I have been in many classes where it is stated that simplicity is better. I agree. It is better to have a clean uncluttered interface so that users can easily navigate and find what they are looking for. Too much excess material will cause more complicated thinking. We don't want to cognitively overload users because then that would diminish good user experience and possibly take away from the product's optimal functionality.
Here comes the twist.... I have seen way too many people purchase way too many complex products. Many people think the more features or buttons, the better. Kinda like getting more for your money. Why do so many people think that way? I have known many individuals who buy the latest things with so many options yet don't even use half of them. A while ago my little brother bought a CD burner and couldn't figure out what some of the buttons did. He didn't bother to read instructions because he said they would be too complicated. So he just used his new burner for its minimal function- burn a CD. Seems like the more complicated the gadget the cooler it is to have. Or could it be that people prefer more unnecessary features because to get a product with a simple interface will make them feel less competent? I don't know. I just find it really interesting....
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Digital Camera Defects
So I went to Micro Center this weekend to browse around. I have been wanting to buy myself and my mom a digital camera ever since they came out...yeah, lack of money has helped the situation ;-) But, with the lower prices now a days, I figure it is about time! Plus, they are probably better looking.
I did see some pretty good cameras. However, for the most part they were all so tiny! My mom has arthritic hands- so she can't really bend her hands all too well...let alone her fingers. Seems as the years have gone by since the first digital cameras, smaller sizes seem to be the "cool". This doesn't help my situation because I need a good digital camera that isn't so tiny so my mom can handle it yet still look aesthetically pleasing. I also need it to have as few options as possible. My mom refuses to use a computer or a cell phone for fear of messing something up. Too many options will only cause her to avoid using the digital camera. I wonder who the target audiences are when companies are creating their new lines of cameras........ are there some made for people with disabilities? If anyone sees something that fits my mom's specifications, let me know! :)
While looking, I saw the HP Photosmart E327 and HP Photosmart M22. Both of these cameras are a serious no-no! Ther is a cover in the front that needs to slide from the right to the left side of the camera in order for the lens to show. The problem is that HP put the battery section on the left side of the camera. So, everytime you want to open the camera, you incidentally open the cover to the battery because your thumb rests against it with sligth pressure. I opened the camera in the store and the battery fell out! Kinda hard for me to describe in words....so get check one out so you will see what I am talking about. I guess they were trying to be unique in battery compartment placement but geez.... was there no user testing???
I did see some pretty good cameras. However, for the most part they were all so tiny! My mom has arthritic hands- so she can't really bend her hands all too well...let alone her fingers. Seems as the years have gone by since the first digital cameras, smaller sizes seem to be the "cool". This doesn't help my situation because I need a good digital camera that isn't so tiny so my mom can handle it yet still look aesthetically pleasing. I also need it to have as few options as possible. My mom refuses to use a computer or a cell phone for fear of messing something up. Too many options will only cause her to avoid using the digital camera. I wonder who the target audiences are when companies are creating their new lines of cameras........ are there some made for people with disabilities? If anyone sees something that fits my mom's specifications, let me know! :)
While looking, I saw the HP Photosmart E327 and HP Photosmart M22. Both of these cameras are a serious no-no! Ther is a cover in the front that needs to slide from the right to the left side of the camera in order for the lens to show. The problem is that HP put the battery section on the left side of the camera. So, everytime you want to open the camera, you incidentally open the cover to the battery because your thumb rests against it with sligth pressure. I opened the camera in the store and the battery fell out! Kinda hard for me to describe in words....so get check one out so you will see what I am talking about. I guess they were trying to be unique in battery compartment placement but geez.... was there no user testing???
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
First Posting
The world of interaction design is simply fascinating! Too bad many people don't know what it is or what interaction designers do :( Even just telling people my major is Human Computer Interaction (HCI) results in very perplexed faces and many questions....
This is my first blog EVER. Hopefully I will provide you with interesting thoughts or reflections about interaction design. I am probably going to do a lot of learning along the way and if you don't mind, I would like to share what I learn with you :)
While browsing around, I found an EXTREMELY awesome post on ui.design.net. The book for my HCI 454 class this quarter is About Face 2.0 written by Alan Cooper. A lot of times during the course of a quarter, I don't really read too much from the books.....especially if chapters aren't assigned! However, after reading this post- I am determined to read this book from beginning to end!!
The post is an interview with Alan Cooper. Let me give you a little excerpt:
"AC. I don't consider that Interaction Design. Look and Feel stuff is Interface Design. It's all very stylistic. It's the color that you paint your walls. Interaction Design is about the Architecture. It's what kind of building are we building. What functions does it support. What are the shapes of the rooms and the walls and ceilings. What is the infrastructure. What kind of elevators. What kind of cooling and heating. That's Interaction Design."
Alan Cooper gives great insight as to what role programmers have in interaction design and how interaction designers should communicate with them. In fact he provides insight into the many roles/factors that go into the interaction design process. FASCINATING!!! Check it out:
http://www.uidesign.net/Articles/Interviews/AnaudiencewithAlanCooper.html
This is my first blog EVER. Hopefully I will provide you with interesting thoughts or reflections about interaction design. I am probably going to do a lot of learning along the way and if you don't mind, I would like to share what I learn with you :)
While browsing around, I found an EXTREMELY awesome post on ui.design.net. The book for my HCI 454 class this quarter is About Face 2.0 written by Alan Cooper. A lot of times during the course of a quarter, I don't really read too much from the books.....especially if chapters aren't assigned! However, after reading this post- I am determined to read this book from beginning to end!!
The post is an interview with Alan Cooper. Let me give you a little excerpt:
"AC. I don't consider that Interaction Design. Look and Feel stuff is Interface Design. It's all very stylistic. It's the color that you paint your walls. Interaction Design is about the Architecture. It's what kind of building are we building. What functions does it support. What are the shapes of the rooms and the walls and ceilings. What is the infrastructure. What kind of elevators. What kind of cooling and heating. That's Interaction Design."
Alan Cooper gives great insight as to what role programmers have in interaction design and how interaction designers should communicate with them. In fact he provides insight into the many roles/factors that go into the interaction design process. FASCINATING!!! Check it out:
http://www.uidesign.net/Articles/Interviews/AnaudiencewithAlanCooper.html
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