March 14, 2009

Every useable and efficient application UX needs 3 things :

My inspiration comes from an original Tweet by @communicating:

"To create a useable, efficient mobile application UX you really need to minimize 3 things: 1-Keystrokes, 2-Screen Changes, 3-Hidden Data."

I agree with @communicating, but I will open the concept => every useable and efficient application UX needs to minimize 3 things:
  1. Keystrokes,
  2. Screen Changes,
  3. Hidden Data.
Not only because the trend is now towards "mobile everywhere" but also because the more general trend, you guessed, is : "Keep it easy simple !"

March 9, 2009

KeepItEasySimple Need4: Why the Web isn’t like a magazine?

"Why the Web isn’t like a magazine? Why going to a new Web page isn’t as easy as just turning a page ? "


That is a new idea from Larry Page (Google's
Co-founder) according to Marissa Mayer the vice president of search products and user experience at Google in a video intereview with Charlie Rose.

NOT EASY,
SIMPLE

March 8, 2009

KeepItEasySimple Solution1: BackLink reader for Twitter


You want to check who is twetting about your URL page even if it is hidden by a URL-shortener service ? Then you need

http://backtweets.com/

It is just a search engine that looks for all links posted on Twitter BUT it reads also the shortened URLs !!

No need to check 1 by 1 all the http://bit.ly, http://ff.im, http://tinyurl.com/ ...

A 4****/5 KeepItEasySimple Solution

KeepItEasySimple Need3: Blogger should insert links codes for me

Any time, I write a full URL address (http://www.afullurladress.com) , Blogger.com should place the correct codes so that the link can be used by viewers instead of asking me to click on the Link button and do the job.

EASY
SIMPLE

KeepItEasySimple Need2: Web app with long urls to provide url-shortening

"Every web app that produces long urls should provide a built-in url-shortening facility"

http://bit.ly/utNQk

from @davewiner post:
http://www.scripting.com/stories/2009/03/07/solvingTheTinyurlCentraliz.html

EASY
SIMPLE

KeepItEasySimple Need1: URL-shorteners

"I would like my URL-shortener to grab the title of the page I'm linking to and insert it into the typing box, before the shortened URL" instead of doing that myself.


RT@davewiner: A short step in URL-shorteners. http://bit.ly/cWxv

EASY
SIMPLE

February 22, 2009

User Interface On-line Survey

As a matter of fact, the main interest of this blog will be in User Interface and so let's start by helping a company that is not as known now as the Apples, the Microsofts or the Facebook but that was for the "grown-ups" synonimus of Computers: IBM.

It is just a 10 questions on-line survey on the "Importance of User Interface Design".

Interesting enough, only 6 companies are mentionned in this survey:
Apple, Google, IMB, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP

So let's give a hand to IBM and let's hope they let us know at least the results ;-)

The Easy Simple Web site of all ? Google !

Of course, Google is the Easiest Simple Working Web site : 5*

The Logo and the search window : 1 - 2 !

Two Buttons and that's it. Even if it is one of the most visited page in the world, no ads no frills.

Right, if you look carefuly, you see little scripts :
Web Images Maps News Video Gmail more or Advertising Programs - Business Solutions - About Google .

But the concept, is still EASY SIMPLE clear.

Of course, you HAVE to know that Google does the Best Web Search (because it is written nowhere, here) but, hey, it is Google ! Is like saying that you can drink a Coke.

Now, who remembers the Google beta of Dec 02, 1998 ? Here it is:

See, it was already EASY SIMPLE... except for the : "Search the Web using Google !"

Why Keep it Easy Simple, the Blog ?

A new blog, why ?

To be able to express my frustration when I found "over complicated" functions, services, applications and devices.

I always ask myself: "Would have not be possible to achieve the same (or better) with a Simpler, Easier Working solution ?



And many time, the answer is yes even if the creators spend hours, days to think about their work. Most often, thinks are what they are, because assomptions made at a time X are still used at time Y. It's human.

Other times, it is the technology at time X that still guides products and functions at time Y but since then a lot has changed.

But, in my opinion, the biggest problem comes when the End User (me, you) is not the focus point of the all project. But many developers answer that They are also End Users and that for them it is fine... Big Mistake!!

End Users are not as you imagine them, they do not know what you think the know.

The best way to deal with it is to think your End Users as ... well ... Stupid ;-)

According to Wikipedia definition: Stupidity is "indicative of low intelligence or poor learning abilities."

Yes, imagine you product/service used by a Stupid person, me.

Imagine, a End User that:
- does not know to use the right/left click on the mouse (yes, Mac users do not have right/left clicks),
- is disturbed to have to click to Start to End his Windows session
- is confused if give him the choice between 4 notes of 50$ or 20 notes of 10$
- is frustrated to have to click on a Facebook application instead of opening the "gift that a friend of yours has sent you"...

The list is infinite... but will try to reduce it ;-)

If you have ideas and comments do not hesitate...

The more "Stupid" we are, the better services and products we will get!