The tips in general are directed to user experience professionals, including designers. Most could apply equally well to companies or product teams as a whole. Or individual people just living their lives.
In the Google example, the team asked folks on the street what a “browser” was, looking for product direction on their new Chrome browser, I assume. They found that most people had no idea what a browser was, as currently defined. They conflated it with other things, especially Search Engine. The browser was pretty much invisible. I’ve seen the same thing; many people, especially older people, don’t “use a browser” they “use the Internet” or the “Web”. Ask which browser they use, and you get a blank stare. The browser “is not important,” in many ways, to the customer. The task they want to accomplish and the information they can access—THAT is important. Check the article link for the full content.
The tips in general are directed to user experience professionals, including designers. Most could apply equally well to companies or product teams as a whole. Or individual people just living their lives.
In the Google example, the team asked folks on the street what a “browser” was, looking for product direction on their new Chrome browser, I assume. They found that most people had no idea what a browser was, as currently defined. They conflated it with other things, especially Search Engine. The browser was pretty much invisible. I’ve seen the same thing; many people, especially older people, don’t “use a browser” they “use the Internet” or the “Web”. Ask which browser they use, and you get a blank stare. The browser “is not important,” in many ways, to the customer. The task they want to accomplish and the information they can access—THAT is important. Check the article link for the full content.
posted by Ted Boren on Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009