As I read this title, I realize that this could be the start of a book, not a short article. Ultimately, every bit of software written is for somebody (even just for the programmer who wrote it). So this means that end user (or customer) has the final say as to whether the program is useful – often, voting with their wallet. It’s odd that software companies rarely give customers the focus they deserve. Perhaps the problem lays with the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Usability
Shortcuts to Easier Computing
In my business I spend a lot of time at my computer. While I don’t mind it, I certainly don’t enjoy wasting my time, and keep on the lookout for ways to simplify my work. One method I’ve used successfully for some time is Windows keyboard shortcuts, which by a striking coincidence is the topic of this article. Some tasks are common; checking email, running Internet Explorer, jotting down notes, running the calculator, etc. Shortcuts let you attach key values … Continue reading
Sometimes No Amount of Design Can Help…
When a Florida flight crashed in December of 1972, the black box was of immense help in determining the cause of the crash. Sadly, it wasn’t design error or mechanical failure – it was human error. The recording indicated that the cockpit crew became absorbed in changing an indicator light bulb. During this, the autopilot became disengaged, and they lost altitude. When the bulb was fixed, the crew wouldn’t believe their instruments (including audible warnings and alerts), spent precious time … Continue reading
A Day With My DVD
The advantage of writing a newsletter such as this is that there is no end of stories out there about complicated equipment… I recently purchased an inexpensive DVD player (which may have been part of the problem). While it’s been a delight watching DVD movies, it’s been a major learning curve to understand the lowly remote control. Like most people, I do my video viewing sitting or lying down, and getting up to press the tiny buttons on the player … Continue reading
