Posts Tagged ‘User interface’
iPod Effect
Over the last two decade computers and IT solutions have become common place in the workplace. Over the last decade or so the growth of the Internet and personal computing devices have made just about everyone opinionated about software, websites and technology, in general. However, I think no single technology product has made “experts” out of “idiots” like the Apple iPod and iTunes.
It used to be that there were a few, learned and well meaning human computer interface experts working to improve devices and interfaces. Then, there were a few more Mac bigots who in some cases worked on user interface and user interaction but in most cases were experts on style rather than substance. Mercifully these folks almost never worked on Windows or Linux PC or business applications. So, the scope of their opinions and its audience was limited. Today, we have a big group of people who are on iPod/ iTunes and working on regular PCs and business applications at the workplace. These folks feel the fact that they have an iPod and use iTunes make them an expert on product design, user interface design and all things “intuitive.” Their typical complaint about PC applications and usual business applications is – “It is not intiutive.” Ask them to expand more on it or explain their statement they will repeat the statement over and over again or point to their favorite products – iPod and iTunes.
I recently was in an ERP implementation where the users were comparing the ERP system to Excel (yes, they were forced to move from Excel to an ERP system) and complaining that the system is not “intuitive… flexible.” The business heads were not in a position to do their part in driving adoption – Encouragement and Enforcement. The CEO, when presented with the adoption issues, would say -”Look at Google and Apple. They have high valuations because they develop intuitive interfaces.” Now, neither Google nor Apple have a real enterprise business application.
So, how do you get user(s) to realize that they are not experts on user interfaces and product designs? Using a well designed product or application does not make someone an expert on its design.
