Jeffrey Zeldman reports on a tech panel/tech developer gameshow at SXSW where participants focused on users rather than geeking just for geek's sake.
But the surprise kick of the panel came from someplace completely different.
What was fresh and unexpected was the way panelists approached their tasks as users. Over and over, from the Flash and the “HTML” side, one heard comments like the following:
“I thought, as a user, what would I like to see here?”For instance, when both teams reimagined Ludicorp Research’s Flickr, the panelists in charge began by talking about why they loved the Flickr application — and then discussed (and executed) changes that could make Flickr even better from a user’s perspective. As a bonus surprise, on the night before the panel, the folks at Ludicorp implemented some of the changes made by the HTML team. (Digital) life imitates (virtual) game show.
Thinking like a user. It seems so obvious. But it is not.
Tragic but true. Not that being geeky isn't important, but it's depressing how many tech developers never get beyond the level of doing cool things just to impress their small circle of friends.
There's an old IBM commercial showing a bunch of geeks in a logo gathered excitedly around a computer screen. A newcomer peers over their shoulders to the animated image of a company logo with colorful flames leaping out of it. "It's a flaming logo!" one of the geeks exclaims. "Why's it flaming," the new guy asks. An incredulous face looks up at him and says, "Because it's a flaming logo."
Posted by johndan at March 22, 2005 10:29 PM | TrackBack