Computer users are important. But software companies sometimes forget about that. They think they can handle user interface and user friendly software but in reality this is much far away than it should be!
Working in a medium enterprises, I had a great opportunity to implement different kind of software and system solutions and in the same time support user with there regular work and new solutions that we implemented in a company.
So I had a chance to work with small, medium or even large computer companies that would provide complex system solutions or just simple program that would handle some basic operations.
I was always fond of user friendly software, system solution that would be an added value to a process and user friendly IT unit. But in the same time in development part I’m on a side of quick professional decisions without too much asking and talking and endless discussions.
What I noticed is that some software companies would invest in their high tech educated personal, the best computer experts on the market but they forget about an expert that would take care of user interfaces, application functionality and user options and settings. I could understand that in a way that developing costs are high and every company tends to lower their costs and make higher profits. There were always a consultant but more or less in a position to explain and teach users.
My main critic to all those companies is that sometimes they forget about simple logic that could be used in a certain situation. It happens that they are too technical and that it’s hard to show them some simple user friendly solution. I do respect their knowledge and efforts, but sometimes I think that they could use some middle man.
I know that there is also other side of same story, but in general all application developer should think about how their application is going to be used!
Some basic suggestions
- First of all when new modules or process are defined only key user with good knowledge of a problem should be involved. We have to provide good professional team that would work on a given problem. Less people less time for preparing first beta version that could be tested by user.
- After preparing beta version of a new module, user should be ask to test it, give their comment, suggestions etc. Here they should prepare and give users good instruction about using new modules.
- Keep in mind that every reported proposition, bug report, error should be considered and every user that participate should get an answer.
- Keep in mind that users are going to use application every day and it should make their work easier and faster, not stressful!
One Response
Nicely put. -Hey, have you tried Google’s CHROME yet? It’s just a beta still but WOW!!!! It is many time faster than the fastest browser! For me, it loads up and is ready in about 5-seconds!
Point being, I am not big on sharing/reporting crashes and such but THIS might make me change my mind! If they can get a ‘browsers’ (”CHROME” is not really a ‘browser’ in the normal sense of the word) to work this well in BETA… -can you just imagine what user-input and bug-reports-fixed are going to do!?
I think Firefox is in a bit o’ trouble, folks! CHROME is catching up and there is no stopping it now!
Great read, btw.
thestickman