[Sigia-l] Human-Centered Design 99% bad

[Stewart Dean]

>From: Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen at gmail.com>
>To: Boniface Lau <boniface_lau at compuserve.com>
>CC: SIGIA-L <sigia-l at asis.org>
>Subject: Re: [Sigia-l] Human-Centered Design 99% bad
>Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 13:39:05 +1000
>
>On 7/30/05, Boniface Lau <boniface_lau at compuserve.com> wrote:
> > > > When a design is based on the understanding of activities, the
> > > > specifics of individual users are no longer that important.
>
>Then me:
> > > No, I don't agree with that one bit. Most people were happy with the
> > > viola until someone figured out that placing it on your shoulder as
> > > to compared to between your legs would improve things.
>
>Boniface:
> > The shoulder-realization applies to users in general, not the
> > specifics of individual users.
>

> > Your example is about users using their knowledge to improve what they
> > use. But what does that has to do with ACD's down playing of the
> > importance of adapting to individual user differences?
>
>You tell me. In fact, you tell me why ACD is important. You tell me
>what I'm currently doing wrong which could be so much better with ACD.
>As all design is based on the activity of the brain, clue me in.

Two quick things.

First can we not use terms like ACD - one of the biggest problems with 
content comprehension is the use of obscure terminology and three letter 
acrynoms wring the context out of a sentence and require prior specialist 
knowledge.

Secondly the reson to focus on activity is to average out user behavour to 
avoid over specialisation. You can find out a lot about usage from 10 people 
but for hard core streamlined functional support I feel requires many more 
users using it in situ - that is refinement through use. This goes beyond 
the individual needs but is how people use something.

As a result of this I'm almost convincing myself I can see where focus 
groups can be useful - if it wasnt for the 'loudest gets heard' factor with 
focus groups.

Stew Dean