Comments on: Questions About The User Interface http://legacydaily.com/2009/11/questions-about-the-user-interface/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-about-the-user-interface thoughts, lessons, observations, and experiences from a life's journey Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ld http://legacydaily.com/2009/11/questions-about-the-user-interface/#comment-4965 ld Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:13:50 +0000 http://legacydaily.com/?p=269#comment-4965 Thanks for commenting, Thomas. You mention quite a few interesting points. An underfunded initiative will generally deliver less than an optimally funded one. But the same is true for an endeavor flush-with-cash similar to a plant that dies from too much water or fertilizer. The system's reison d'etre is also critical. Over time we tend to forget the original reason the system was developed and continue to maintain and enhance its interfaces. The UI will always get modified and in some cases "corrupted" when the system changes hands. That is one reason, I am happy that some checks and balances exist in the US government. In computer systems, this "corruption" can be healthy in that it creates demand for newer systems and initiatives. Thanks for commenting, Thomas. You mention quite a few interesting points. An underfunded initiative will generally deliver less than an optimally funded one. But the same is true for an endeavor flush-with-cash similar to a plant that dies from too much water or fertilizer. The system’s reison d’etre is also critical. Over time we tend to forget the original reason the system was developed and continue to maintain and enhance its interfaces.

The UI will always get modified and in some cases “corrupted” when the system changes hands. That is one reason, I am happy that some checks and balances exist in the US government. In computer systems, this “corruption” can be healthy in that it creates demand for newer systems and initiatives.

]]> By: Thomas http://legacydaily.com/2009/11/questions-about-the-user-interface/#comment-4964 Thomas Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:21:19 +0000 http://legacydaily.com/?p=269#comment-4964 " Why are the founding fathers of America able to create a system far superior to that created by Lenin and his friends? " When I read this my immediate thought was that the basis of this statement was true. Upon further consideration I have to believe it is not. In asking such a question doesn't the person posing the question have to assume that the systems are equally "funded". By this I ask," Are they simply both on equal footing to begin with?" Do they have the same commodities with which to draw "sustenance". If so, it is a valid question. If not the question is mute, is it not? Does not each system have to have the same chance at success. If not the disadvantaged system is never going to succeed in a "competition" such as longevity. Has our government's UI remained user friendly? People as creatures seem to over-complicate our lives as the systems we use we tend to morph into over complication. I feel that the human being tends to, by its nature, over-complicate systems in an effort to make them easier. In fact that is the job description of every attorney in the United States. And our government was founded by and comprised of just such creatures. Also does not a system's purpose, "reason for existing" have to remain true. If not doesn't that system fail immediately by the simple changing of the end goal. Is there an end goal to every system? If not how does one evaluate its success. If there is a "goal", is it fair to evaluate success by this goal exclusively? I suppose the success of any system is not the system but the nature of the User. Our government has succeeded in eliminating the perception by most that they even have a UI. Most don't vote, most go their entire lives without an attempt to interact with our government. In fact we almost all avoid interaction with our government. Maybe the UI for our government is broken and therefore the system isn't far behind. I agree the problems we face are related more to the UI than the systems but how does one design a system whose UI doesn't get corrupted and complicated to the point it is no longer user friendly? Does a system have to have a UI forever or after it gets so large can it succeed with little or no UI? ” Why are the founding fathers of America able to create a system far superior to that created by Lenin and his friends? ” When I read this my immediate thought was that the basis of this statement was true. Upon further consideration I have to believe it is not. In asking such a question doesn’t the person posing the question have to assume that the systems are equally “funded”. By this I ask,” Are they simply both on equal footing to begin with?” Do they have the same commodities with which to draw “sustenance”.

If so, it is a valid question. If not the question is mute, is it not? Does not each system have to have the same chance at success. If not the disadvantaged system is never going to succeed in a “competition” such as longevity.

Has our government’s UI remained user friendly? People as creatures seem to over-complicate our lives as the systems we use we tend to morph into over complication. I feel that the human being tends to, by its nature, over-complicate systems in an effort to make them easier. In fact that is the job description of every attorney in the United States. And our government was founded by and comprised of just such creatures.

Also does not a system’s purpose, “reason for existing” have to remain true. If not doesn’t that system fail immediately by the simple changing of the end goal. Is there an end goal to every system? If not how does one evaluate its success. If there is a “goal”, is it fair to evaluate success by this goal exclusively? I suppose the success of any system is not the system but the nature of the User.

Our government has succeeded in eliminating the perception by most that they even have a UI. Most don’t vote, most go their entire lives without an attempt to interact with our government. In fact we almost all avoid interaction with our government. Maybe the UI for our government is broken and therefore the system isn’t far behind.

I agree the problems we face are related more to the UI than the systems but how does one design a system whose UI doesn’t get corrupted and complicated to the point it is no longer user friendly?
Does a system have to have a UI forever or after it gets so large can it succeed with little or no UI?

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