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a Business Week article titled "A Computer User's Manifesto."
The article provides a 10-point "User's Bill of Rights" which is
quite interesting to think about. Point #10 was:
"10. The user should be the master of software and hardware
technology, not vice-versa. Products should be natural and
intuitive to use."
Anyway...my point is...
An article that appeared in The Economist on September 12th,
1998, supports this statement quite clearly. Here are a few
quotes, for those folks who are interested in this thread:
"As well as making computing more accessible for the
majority of people who still do not have a PC at home, the
new computing ["pervasive computing"] will also make life
far easier for those who do, but are baffled by the complexity
of a machine whose functions have grown like a high-tech
Topsy."
"Mr. Gates knows that, if it is to survive, the PC must become
easier to use. To the end, Microsoft is spending many billions
in an effort to 'humanise the user interface'."
"Many people will still want PCs for their adaptability and for
the power they put in a competent user's hands. But for most
people, most of the time, it is likely that practical and idiot-proof
appliances will fulfil not only their needs, but maybe even the
ultimate potential of computing."
