Why Great Ideas Can Fail
http://www.core77.com/blog/columns/why_great_ideas_can_fail_17235.asp
Great Ideas Are Not Sufficient in making Innovation Succeed. You may ask “Why do brilliant ideas fail in the marketplace?” The answer is that design consultancies are outsiders, hired by one division of the company, but not necessarily accepted by the other divisions. A product requires that the entire company, including: design and development, engineering and marketing, sales and service, supply chain and distribution chain, all have to agree that the “idea” is worth pursuing. Products enter into a complex eco-system, both within and outside of the company. So, just because the idea and initial design people think It’s a great idea, doesn’t mean that everyone is going too.
My thoughts-
You can’t just have what you think is a great idea... but unless the technology is available, all the other people in the company think that it’s great too, and are willing to get behind it... you don’t have a product.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Usability Is Not a Luxury
http://jnd.org/dn.mss/usability_is_not_a_luxury.html
This essay talks about user experiences everyone goes through when navigating to a website to find out information or make a purchase. It goes into some detail about the differences between different websites pertaining to the user's ability to find the information or product in the shortest number of clicks and frustration. Donald Norman also talks about the differences of switching cost pertaining to shopping in-store and shopping online. He gives you a very good sense of how each of these experiences are different and how we respond to them. Norman describes the reaction an individual feels when arriving at a website that has been poorly designed, leaving the viewer to try and figure out how to navigate around the site for the information they are looking for. In another section of his essay, he talks about the success rates of sites concerning visitors or conversion rates. He explains how when people have a positive user experience on a website they are more apt to return. People tend to gravitate toward sites that are user friendly and easy to use. He also makes mention of how many people visit a website and add an item to their shopping cart and never return to purchase that item. There are a couple reasons why this happens. First off, most people will add an item to their shopping cart and leave to compare product information/pricing on alternate websites. Secondly, people tend to leave abandoned items in a shopping cart due to the payment process being too difficult to use. He sums up his essay with how to provide good user experiences and the importance of user testing. User testing is very important and can be achieved by simply watching a complete stranger navigate around your site without any interruptions while you observe their reaction and overall experience. It is important that every experience be user friendly as real people have real tasks to accomplish.
I chose "Usability Is Not a Luxury" because of the very easy to understand ways of how real people feel when navigating around and how easy it is for them to complete the task they set out to accomplish. I really enjoyed reading the examples he using in this essay to help clarify the importance of how your business choices affect others when they are trying to look up information or purchase something. All said and done, people tend to become a customer when they feel you appreciate their business and provide them with a simpler way of accomplishing the task they need to complete.
This essay talks about user experiences everyone goes through when navigating to a website to find out information or make a purchase. It goes into some detail about the differences between different websites pertaining to the user's ability to find the information or product in the shortest number of clicks and frustration. Donald Norman also talks about the differences of switching cost pertaining to shopping in-store and shopping online. He gives you a very good sense of how each of these experiences are different and how we respond to them. Norman describes the reaction an individual feels when arriving at a website that has been poorly designed, leaving the viewer to try and figure out how to navigate around the site for the information they are looking for. In another section of his essay, he talks about the success rates of sites concerning visitors or conversion rates. He explains how when people have a positive user experience on a website they are more apt to return. People tend to gravitate toward sites that are user friendly and easy to use. He also makes mention of how many people visit a website and add an item to their shopping cart and never return to purchase that item. There are a couple reasons why this happens. First off, most people will add an item to their shopping cart and leave to compare product information/pricing on alternate websites. Secondly, people tend to leave abandoned items in a shopping cart due to the payment process being too difficult to use. He sums up his essay with how to provide good user experiences and the importance of user testing. User testing is very important and can be achieved by simply watching a complete stranger navigate around your site without any interruptions while you observe their reaction and overall experience. It is important that every experience be user friendly as real people have real tasks to accomplish.
