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**Jack** · Dec 4, 2005, 01:56 pm

I've recently become a local "ambassador" for a group concerned with user experience. We aren't focused on one area. We want to represent users in dealings with software and hardware manufacturers, retailers, business, etc. In other words, we aim to champion the user when it comes to everyday items, a user-centric view.

So I'm seeking input from anyone regarding those things they use or encounter daily that fail to be user-friendly.

What are your gripes about your own experience? Have you encountered things that aren't designed to be used with ease? Do you have any ideas for improving the user interface or experience with something? If you have a specific item in mind, please mention it. Then groups like ours can approach the makers of it with suggestions to improve their product and increase the user-friendliness of it.

Milton Bradley · Dec 4, 2005, 02:21 pm

Women!

Can you do something with the interface options? The need to be made a little more user friendly. A mute button might be nice as well.

**Jack** · Dec 4, 2005, 02:26 pm

OK. Let's see, who do we approach on this one? That intelligent designer dude?

Clarence · Dec 4, 2005, 02:27 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Milton Bradley

Women!

Can you do something with the interface options? The need to be made a little more user friendly. A mute button might be nice as well.

yeah and I can't seem to delete some old files.

I'm not advanced enough to even know what you're talking about. But I am having problems running quicktime on my pc. I've downloaded it but it won't run. says I don't have administration capabilities to do so but I should. I don't know.

**Jack** · Dec 4, 2005, 02:34 pm

We advocate ease of use in anything manufactured or produced. Ergonomics is a part of it. User friendliness is a part. It's looking at products from the user's point of view instead of the designer's. Many things are designed to be attractive or seductive (to get you to purchase it). We prefer things to be practical, intuitive, easy and safe to use.
Software I can think of that falls into the user-unfriendly camp includes almost everything from Macromedia. QuickBooks is another useful but overly complicated bit of software.
Other things might include car dashboard designs that are cool but difficult to use while driving, keyboards that make typing actually harder than necessary, faucet designs that while attractive make usage difficult. Cell phone that designs are often counter-intuitive.
Those kind of things...

Compugasm · Dec 4, 2005, 05:11 pm

Hmm, I'm the head of User Experience for a software company. What's the name of your group?

Nono · Dec 4, 2005, 05:39 pm

Two years ago I bought a Sony DVD player/recorder and returned it a week later on the grounds that I couldn't figure out how the goddamned thing worked, despite sifting through the massive (and massively incomprehensible) instruction manual. I said I was perfectly willing to accept that I wasn't bright enough, but I doubted most others were any brighter. The guy said yes, several other people had returned theirs for the same reason. He gave me my money back with hardly any struggle at all. I'd love to use DVDs, but just don't have a PhD in electrical engineering. :)

Critter · Dec 4, 2005, 09:52 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Milton Bradley

Women!

Can you do something with the interface options? The need to be made a little more user friendly. A mute button might be nice as well.

I'd like to help you, but I don't understand us either.

Clarence · Dec 5, 2005, 01:26 am

Quote:

Quote by: Isherwood

It's looking at products from the user's point of view instead of the designer's. Many things are designed to be attractive or seductive (to get you to purchase it). We prefer things to be practical, intuitive, easy and safe to use.

I like this statement. I would like to know more about your company or organization.

Plasma Snake[D] · Dec 6, 2005, 10:30 pm

You should throw monkey bars eveywhere... Lord knows we need more of those!

**Jack** · Dec 6, 2005, 10:32 pm

Quote:

If I came up with an idea you would have to give me 50%

Since no one's making a dime at this, you've got a deal. Half of all the nothing I earn is yours.

Dec 4, 2005, 01:56 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,012	User Experience I've recently become a local "ambassador" for a group concerned with user experience. We aren't focused on one area. We want to represent users in dealings with software and hardware manufacturers, retailers, business, etc. In other words, we aim to champion the user when it comes to everyday items, a user-centric view. So I'm seeking input from anyone regarding those things they use or encounter daily that fail to be user-friendly. What are your gripes about your own experience? Have you encountered things that aren't designed to be used with ease? Do you have any ideas for improving the user interface or experience with something? If you have a specific item in mind, please mention it. Then groups like ours can approach the makers of it with suggestions to improve their product and increase the user-friendliness of it. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Dec 4, 2005, 02:26 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,012	OK. Let's see, who do we approach on this one? That intelligent designer dude? The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Dec 4, 2005, 02:34 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,012	We advocate ease of use in anything manufactured or produced. Ergonomics is a part of it. User friendliness is a part. It's looking at products from the user's point of view instead of the designer's. Many things are designed to be attractive or seductive (to get you to purchase it). We prefer things to be practical, intuitive, easy and safe to use. Software I can think of that falls into the user-unfriendly camp includes almost everything from Macromedia. QuickBooks is another useful but overly complicated bit of software. Other things might include car dashboard designs that are cool but difficult to use while driving, keyboards that make typing actually harder than necessary, faucet designs that while attractive make usage difficult. Cell phone that designs are often counter-intuitive. Those kind of things... The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Dec 4, 2005, 05:39 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Nono Throbbing Member Location: Old Europe Posts: 6,774	Two years ago I bought a Sony DVD player/recorder and returned it a week later on the grounds that I couldn't figure out how the goddamned thing worked, despite sifting through the massive (and massively incomprehensible) instruction manual. I said I was perfectly willing to accept that I wasn't bright enough, but I doubted most others were any brighter. The guy said yes, several other people had returned theirs for the same reason. He gave me my money back with hardly any struggle at all. I'd love to use DVDs, but just don't have a PhD in electrical engineering. :) "I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." -- Viscount Melbourne

Dec 6, 2005, 10:30 pm	#10 (permalink) (top)
Plasma Snake[D] Cause for Concern Location: Planet Earth Posts: 664	You should throw monkey bars eveywhere... Lord knows we need more of those! Last edited by Plasma Snake[D]; Dec 6, 2005 at 10:33 pm.

Dec 4, 2005, 02:21 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Milton Bradley BANNED Location: Ohio Province, Rep. of Comerica Posts: 7,320	Women! Can you do something with the interface options? The need to be made a little more user friendly. A mute button might be nice as well.

Dec 4, 2005, 05:11 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
Compugasm Son of X51 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,643	Hmm, I'm the head of User Experience for a software company. What's the name of your group?