The Wal-Mart Future:
The fundamental problem to date with B-to-C is that it pursued an inflationary path to a deflationary ideal. The original assessment was correct: the Web is the best retail environment the world has ever seen, _because _it is deflationary. However, this means businesses with trendy loft headquarters, high burn rates, and $2 million Super Bowl ads are precisely the wrong companies to be building efficient businesses that lower both consumer prices and internal costs.
Moving WebWord > Usability Can Save Your Company
Data indicate that usability offers a better return on investment than almost any other business action. When times get rough, usability shines. The benefits are huge. Usability is a weapon that can save you money, improve your competitive position, and improve customer loyalty. Now is the time to invest in the research.
Context Magazine—Smart Homes? a stupid idea.
It’s about developing things people need, rather than what the engineers think is cool.
So, the locus of innovation needs to change. Instead of developing gizmos, companies need to design products that fit into consumersÂ' activities and solve the problems that get in our way, irritate us, or waste our time.
ScreamDesign – Designing for e-commerce
Not sure I get it. First he says, “The most important thing a design team can do is really be clear about what you¹re selling. Avoid euphemisms at all costs: if people don’t understand what a product is they’re not going to buy it.”
Then he describes their product categories, which are “Taste”, “Savor” and “Live”. Seems to be a contradiction there somewhere.
User-Unfriendly
Welcome to the 21st century, where nothing works right, critical components of everyday life are far too complicated for average people to operate, and the guys responsible for foisting the whole mess upon the world don’t really seem to care.
Salon.com Technology | The year the hype died
Time for the year-end summary stuff from all the usual sources. I suspect many of them will be like this one from Salon
Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids
Ok, one more:
“The tragedy is inconceivable,” Wizco president Alvin Cassidy said. “For years, countless children played with the Aqua Assault RoboFighter without incident. But then these three retards come along and somehow find a way to get themselves killed. So now we have to do a full recall and halt production on what was a really awesome toy. What a waste.
New Remote Control Can Be Operated By Remote
Sometimes The Onion just cracks me up.
“Imagine a remote control capable of switching channels on your television right from its spot on the table, one that requires no clumsy fumbling about with the hands to operate,” Ninomiya said. “Well, that bold, inactive future is here.”
goodexperience.com: It’s time to simplify the PC
Mark Hurst summarizes and adds to a number of recent articles condemning technology. His “too many bits” argument is probably accurate.
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