The user MUST be in control, all the time, always, without exception. The user wants, needs to exist. She needs constant reassurance that she does indeed matter! She must feel at all times (and especially while interacting with technology) that after all it is her, and not the computer, who is in control. Make no mistake, she needs continuous proof of that. A little hint of insubordination and the software is attempting a coup. When she makes a gesture, she only really connects with the kind of software which treats it like an order, responding immediately, doing exactly what she expects (predictability), and on occasion, perhaps doing a little more (discovery). Control, some times has less to do with functional capabilities and more with process control: start, stop, pause, re-start, undo, re-do, back, forward, beginning, end, abort, etc. - with the software immediately responding ever so closely to every capricious command. Guess what? Each time a command is met with an immediate and expected response, a little endorphin molecule is released (stay tuned for a definition of a software's endorphin factor). But isn't this obvious? Most obvious things aren't followed consistently. Like a puppy in training, consistency is the key. If the trainer introduces a little inconsistency, days of progress are suddenly erased...entire doses of endorphins are immediately replaced by aggravating stress inducing chemicals. Think about which software really makes you feel that you are in control, and why.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
1: Control
The user MUST be in control, all the time, always, without exception. The user wants, needs to exist. She needs constant reassurance that she does indeed matter! She must feel at all times (and especially while interacting with technology) that after all it is her, and not the computer, who is in control. Make no mistake, she needs continuous proof of that. A little hint of insubordination and the software is attempting a coup. When she makes a gesture, she only really connects with the kind of software which treats it like an order, responding immediately, doing exactly what she expects (predictability), and on occasion, perhaps doing a little more (discovery). Control, some times has less to do with functional capabilities and more with process control: start, stop, pause, re-start, undo, re-do, back, forward, beginning, end, abort, etc. - with the software immediately responding ever so closely to every capricious command. Guess what? Each time a command is met with an immediate and expected response, a little endorphin molecule is released (stay tuned for a definition of a software's endorphin factor). But isn't this obvious? Most obvious things aren't followed consistently. Like a puppy in training, consistency is the key. If the trainer introduces a little inconsistency, days of progress are suddenly erased...entire doses of endorphins are immediately replaced by aggravating stress inducing chemicals. Think about which software really makes you feel that you are in control, and why.
Blog power & nano's screen defect?
Matthew Peterson's site which he setup to collect problem reports on the nano's screen causes Apple to "more quickly than pre-web" publicly acknowledge them/him.
Matthew writes:
"I am very delighted to see Apple take this issue seriously. It is sad that it took a website and a lot of publicity before they finally investigated but at least future Nano users with the same problem I had will not be subjected to the same treatment that I was. This was a real issue and most people tried to ignore it."
How much more power and influence can individuals harness from the web? Must corporations re-think the way they involve bloggers in product launch, support, refinement?
Friday, September 23, 2005
iPod nano and the jeans small pocket
Steve Jobs does a brilliant job of connecting when he so masterfully, from the small pocket of his jeans (as he puts it "the one I've always wondered what it's good for") pulls and unveils the new iPod nano. And what a great tag line "1,000 songs. Impossibly small."
Worth watching the entire announcement. Simple, powerful messaging.
Damien Rice: intensely amazing music
Damien Rice sure connects. This guy is frankly amazing. Experience "Volcano" and you will connect too.What does this have to do with designing social technology (this blog's theme) you may ask? A lot, I say.
If we better understand why some people, things connect, could we envision better socially connecting technology? Sounds crazy? perhaps...stay tuned to this blog to find out more.
BTW, here are 5 other "contemporary" musicians who connect:
- Dave Matthews
- Eminem
- Jimmy Hendrix
- John Lennon
- Jim Morrison
Connecting, it's about me first
Do we matter? Are we relevant?
As we converse, collaborate, compete, share, discuss, argue, publish, teach, entertain, play, cook, and vacation with our family, friends, strangers, colleagues, and foes, we connect.
I’d argue that one of the most visceral reasons behind our social nature which in turn drives our need to connect is a rather personal and selfish one: to seek reassurances that we as individuals do really matter, that we make an impact; reassurances that we have some control, and ultimately reassurances about our own universal existence. This stuff is really important to us. Connecting really matters to the individual.
Is this “motherhood and apple pie”? Perhaps, but I’d also argue that deeply understanding its individualistic nature can help [us] technology designers create better social technology.
This blog (itself a connection enabler) attempts to capture provocative thoughts about the ways technology succeeds and fails in helping people "connect".
As we converse, collaborate, compete, share, discuss, argue, publish, teach, entertain, play, cook, and vacation with our family, friends, strangers, colleagues, and foes, we connect.
I’d argue that one of the most visceral reasons behind our social nature which in turn drives our need to connect is a rather personal and selfish one: to seek reassurances that we as individuals do really matter, that we make an impact; reassurances that we have some control, and ultimately reassurances about our own universal existence. This stuff is really important to us. Connecting really matters to the individual.
Is this “motherhood and apple pie”? Perhaps, but I’d also argue that deeply understanding its individualistic nature can help [us] technology designers create better social technology.
This blog (itself a connection enabler) attempts to capture provocative thoughts about the ways technology succeeds and fails in helping people "connect".
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