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The Star
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Star
Heart And Soul: The gift of growing older is reaching a place of peace
Do you have any real-life, heart-warming stories to share with readers? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story within 900 words. Photos are optional and should be in JPEG format (file size about 1MB, with caption and photo credit). There is no payment for stories, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email your story to: lifestyle@ with the subject "Heart and Soul". If ever guilt-free idling is deserved, it's in later years when life's essentials are settled. The precious stillness I now enjoy is hard-won. I once rushed through chores, lived by deadlines, and sped through life – but all that frenzy came at a cost. That was a different life, and much has changed since. Since retiring, I've let go of the rush and embraced a calmer rhythm. In my 60s, mindful of time and energy, I travelled widely and was fortunate to complete my bucket list of places to see, just before the Covid-19 pandemic. These days, I crave an afternoon nap. Sleep offers welcome respite from the constant flux around me. My husband, a gifted sleeper, is my life-size model. After each rest, the world feels altered – problems untangle, and clarity returns. Sleep, in short, refreshes and restores me to a satisfying calm. With time now on my side, I've grown lax with housework. I've happily let go of domestic drudgery to savour small, quiet moments that suit my unhurried life – without guilt or the nagging voice of an inner critic on 'proper housekeeping.' The gift of growing older is reaching a place of peace, where doing what you love – and even daydreaming – brings joy. In embracing change and staying present, we nurture growth, confidence, and creativity, imagining new ways to live beautifully. Steve Jobs' Stanford speech on doing what you love struck a chord with me. I've come to find joy in life's small details – coffee, a well-made bed, new books, a poem, my husband's antics, and a good laugh. Being busy is a blessing, but choosing a slower, pause-filled life is magic. It clears the clutter, creates space for meaningful connection, and allows you to embrace stillness without guilt. The Japanese concept of 'ichigo ichie' (one time, one meeting) reminds us to cherish each fleeting moment. It invites mindfulness and presence, urging us to savour even the smallest experiences: smell of grass after the rain, warm sunlight, running water, a bee by the jasmine bush, or the scent of my grandchild nestled close. Retirement brings a new calm and ease – along with, admittedly, a touch of boredom. Yet even quiet moments can hold hidden blessings. As we age, we continue to learn and grow, discovering that life's essence lies in love and meaningful connection. Accolades fade and money brings comfort, but true fulfilment comes from love we give away. With time to reflect, I've found that happiness begins with a peaceful relationship with oneself – where solitude, not loneliness, brings lasting joy. I treasure quiet mornings to replenish my spirit and reconnect with what I love. Change is inevitable – and welcome – if it means growing, learning, and living more fully. Am I kinder, braver, and happier? To some extent, yes.
Time Business News
23-04-2025
- Time Business News
The Evolution of User Experience: From Desktop to Mobile and Beyond
User experience (UX) has come a long way since the days of basic desktop websites. What started as a solution to create functional and user-friendly sites has transformed into a sophisticated discipline that spans devices, platforms, and even realities. As technology continues to evolve, so do user expectations. Understanding the history of UX and its ongoing progression helps us appreciate how far we've come and where we might be heading. Let's begin from where it started, the desktop. Gen Z probably hasn't worked on an old, clunky box with less memory than on their Apple Watches. In the 1990s, the web was primarily accessed through these desktop computers, and UX design was in its infancy. Websites were basic and text-heavy, focusing on delivering information rather than aesthetics. Early UX efforts revolved around improving navigation and page layouts, ensuring users could find what they needed with minimal frustration. The introduction of visual browsers like Netscape and Internet Explorer marked a significant leap forward. These platforms supported images, colors, and multimedia, making websites more visually engaging. However, the core focus remained functionality, as internet speeds and system power were restricted. The rise of Jakob Nielsen's ten usability principles in the late 1990s emphasized simplicity and user-centered design, laying the groundwork for modern UX practices. It talked about the consistency of layout and standards being followed in terms of design, color, and layout. All the UX elements we take for granted now, like flexibility, efficiency, and minimalistic design, were talked about in these principles thirty years ago. The early 2000s brought the mobile revolution, which fundamentally changed how users interacted with the web. With the advent of smartphones, UX designers faced the challenge of translating desktop experiences to smaller screens. Apple's Steve Jobs' unveiling of the iPhone in 2007 changed how people viewed the Internet. Before the rectangular touch screen, people browsed the Internet primarily on laptops and desktops. This was due to the fact that mobile screens of phones like Motorola or Nokia were too small and unremarkable. Statista reports that as of 2023, over 59 percent of global website traffic comes from mobile devices. This highlights the enduring importance of designing for smaller screens. Due to the touchscreen interface, responsive web design became a necessity. This approach allowed websites to adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring a consistent device experience. Mobile-first design principles emerged, prioritizing the needs of mobile users and making features like touch navigation and streamlined layouts essential. Today's shoppers rely on dedicated retail apps for everything from product discovery to secure checkout. In fact, 76 percent of online shoppers on mobile prefer to use the installed app, as it saves time. Apps streamline the shopping process by storing user preferences, enabling one-click payments, and sending personalized push notifications about discounts or abandoned carts. For instance, apps like Amazon and Walmart provide real-time tracking and loyalty rewards, making them indispensable for frequent online shoppers. Retailers who embrace this app-driven ecosystem can foster higher engagement and build long-term customer loyalty. User expectations are changing day by day. Modern UX is no longer about one-size-fits-all solutions but about personalization and interactivity. Websites and apps now adapt to user preferences and offer tailored recommendations. Interactive elements, such as chatbots, voice assistants, and gesture-based navigation, are becoming more common. These features enhance usability and create more engaging and memorable experiences. Hocoos suggests creating custom websites using AI tools, which can help with a better user experience as they are easily updated, providing users with the latest features. There are plenty of AI website builder tools to explore, and they offer impeccable features and functionalities. All you need is to answer a few questions to get your website up and running. We're now in a multi-device era where users interact with digital content across various platforms, from smartphones and tablets to smartwatches, TVs, and IoT devices. This shift requires UX designers to think beyond individual screens and focus on creating seamless, cross-platform experiences. For example, users might start shopping on their smartphone, add items to their cart on a tablet, and complete the purchase on a desktop. This user behavior is called device-hopping and is based purely on convenience. Ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted journey across devices is critical for user satisfaction. Voice-enabled interfaces, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, are becoming integral to the user experience. Designers must now consider how voice commands and conversational interfaces fit into the broader UX ecosystem. The evolution of user experience reflects our growing reliance on technology and our demand for seamless, intuitive interactions. From the static desktops of the 1990s to the immersive possibilities of AR and VR, UX has transformed to meet users' changing needs. Businesses, especially small ones, should embrace these changes by adopting flexible, user-friendly platforms that evolve alongside technology. By understanding and adapting to the evolution of UX, businesses can create experiences that not only meet user expectations but also inspire lasting loyalty. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
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Korea Herald
16-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Lee Jae-min] Age of homo digitalis
After class, I often fear my profession will go extinct sometime soon. If the best lectures and the most succinct summaries are just a few clicks away from students, who would listen to what I say? As a matter of fact, in my field alone I can find in seconds a string of video clips online, issue by issue and topic by topic, where world-renowned experts from well-known institutions articulate key points in all guises in just 20 minutes. I simply marvel at the content and efficiency. The same is true for other sectors of your interest as well. Name any topic, and you will have an almost endless supply of video clips and information in split seconds. Here is the twist, though: The parade of video clips and tons of information at our fingertips also show the importance of someone who can connect the dots, someone who can think and see them through and someone who can guide us through the labyrinth of a digital forest with a proper compass. Eventually, it is human engagement that consummates digital technology. Another name for that human engagement is none other than "creativity." In Steve Jobs' own words in a 1996 interview: "creativity is just connecting things' and '(creative people) didn't really do (something)' but 'they just saw something.' ChatGPT, Gemini and other generative AI platforms herald transformative changes. They provide remarkable service, but at the same time, they also demand final human work to complete the task. Simply, the preparation stage has become shorter, faster and cheaper. Once the preparation is done, we have to decide on what to do with what is on the table. The more digital we go, the higher the demand for the final human processing, hence creativity. In fact, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report of May 2023, after a survey of 803 companies from wide sectors of all world regions, listed the following items as top five skills required of workers in the 2023-2027 period: analytical thinking, creative thinking, resilience, motivation and curiosity. The report added: 'Comparisons to previous surveys suggest that creative thinking is increasing in importance … as workplace tasks become increasingly automated.' Lately, Ghibli-style photo-editing AI sparked a new phenomenon in the country. Many people transform their pictures into the Ghibli style and upload them onto social media. The lingering question now is whether such usage infringes upon the copyright of the original creator. Legal debates aside, the reason behind the craze is not the technology but the mental image the style conveys and the feeling it evokes — smiling faces, cozy embraces and peaceful landscape. Obviously, there is something beyond numbers and technology here. That "something" is that which is created by the original artist, and it lives on and thrives in the digital age. Again, it is the creative thinking that moved the minds of digital participants. In February 1990, the Voyager 1 spacecraft took a famous photo of Earth from afar upon leaving the solar system after a 13-year journey. The picture came to be known as the 'Pale Blue Dot,' as the Earth is just one tiny dot in the vast universe. It has since sent a powerful message, a message not so much about the technological aspect of the space journey as it is about the perception we need to cherish — humanity's sense of community and humility. Those with creative minds always see something beyond numbers and technology. As Einstein once said, 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.' The digital age insists on creativity. Because of the technological springboards widely available, creative ideas and perceptions now jump higher and reach farther. Between those with and without them, the gap will grow bigger and more quickly. Well, we know the scary question in the back of our minds. What if the creativity part is done by AI in the future? Will AI be capable of presenting visions and perspectives? Today's generative AI sometimes behaves like a sentient being. It seems to exude emotion. But what we get is still the outcome of prior learning and statistical calculation. With the evolution of AI, we may get to the point where, as seen in movies, AI machines connect with people, form emotional bonds and purport to do something ingenious. Even in that scenario, how to develop, regulate and operate AI systems will still require creativity, perhaps more creativity. Time to pause at this point. This brings us back to the unfailing question: How do we nurture creativity? Korea's education needs a critical shift at this juncture. The exam-driven, winner-takes-all arms race would be the last thing to cultivate creative thinking. In the increasingly polarized country, education reform reveals a strong consensus regardless of the political spectrum. About a month ago, the Jamie's Mom comic meme shorts hit the spot with many laughs in Seoul. It must have struck a chord with many moms and dads in the Korean education treadwheel. Interestingly, an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development survey released in December 2023 (Program for International Student Assessment report of 2022) ranked Korea second among 64 participating countries and economies in the category of student creative thinking. Perhaps Korean students do have an aptitude for creative thinking. It is the education system that stifles it. Korea should move fast, no matter which administration comes in after June 3. For the first time in decades, the new administration should own the problem and initiate the reform.