I chose "Usability Is Not a Luxury" because of the very easy to understand ways of how real people feel when navigating around and how easy it is for them to complete the task they set out to accomplish. I really enjoyed reading the examples he using in this essay to help clarify the importance of how your business choices affect others when they are trying to look up information or purchase something. All said and done, people tend to become a customer when they feel you appreciate their business and provide them with a simpler way of accomplishing the task they need to complete.
review on norman article
Article #2:
URL: http://jnd.org/dn.mss/do_companies_fail_because_their_technology_is_unusable.html
Title: Do companies fail because their technology is unusable?
The reason why I chose this second article to review is to see if Don Norman would use the term technology in terms which economists use it or the way that regular people see technology as. In economics the term technology is how you take inputs to produce outputs. Technology to me before taking econ was computers and cell phones.
Don Norman starts his article by using a statement by Kay Aubrey states that any company that has ever failed wasn’t because their technology didn’t work, they failed because they had no sales. (Paragraph 1, Do companies fail because their technology is unusable). Judging from this statement the term technology means what the products purpose/uses are. Norman dedicates several paragraphs to compare Napster with itunes and ipods. Napster gives you a place where you can pay monthly and listen to all the music you want. Itunes gives you software where you can buy music and then transfer the music bought to the ipod. Companies that can sell are successful wither their product has great usability or not. The company well succeed if it can advertise, have a great business model, has great sales effort, a good cost structure, and the product is good.(paragraph 13).
URL: http://jnd.org/dn.mss/do_companies_fail_because_their_technology_is_unusable.html
Title: Do companies fail because their technology is unusable?
The reason why I chose this second article to review is to see if Don Norman would use the term technology in terms which economists use it or the way that regular people see technology as. In economics the term technology is how you take inputs to produce outputs. Technology to me before taking econ was computers and cell phones.
Don Norman starts his article by using a statement by Kay Aubrey states that any company that has ever failed wasn’t because their technology didn’t work, they failed because they had no sales. (Paragraph 1, Do companies fail because their technology is unusable). Judging from this statement the term technology means what the products purpose/uses are. Norman dedicates several paragraphs to compare Napster with itunes and ipods. Napster gives you a place where you can pay monthly and listen to all the music you want. Itunes gives you software where you can buy music and then transfer the music bought to the ipod. Companies that can sell are successful wither their product has great usability or not. The company well succeed if it can advertise, have a great business model, has great sales effort, a good cost structure, and the product is good.(paragraph 13).
I Have Seen the Future and I Am Opposed - Margherita Nicotra
In this essay/article Norman addresses some concerns he has about the future of technology, about it being driven by greed and profit, resulting in restrictions and proprietary constraints on activity by corporate empires. Norman has already been experiencing the way how the power of electronic computing and communication equipment is dictated by the service providers: radio, television, cable, satellite, telephones, cell phones and smart phones all depend on the business models of the service providers. These providers want to maximize their profit while minimizing that of their competition at the same time, so they enforce proprietary standards and lock people into their own distribution. More of our open, universal networks are becoming locked down, and they are only available from within “the walls” erected by corporate interests.
Norman fears for the future of the Internet, an open system with open standards, that might become another one of the services contained within the bounds of subscriptions. Tablets and smartphones themselves have specific applications that can be tightly controlled with a series of imposed restrictions, already creating accessibility problems: for instance, some browsers work only on some devices and not all formats can be operated by all devices (rich textual, graphics, photo, music, video, flash..). Norman then points out how the increasing fear of damaging programs, and the ever-increasing amount of spam that is threatening the Internet nowadays, might give large corporations an excuse to exert control and exclusivity on the World Wide Web. Therefore he fears our free and continual access to information and services is doomed to be replaced by tightly controlled “gardens of exclusivity”.
I chose this essay/article because the title was quite intriguing and it reminded me of Zittrain’s book “The future of the Internet”. As I had foreseen, Norman’s opinion and point of view on the future of technology in general and of Internet specifically, is quite similar to Zittrain’s. They both fear an increase in constraints and restrictions by providers and large corporations, which might be enabled also by the increasing fear of damaging programs and spam that is nowadays threatening the Internet. I found this trend quite disconcerting, also because I myself have been able to witness the increase in obstacles to a free and consistent accessibility to information.
