[Sigia-l] Open Source Usability -- curable?

[Boniface Lau]

> From: Dave
>  
> On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 15:59:14 -0400, Listera <listera at rcn.com> wrote:
> > That's the crucial point. Will programmers agree to follow design
> > principles or continue to consider them as skinnable
> > afterthoughts.
> 
> 2 thoughts around this statement:
> 1. programmers in non-OSS settings have no problem following UCD
> when it is mandated from top down. And usually they just get it on
> their own. I don't think that programmers are THAT far off from all
> this.

I too do not think programmers are that far off. Many of them require
only a bit of explanation. 

After all, designers who are asking programmers to observe certain
design principles should be prepared to explain the rationale behind
those principles. Otherwise, they turn principles into dogmas. No
wonder programmers are not receptive. Who would be receptive in having
dogmas shoving down their own throat?


Boniface