[Sigia-l] office redesign (was: Nielsen: It's the end! (long))

[Karl Fast]

I think we pretty much agree. The Office redesign is not new, in the
sense that is not wholly original, but it is new in the sense that
it will be new to most people. Which means that the media and the
marketing rhetoric is describing it as new, as in wholly original,
even though it isn't (considering Office's massive user base, I do
consider it a significant and positive shift, but that's another
story).

We do differ concerning Nielsen's role in all this. People on this
list, and across the interaction design field, aren't too happy
about his description of the Office redesign as a "new interaction
paradigm." But he's running a high-profile consulting business these
days, not doing rigorous empirical research. I wouldn't expect him
to do anything else.

I can see why people don't like this. And I can sort of understand
why people are getting worked up over Nielsen's pronouncement, uh, I
mean essay. But I don't see any reason why I need to get worked up
over it.




-- 
Karl Fast
http://www.livingskies.com/