I chose this essay/article because the title was quite intriguing and it reminded me of Zittrain’s book “The future of the Internet”. As I had foreseen, Norman’s opinion and point of view on the future of technology in general and of Internet specifically, is quite similar to Zittrain’s. They both fear an increase in constraints and restrictions by providers and large corporations, which might be enabled also by the increasing fear of damaging programs and spam that is nowadays threatening the Internet. I found this trend quite disconcerting, also because I myself have been able to witness the increase in obstacles to a free and consistent accessibility to information.
Here's the link to the article:
Katie Zuniga - Robots in the Home: What Might They Do?
Robots in the Home: What Might They Do? http://jnd.org/dn.mss/robots_in_the_home_what_might_they_do.html
Dr Norman begins by talking about a more realistic look at robots. We already use them in military and medical situations, but one that we as consumers might have a home, ones we could afford, won't do much but make us toast and wash our clothes and dishes. He moves on to say that the development of these robots to do more than toast and laundry is expensive and even though there are areas that are being heavily explored, he said, "Today's devices are not reliable, versatile, or intelligent enough — not yet, anyway."
The end of this essay closes with talking about the most likely directions robots might be used, education, entertainment and home appliances. We already have electronics that can ready to us, respond to voice commands, and teach children. This, however, should not replace teachers or parents, but be used as a fun and sophisticated tutor.
I picked this essay because I am very interested in the idea of having robots in the home. There are so many movies out there that point to the fact that if we have them in our homes they will eventually become smarter than us and take over. I couldn't help but see what Dr. Norman had to say about it.
Dr Norman begins by talking about a more realistic look at robots. We already use them in military and medical situations, but one that we as consumers might have a home, ones we could afford, won't do much but make us toast and wash our clothes and dishes. He moves on to say that the development of these robots to do more than toast and laundry is expensive and even though there are areas that are being heavily explored, he said, "Today's devices are not reliable, versatile, or intelligent enough — not yet, anyway."
The end of this essay closes with talking about the most likely directions robots might be used, education, entertainment and home appliances. We already have electronics that can ready to us, respond to voice commands, and teach children. This, however, should not replace teachers or parents, but be used as a fun and sophisticated tutor.
I picked this essay because I am very interested in the idea of having robots in the home. There are so many movies out there that point to the fact that if we have them in our homes they will eventually become smarter than us and take over. I couldn't help but see what Dr. Norman had to say about it.
Exploring Donald Norman - McMichael
URL of the essay: Learning from the Success of Computer Games
Title of Essay: Learning from the Success of Computer Games
Paragraph summarizing essay:
This essay is about how we can learn in a different way by using computer games as an example of how to challenge and reward a student and to a degree the teacher. I agree with the premise that, ìPeople learn best when challenged -- just enough to be confused, just enough to be motivated to search, to struggle, and to achieve. The computer games of today offer scenarios that create a great sense of reward through action and consequence. Education has always offered this as well, but not in the same form as computer games. Computer games are constructed in a way that we experience them within our own conceptual structures. This construction works best because the scenario is rigged so as to lead us to the ideas, to force us to confront them and understand them. Just being shown ideas and thoughts of other is fine and works for the most part, but the degree of enthusiasm in the student isn't as intense as if that student finds and resolves the problem through personal confrontation, exploration and resolution. As stated, ìTechnology is not the answer, but proper technology coupled with informed instruction, coupled with teachers that are coaches, guides and mentors, can lead the way.î
Paragraph indicating why I picked this specific essay and my personal response:
I picked this essay because comparing computer games to education methods is pretty interesting. The idea of creating problems and tasks in an educational environment that are as cool and clever as computer game problems makes sense to me. Creating the same type of excitement in a student that a games does is a great concept. It is very inspirational to think of a time when an educational environment would give a student the means to dive into a task and willfully work hard to learn the required skills to succeed. Though, in this way, the skills learned would be those needed to succeed in real life. Learning this way wouldn't be boring and would remove most of the drudgery prevalent in today's system. To constantly keep one's mind engaged on the profound is reward enough, but for it to be regarding issues and problems related to being successful in society is extremely exciting.
