Simple design can help users solve problems

Simple Design Can Help Users Solve Problems

October 10th, 2007 · 12 Comments · GIS, Open Source

Somewhat of a follow on to my previous post about the WPServer Demo.

Ask 37signals: Is it really the number of features that matter?

Good software is about balancing value and screen real estate and understanding and outcome. If it takes 20 good features to get there, then great. If it only takes eight, even better. It’s not the number that counts, it’s the balance.

That is what I’m talking about here. The kitchen sink is wonderful, but too many times it is thrown at users who have to fight though all the tools to use just basic tasks. That is what really catches my eye about the WPServer Demo.

Also I’m not saying get rid of the kitchen sink either, it just isn’t needed by everyone.

Don’t be throwing the kitchen sink at Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie

Update: fixed title

Tags: Programming

12 responses so far ↓

1 Sean Gillies // Oct 10, 2007 at 5:28 pm

Paris Hilton? I think I can see rock bottom from here, James
2 James Fee // Oct 10, 2007 at 7:47 pm

You have to start at the bottom Sean….
3 Dave // Oct 11, 2007 at 9:37 am

This is exactly what I’ve been thinking for quite some time. And if ESRI carries through with ArcSDE on PostGIS, this becomes much more compelling. It will be interesting!
4 Doug // Oct 11, 2007 at 11:19 am

Is the glaring grammar error in the blog title:

1. Irony
2. A secret message
3. A glaring grammar error
5 James Fee // Oct 11, 2007 at 12:55 pm

That would be my attempt at writing a blog post on an iPhone and not noticing the title.

I’ll take irony though…
6 Doug // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:20 am

Oh sure, blame the iPhone!
7 James Fee // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:28 am

Not even my iPhone!
8 Legacy // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:39 am

Hey James - I’m waiting for a Rockies-D’Backs GIS blog post. I trust you weren’t in the upper stands last night!
9 James Fee // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:42 am

I’m a Giants fan so I really could care less about the Rockies vs the D’Backs.

I’ve said it many times though, Arizona Sports Fan is very uninformed about about sports rules and prone to drinking and making an ass of himself.

D’Backs fan doesn’t fill the seats and then throws trash on the field when the team loses.

Class all around…..
10 Dimitri // Oct 16, 2007 at 8:24 am

The Simple Life of Paris Hilton
11 peepee // Oct 16, 2007 at 1:58 pm

hey, this is a Dimitri imposter (check the link)… That is bad form, bad form..
12 James Fee // Oct 16, 2007 at 3:06 pm

@peepee: You don’t think that others might be named Dimitri out there do you?