[Sigia-l] Re: IA and semiotics - and standards?

[Dave Collins]

>Study after study shows that 99% of the usage of microwave ovens is
warming leftovers or popping popcorn, not the various elaborate
cooking gyrations you theoretically can do.  So I think the ideal UI
for a microwave is a dial for the duration of cooking, a dial for
cooking intensity, and a button that says "Popcorn".

You know, this makes me wonder if the focus of our ignorance
(consumers/developers whatever) is misunderstood.

I'm sure that much thought went into what features users might want on
these microwaves. And I'm sure much though went into how to teach users
to use these features easily.

But it seems that perhaps the real disconnect is in the purchasing
decision phase.

I may like the *idea* of purchasing all those features, but that doesn't
necessarily translate into my getting it home and actually using them.

I wonder if there is a way that manufacturers can put users closer to
what they will actually be using, as opposed to what they think they
might like. Ic ould see a whole new marketing technique being used.

Hm. Needs further thought to distill my point.

Dave