Random Thoughts

There has been a discussion on one of the usability mailing lists recently about the lack of usability testing at Apple. Apparently their desire for secrecy when developing new products causes them to do little or no usability testing. Despite that, Apple's products generally have a great reputation for usability. I think there are several reasons for this:

• Ease of use is part of the corporate culture. Each and every person on the development team strives to design a product which is usable.
• They must have a development process that accurately evaluates user needs and creates products that successfully address those needs.
• They prototype and evaluate designs continually throughout the development process. It may not be a formal usability test with external users, but they do conduct informal usability evaluations.
• They observe what happens after the product is released and correct problems in subsequent versions.

Apparently the iPod Touch is so easy to use that even a dog can use it ;-) http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/ipod/even-a-dog-can-scroll-through-pics-on-an-ipod-touch-309847.php

I read the annual "100 best companies to work for" issue of Fortune magazine. One article made the point that providing a great work environment is not just a nice thing to do, but it pays off financially. It allows a company to attract the best workers, keeps them motivated and productive, and reduces turnover. It surprises me how few companies understand this. I hear so many stories from my friends about companies where minimizing cost takes precedence over all else.

Watching the Super Bowl, I was pleased to see an ETrade ad that emphasized usability: http://www.spike.com/video/2938285/collection/25701/minisite/superbowl

The 2008 version of the bad usability calendar is now available at: http://www.badusability.com/

Google labs has issued an open invitation to try some of their new ideas and provide feedback. Sort of a public usability test. Interesting idea. http://www.google.com/experimental/index.html

Here is a nice set of design templates from the Information Architecture Institute that I ran across recently: http://www.iainstitute.org/tools/

Is it just me, or do you think technology is becoming a little impersonal sometimes? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011402011.html?wpisrc=newsletter

Here is an interesting comparison of recent Apple designs to some from Braun in the 1960s. http://gizmodo.com/343641/1960s-braun-products-hold-the-secrets-to-apples-future

US News listed usability specialist as one of the best careers for 2008: http://www.usnews.com/features/business/best-careers/best-careers-2008.html