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On a side note: The author makes the assertion that anyone can be tossed an iPad and figure out the interface on their own... I challenge that assertion. I've t
by enjo 17y ago
On a side note: The author makes the assertion that anyone can be tossed an iPad and figure out the interface on their own... I challenge that assertion. I've taken a few relatives through the process of getting iPhones up and running, and I would claim that the interface is more difficult than the standard desktop metaphor.
At some point an article floated through here suggesting that the iPhone interface isn't simple. Rather, the author argued, it's the fact that it's very fun to use that contributes to its success.
I can't find the article right now, but I do agree with the author. The iPhone/iPad lacks affordances and all sorts of cues about what the hell you're supposed to DO with the thing. Again, my experience is that folks find it incredibly unintuitive (although they enjoyed it immensely when they 'got it').
I recognize my sample size is extremely small. However these constant assertions that Apple has managed to create an instantly usable and discoverable user experience are based on even more tenuous science. Does anyone have any hard data or usability testing they'd like to share? :)
- pedalpete 17y agoDonald Norman (founder of Human Interface Group at Apple) once said [paraphrasing] 'give people something beautiful, and they'll assume it is simple'. I can't find the original quote, but he said it again on Canada's BNN a few weeks ago.
- ahoyhere 17y agoIt's not quite what he's saying. At least not if you read his book, _Emotional Design_. There have been research studies that show that beautiful things are perceived to work better -- after real usage, too, not just "Look at this picture. How do you think it will work?" Aesthetics are so very important!
- MWinther 17y agoI am sure you're right, but I believe you're not taking the "learning how a mouse and keyboard works, what the difference between clicking and double-clicking is" into consideration, as most people have used computers enough to already know that. Give people the phone and help them with the basic gestures, and I'm sure they'll give someone who's never used a mouse/keyboard combo a run for their money. I don't think the basic gain is that you don't have to learn anything to use the device, just that once you get the hang of the gestures, stuff works fairly intuitively. I do believe, however, that once I show someone how to do a three-part call one time, they'll remember it the next time around... Which is the most important part. It's frustrating having to read the manual several times, just because the task you're trying to achieve just doesn't make sense.