We’ve recently attended the latest AdFed luncheon and were pleased abou the guest speaker, Jesse James Garrett. From the invite:
“Garrett — one of the world’s most widely recognized technology product designers — is the president and founder of Adaptive Path, a user experience strategy and design firm. He coined the term “Ajax,” which refers to a group of interrelated web development techniques used for creating interactive web applications. Garrett was the recipient of WIRED Magazine’s 2006 Rave Award for Technology and was named one of the “50 Most Important People on the Web” by PC World magazine.”
It was a terrific, enlightening experience. We’ve been developing UI for clients for the past couple years and it’s been a rewarding challenge that can be addicting. Many of Jesse’s topics really hit home, but there’s one we find so true and something that pops up on a weekly basis when in meetings about projects. That topic is regarding features.
For some reason, many feel that the more features a system or device has, the better. The more buttons, doodads, sounds, widgets, bells, and even whistles something can have, the better your life will be. Whatever got us down that rabbithole, damn it to hell.
The truth is, features versus a positive experience is based on a curve. Yes, more features are a good thing. But, once you hit a certain point, each additional feature takes essentially takes you further away from a better experience.
Here’s a prime example from Jesse’s presentation:
Microsoft, the kings of bad usability, are finally starting to get it. It only took 20 years of getting slapped in the face by Apple about how it should be done, and someone over there finally woke up. Take a look at the previous version of Microsuck Word with all its toolbars of glory:
http://charpiellc.com/misc/word-all-toolbars-small.png
What did Microsoft do here? They gave you their problem. Instead of solving the puzzle of creating an elegant word processor, they just gave the bits and pieces and told the customers to figure it out. And to be honest, most people bought in to it and Microsoft became successful at being bad at their job. But… times are changing and people are getting smarter. They are pushing back to get a better experience. Now, look at the current version of Microsoft Word:
http://charpiellc.com/misc/word2007main.png
The user is getting back in the picture and their experience is no longer taken for granted. This is the way it should be. Let’s keep it in mind.
