It’s time to reconsider, Google
Almost a year ago, Google made an apparently small change to Google Calendar. They started automatically adding Google Hangout video links to every new appointment. And it was bad. I’m sure you’ve all seen appointments like this pop up in your calendar. How do you join the meeting? Do you dial the phone number, or […]
Empathize Not Sympathize
Many enterprise software vendors sympathize. “We know it’s a bad experience” or “We will fix the usability.” One of the reasons the software is not usable is because the makers never had any empathy for the end users who would use it. In many cases the makers didn’t even know who their end users were; […]
Windows Live Microsoft Word Document UX vs. Google Docs UX
Before even getting to the point of writing a document, there are very distinct user experiences (UX). I have my own preferences, but I am very curious what others think. When somebody decides to create a new Microsoft Word Document in the Windows Live Site on their Skydrive they’re presented with this interface. Windows Live […]
Do we need openness for our toaster?
There has been some interesting discussion about Apple and iPad being closed. In many cases for Apple, I’d buy this argument, but regarding iPad being closed, I have to disagree. As I talked earlier, iPad is a gadget for non-techies. People who have been scared about the complexity of computers will be able to use […]
Don’t Make Me Think – A User Centric Perspective on Google Apps
I was sitting down for a pleasant morning coffee with the boys from WaveAdept, a New Zealand based company that, among other things, is a reseller for Google apps. Our discussion got on to the barriers to adoption for Google apps and specifically what can be done to increase uptake among small businesses. It’s an […]
Android is Like Linux: Excites Geeks, Not End Users
There has been some good discussion around Android recently and Daring Fireball blog has some very good points on the opportunity Android has in the market. I 100% agree with him that the iPhone needs competition. Unfortunately, the competition doesn’t look very good so far. While John Gruber makes a case where competition could exist […]
Gmail Finally Ends the Folder vs. Label War – What’s Next? Find the Answer Here.
Bear with me for this somewhat long post, ‘cause I am not only discussing the sweeping changes Gmail made today, but in the end will also tell you what they are going to do next year – or perhaps after that. Gmail Changes The Gmail label changes announced today and to be released to accounts […]
Is There a Sweet-Spot For Features?
I found this graph on the discontinued Creating Passionate Users blog; It’s a somewhat tongue in cheek diagram but completely relevant for my specific area of interest, SaaS accounting applications. At the recent Web 2.0 Expo I spent a really enjoyable hour or so discussing usability design and specifically how it relates to an increase […]
Google Health Will Not Belly Flop but You Have to Take Charge
A few months ago I blasted both Google Health and Microsoft Healthvault for not being patient-focused – but I am not giving up on them. Later Krish discussed how adding pharmacy chains boost the value Google Health can provide. Just like the pharmacy story, today’s dispute relates to data transfer into these systems. Google Health […]
Webstock – Damian Conway – Web 2.0.1
Damian Conway is a PhD in computer science and, until recently, was honorary professor of computer science at Monash University. He’s a designer, a columnist and an author. Why does the web still suck for most mortal users – and how can we reduce the suck-tion. We need a service pack for the whole damn […]
The Sorry State of Health 2.0 – Google Health & Microsoft HealthVault
Ever since I started actively managing my parents’ health care I’ve been a heavy user of electronic health records and communication systems, and I am immensely frustrated. Frustrated at the paper-based world we’re facing in the 21st century, but also at my peers, reviewers in the media, blogs, when they discuss new developments in the […]