McMichael, 4/13/2011
Title of Essay: Learning from the Success of Computer Games
Paragraph summarizing essay:
This essay is about how we can learn in a different way by using computer games as an example of how to challenge and reward a student and to a degree the teacher. I agree with the premise that, ìPeople learn best when challenged -- just enough to be confused, just enough to be motivated to search, to struggle, and to achieve. The computer games of today offer scenarios that create a great sense of reward through action and consequence. Education has always offered this as well, but not in the same form as computer games. Computer games are constructed in a way that we experience them within our own conceptual structures. This construction works best because the scenario is rigged so as to lead us to the ideas, to force us to confront them and understand them. Just being shown ideas and thoughts of other is fine and works for the most part, but the degree of enthusiasm in the student isn't as intense as if that student finds and resolves the problem through personal confrontation, exploration and resolution. As stated, ìTechnology is not the answer, but proper technology coupled with informed instruction, coupled with teachers that are coaches, guides and mentors, can lead the way.î
Paragraph indicating why I picked this specific essay and my personal response:
I picked this essay because comparing computer games to education methods is pretty interesting. The idea of creating problems and tasks in an educational environment that are as cool and clever as computer game problems makes sense to me. Creating the same type of excitement in a student that a games does is a great concept. It is very inspirational to think of a time when an educational environment would give a student the means to dive into a task and willfully work hard to learn the required skills to succeed. Though, in this way, the skills learned would be those needed to succeed in real life. Learning this way wouldn't be boring and would remove most of the drudgery prevalent in today's system. To constantly keep one's mind engaged on the profound is reward enough, but for it to be regarding issues and problems related to being successful in society is extremely exciting.
McMichael, 4/13/2011
Why Contests are Bad
Why Contests are Bad
http://jnd.org/dn.mss/why_design_contests_are_bad.html
In this essay it is apparent that Donald Norman is not in favor of Design Contests. You could even go as far as saying that he thinks such contests should be done away with altogether. His opinion is that the outcome of the judging seems to favor that of looks and appeal over that of user friendliness and functionality, or better yet - the whole package. Another way to look at this is that the judges may not have any idea whether the design has a prototype, been user tested for safety, practicality, ease of use, cost effectiveness or whether it even works. Judging based on concept alone may be fine if that is the only criteria requirement. He seems to think there should be more to judging than that.
I chose to write about this essay because of the title. When I read through it I began to think and evaluate what was being stated. While I would agree with Donald in part, I think contests are good to get the creative juices flowing especially if there is a fat prize at the end. We can all benefit or take something away from seeing what other people come up with. Instead of calling for the elimination all such contests, why not have different levels based sole upon one of each of his principles? That would be telling and quite possibly - hilarious!
http://jnd.org/dn.mss/why_design_contests_are_bad.html
In this essay it is apparent that Donald Norman is not in favor of Design Contests. You could even go as far as saying that he thinks such contests should be done away with altogether. His opinion is that the outcome of the judging seems to favor that of looks and appeal over that of user friendliness and functionality, or better yet - the whole package. Another way to look at this is that the judges may not have any idea whether the design has a prototype, been user tested for safety, practicality, ease of use, cost effectiveness or whether it even works. Judging based on concept alone may be fine if that is the only criteria requirement. He seems to think there should be more to judging than that.
I chose to write about this essay because of the title. When I read through it I began to think and evaluate what was being stated. While I would agree with Donald in part, I think contests are good to get the creative juices flowing especially if there is a fat prize at the end. We can all benefit or take something away from seeing what other people come up with. Instead of calling for the elimination all such contests, why not have different levels based sole upon one of each of his principles? That would be telling and quite possibly - hilarious!
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