did not use a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) should that be the majority of screens used, maybe the explanation of consumption would be viable. However, with the percentage and pervasiveness of LCD, the expense of the site does not justify or envirtue its existence.

Now, this has peaked our interest. The meter itself is fun. We can measure in volts, amps, watts, or even set it to record how much money each item will cost. Business and residential users alike have to love the fact that you can see Watt your electrical bill will be before you get it and how much each appliance is costing. True, at least for me, that our utility (FP And L) actually provides this data to help curb excessive consumption of energy. But, for some, this may actually make a difference in expense, and aid in the battle for awareness of consumption. Imagine that...