It’s quite enjoyable to read through the < Cognitive Friction>, with the authors humorous writing style. It seems that people have been suffering those dancing bear-wares since they entered the information age, but they just don’t realize that they actually have the chance to get much adorable software through better designs and their interaction with them could have been much easier.
As the author points out, many people just “adopt cognitive friction as a lifestyle”, they get fun through overcoming those difficulties, if this is true, it is not hard to explain why our software interface is so suffering but we are still tolerating them, the interaction process with those bearware itself is so enjoyable and why there need a change? Especially when people tend to be the victims of “Stockholm Syndrome” who will appreciate whatever tiny benefit they get, which is such a pertinent metaphor to describe this psychology phenomenon in this context!
I cannot agree more that “ the web is probably the biggest dancing bear we’ve ever faced.” It is not as smart as it could be. I have spent a huge amount of time on waiting for some unavailable links. Software-based products usually can kill my time really relentlessly.For example, in order to download some certain apps to my ipod touch, I have to update its software to the newest ios 4.0.1, the process almost cost me a half day to accomplish it. Maybe part of the slow process is due to my slow internet connectivity and my overloaded computer rather than the problem of software design, but it still cost me some time to figure out how to do it without any instruction, in addition, it also presents another problem that whether it is worthwhile to spend tons of time doing things like this? And what is the opportunity cost you’ve sacrificed during this time? Technology especially information era technology brings up cognitive friction, I am just wondering is that really a bonus to human-being? I would be glad to see if things can be much easier to operate and control in the future with simpler software design and a much faster Internet speed.
Sure, having it better than nothing, that’s why we still appreciate a beer can dance, at least, it danced! Probably, we should expect more and that is fair to us!
Does the term “computer literacy” becomes an euphemism for social and economic apartheid? Maybe that is partly true; however, I have to admit that it is a necessity to master some basic computer skills in the context of this information era, otherwise,you will lag behind the times. It is unrealistic just sitting there and refusing the development of the technology. You should stand up and make some effort in order to get any rewards. No pay, no gain. I think it is kind of reasonable to sacrifice some time and endure some pain if you want gain something. I will definitely feel like guilty if reaping without sowing since the place where we are living is a physical world that obey the rule which gaining is proportional to your paying. I will feel much peaceful if something I have is from my honest effort. As a consequence, I am not in the great expectation of the scenario that enjoying the fruits of technology without having toiled, unfortunately, I am probably fall to the category the author has defined: apologist.
< Designing for Power> states quite clear that the tasks doesn’t equal to goals, however, most designers remiss this point. I think it’s really important to keep in mind when we designing for the users, simplicity is always much better than complexity. If we can explain something within one sentence, we had better not use two; similarly, if one new feature will be rarely used, we had better hide it or simply git rid of that. What users need is something efficient and to the point rather than something cumbersome and confusing. The article refers “polite software” which is a really interesting conception to me, not only Human being should behave politely, but also does the software, if it expects to be welcomed!
[...] Li : The Dancing Bear (cognitive [...]