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HN flaw: no discussions with naive computer users.
How can one build a product that appeals to a huge market without being familiar with what naive computer users want and can understand?
Shouldn't HN have discussions involving naive computer users?
- eof 16y agoThere are many many places to have discussions with naive computer users; HN is one of the few places where you can have a discussion whose participants are likely to not be naive, and that is where a large part of its value comes from. In order for HN to have discussions with naive users, it would require frequent visits by naive users, which would be the end of HN.
- J3L2404 16y agoIt seems likely that most HN users are familiar with naive computer users, whether at work or as the tech guru for friends and family, and as such are painfully aware of what they can understand. What they want is another question and is too vague to be of much use without specifics. Naive users can also be impaired users (intoxicated or half-asleep) too. Drink up, we have to do usability tests later.
- HeyLaughingBoy 16y agoShort answer: no, for reasons stated by others. Longer answer: naive in what way? Yesterday I asked a friend to preview my app when it was ready. She's probably an example of what you had in mind: mid-40's Facebook-using iPhone owner who threw her last computer out 10 years ago. But she's not at all naive in the context of the application: as the office manager for a small company she's the perfect type of person to evaluate it. The problem with the question is that non-computer experts (which I expect is what you mean by naive) don't form a useful enough group by themselves. What you need is to understand your market and then ask people in that market how the app should work, show them examples of product, etc. and then you can get real insight.