Adam White

Back in March I was exploring my artistic side. While reading a book on drawing I noticed similarities to software testing. I wrote up my thoughts and sent them to STP Mag. They decided to publish what I had.

Drawing on the Future of Testing

Writing the article was an interesting exercise. I find it fun to take two seemingly unrelated activities and tie them together in a way that makes sense to me.  The writing gave me a change to work with Michael Hunter

who graciously gave me some tips and pointers on how to tighten the article up making it more “me” instead of a bunch of quotes. I also have to thank Alan Martin of refraction arts for taking the photograph. I’ve taken a few photography lessons from him. He needed a test subject for his portfolio work so I wound up getting some pretty nice portraits

They wouldn’t post my email or website so it’s been difficult to know how my article was interpreted. I’d love to get something back on it. What do you think of it? Am I onto something? Am I out ot lunch? Does it make sense to you? Ever experience someting similar? Is it good writing? Engaging? Poorly written? Boring? Help me out here!

Drawing on the Future of Testing

I need YOUR

help in providing a better value to YOU

. I started my recent posts with many goals – one of which was to demonstrate how I might go about providing value to Rypple and Idée as a tester using the Heuristic Test Strategy Guide as a tool in my process.

I got a few comments on my early posts and then participation tapered off. This got me wondering – am I providing value to you as a reader? Before I go ahead with more posts I’d like to know what I can do better to serve you. My hope is to turn this series of blog posts into a springboard for demonstrating one way to provide value.

How am I doing with demonstrating one of my stated goals – providing value using HSTM? I’d appreciate hearing from you.

We could even use Rypple. It would be a great test and I might get some valuable feedback and so would they!

Adam

Some people have asked me about my last two posts -Visiting Pacific Mall and Hot stone massage. I will admit they didn’t really fit in with the theme of the blog which has been 99% about testing or things related to testing.

To clarify – I was exploring the idea of documenting new experiences I had. As you can see the documentation of new experiences didn’t go very far. Or you might come to the conclusion that I have a boring life. I’m going to choose the former.

I’m going to make a commitment to write a blurb once a week – not necessarily focused on testing. This might make this a more interesting place for some of you. I hope that it brings added value for you.

I was featured in a Globe and Mail article last week on surviving the tech meltdown.

Check it out here

The print edition had a picture of me as well.

In retrospective – if I hadn’t been laid off in 2001 – I probably wouldn’t have become a software tester or if I did it would have been a very different path.

It’s pretty cool to be in a national newspaper. I’ve already had a linked in request and a friend from university, who resides in Bermuda, get in touch with me. I didn’t expect either of these things to happen. It’s all about the network!!!

This clip is from a local newspaper I found during one of our trips to Niagara-On-The-Lake. I got such a laugh out of it that I wanted to share it.

Ever wonder what all those advertising terms really mean?

New – Different color from previous design.
All new – parts are not interchangeable with previous design.
Exclusive – imported product.
Unmatched – almost as good as the competition.
Foolproof operation – no provision for adjustments.
Advanced design – the advertising agency doesn’t understand it.
It’s here at last – rush job, nobody knew it was coming.
Field testing – manufacturer lacks test equipment.
High Accuracy – unit on which all parts fit.
Futuristic – no other reason why it looks the way it does.
Re-designed – previous flaws fixed, we hope.
Direct sales only – factory had a big argument with distributor.
Years of development – we finally got one to work.
Breakthrough – we finally figured out a use for it.
Maintenance fee – impossible to fix.
Meets all standards – ours, not yours.
Solid state – heavy.
High Reliability – we made it work long enough to ship it.
Rugged – too heave to lift.
A number of different approaches are being tried – we are still grasping at straws.
Customer satisfaction upon delivery is assured – we are so far behind schedule the customer should be happy just to get it delivered.
Test results were extremely gratifying – we were so surprised that the stupid thing worked.