I Love U-sers

Today is World Usability Day

Imagine if you couldn't figure out how to upload videos on YouTube
Imagine if Google seemed too complex
Imagine if using Tivo was as hard as using your VCR
Imagine if your iPod intimidated you
Imagine if customizing your Avatar wasn't any fun
Imagine if you couldn't figure out how to comment on this post
Imagine if buying offline was more convenient
Imagine if classifieds were easier than Craigslist
Imagine if the buttons on your mobile device didn't work
Imagine if running a blog was only for techies
Imagine if your bank teller was faster than your ATM
Imagine if del.icio.us wasn't
Imagine if I couldn't figure out how to publish this post

Imagine if all agencies and our clients took usability seriously?

A product, service or brand experience that isn't usable is like a barking dog without teeth.  All bark, no bite and highly annoying.

Today is World Usability Day

Think like a designer, empathize with your users and create something usable.

Comments

[gabby]

I noticed that the WUD events info page at nearby Blue Cross & Blue Shield *still* says that an email address to RSVP is forthcoming. Whoops! What if you gave a usability event and no one came?

[Stan Lee]

Great post as usual David. However I have a question.

Why oh why do we as an industry still refer to people as 'users'?

Surely with all the combined brain power of people involved in the digital world we could come up with a warmer, friendlier more human alternative?

[DA]

Stan,

Was waiting for this comment—you took the bait. :)

Why do we call people customers? Why do we call folks consumers? Why do we reference groups of people as and audience or community.

Personally for me, I don't shy away from calling people users when they are using something. It helps add context as the other lables do.

Wrote about my feelingson this subject here:
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/06/people_people_w.html

Don Norman advocates for just calling people people. And Don is a great person. He's also an Author and Professor in addition to being a person.

I respectfully disagree with Mr. Norman for the reasons outlined in my post.