[Sigia-l] clash of the viewpoints

[Listera]

"George Olsen" wrote:

> 1) User-centered design too often means usability-centered design, i.e.
> framing everything in terms of efficiency and ease of use, wanting to make
> every restaurant into McDonald's.
> 
> 2) Usability is rapidly becoming an "expected to have" -- that's to say,
> it's like the tires on your car, people notice when there are problems, but
> you don't get any points for doing it right. Instead we need to take the
> next step and focus on making products pleasurable and satisfying.

One of the most visible and spectacular examples of this is Apple products
in the last few years. An entire PC industry considered its products
"efficiently usable". Without focus groups or white coats, Apple re-centered
the gravity of PC product design with iMac, iPod, TiBook, etc., bringing
lust and lickability to a realm dominated by bent sheath-metal boxes with
the charm of Soviet-style tractors. Proving once again that "making products
pleasurable and satisfying" need not be mutually exclusive with the notion
of ease of use. Apple hardly ever uses the term or the lingo of 'usability'
while its products have been nearly synonymous with ease-of-use.

Best,

Ziya