FW: User interfaces / computer user's manifesto

["Collins, Darren DA" <Collins -dot- Darren -dot- DA -at- BHP -dot- COM -dot- AU>]

This article seems like more whinging about something outside the
author's control, without really offering any solutions.

e.g.

"1. The user is always right. If there is a problem with the use of the
system, the system is the problem, not the user."

How would this handle the user that tried to fax a letter by holding the
letter up to their computer monitor?  Or the user that holds their mouse
upside-down?  Or the user that puts two floppy disks into the one disk
drive?  Or the user who thinks the CD-ROM tray is a drinks holder?

A simpler and more sensible manifesto would be:

1.  The user has the right to buy whichever hardware and software (and
documentation!) best meets their needs.  If it doesn't exist, they have
the right to invent it and make millions of dollars selling it to other
similar users.

But with rights come responsibilities:

1.  The user has the responsibility to work out what their needs are and
to educate themselves on how to meet those needs with the hardware and
software they choose to buy.

Darren Collins
Computer Engineer, Blast Furnaces
BHP Port Kembla, Australia


> -----Original Message-----
>
> http://www.businessweek.com/1998/39/b3597037.htm
>
> 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."
> ---------------------
> Rowena Hart
> Technical Writer
> Intrinsyc Software, Inc.
> Vancouver, B.C. Canada
> http://www.intrinsyc.com


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