People will always need to eat, but that doesn't mean they will always need you to be involved. The share of the US population living on farms has plummeted even as malnutrition has vanished.
I think the point of this study is that management doesn't have to be paranoid about normal IT people abusing the trust the organization has placed in them. The people truly likely to cause harm will broadcast that fact clearly in advance through egregious behavior.
One manager used the term "culture shock" to describe the user's experience switching from a full PC to a thin client. That sounds about right: thin clients are sold as a cheap alternative to PCs, but end up functioning more like a fancy PDA.
This whole body of research linking brain function to behavior is fascinating, but it's not hard to picture a scenario where it could be used to manipulate people. Imagine choosing job applicants based on this analysis in order to save on compensation costs. Or denying someone a promotion because their brain scan shows they're working only for themselves. "Sorry, Bob, you're just not a team player. It says so right here on these lab results!"
It's true that developers don't think like users, but that's not the only reason software is hard to use.
In most cases in business, users aren't the ones making software buying decisions. The organization makes choices for them based on a number of factors. There's no conspiracy against usability, it just has to compete with cost, features, regulatory compliance, and other considerations. Software developers naturally target the criteria that drive purchase decisions, even if the result is a compromised user experience.
I recommend writing a screensaver. These are typically small, self-contained programs that work closely with the underlying operating system. The screen display can be as simple or elaborate as you like, and you get experience packaging and deploying your software to meet the requirements of the host system.
Java's focus has always been on enterprise software development. Consider this quote from the Java EE 5 Tutorial on “Development Roles”:
After software is purchased and installed, Java EE components can be developed by application component providers, assembled by application assemblers, and deployed by application deployers.
Assuming that raising student grades is a function of the hours a teacher invests in honing lesson plans and providing extra assistance and tutoring, how does it compare to alternative ways the teacher has to supplement their income? Does it yield more per hour than, say, getting a night job at the supermarket, or earning a law degree and leaving teaching altogether?
I just got tired of games crashing my computer. Or segfaulting in the middle of the action.
Standalone devices with predictable specs are just more stable than the zoo of general purpose computing systems, be they desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. Keep games where they belong.
Did you just turn 35? It seems like movies are pitched at the demographic from teenagers to mid-thirties. By 35, you've seen every trick in the Hollywood book, so nothing seems fresh. Everything strikes you as a copy of something you've already seen.
I submit it's not that the movies have been so bad lately, but rather that your sensibilities have changed.
This website hosting this article is just not very credible. It uses popup windows and hosts ads for dubious anti-aging products and precious metals investments.
I'm all for a debate on global warming, but this source doesn't pass my personal credibility filter.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm so angry about this, I'm going back to semaphore.
People will always need to eat, but that doesn't mean they will always need you to be involved. The share of the US population living on farms has plummeted even as malnutrition has vanished.
h tm#fig1
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/EIB3/charts.
Network Solutions domain name search says the key is already registered in several top-level domains.
The cinema experience isn't deteriorating; the Slashdot crowd is reaching the age where people get tired of it.
I favor more laws, especially if backed up with the threat of corporal punishment.
The Nintendo Wii: it's not your father's game console--it's your grandfather's game console.
Note to young whippersnappers: this joke references an advertising slogan for a defunct brand of automobile.
Further note to young whippersnappers: get off my lawn.
I think the point of this study is that management doesn't have to be paranoid about normal IT people abusing the trust the organization has placed in them. The people truly likely to cause harm will broadcast that fact clearly in advance through egregious behavior.
One manager used the term "culture shock" to describe the user's experience switching from a full PC to a thin client. That sounds about right: thin clients are sold as a cheap alternative to PCs, but end up functioning more like a fancy PDA.
This whole body of research linking brain function to behavior is fascinating, but it's not hard to picture a scenario where it could be used to manipulate people. Imagine choosing job applicants based on this analysis in order to save on compensation costs. Or denying someone a promotion because their brain scan shows they're working only for themselves. "Sorry, Bob, you're just not a team player. It says so right here on these lab results!"
In related news, Linux and BSD are still free.
Some superpower or another needs to preemptively attack and destroy this doomsday clock before it hurts someone.
It's true that developers don't think like users, but that's not the only reason software is hard to use.
In most cases in business, users aren't the ones making software buying decisions. The organization makes choices for them based on a number of factors. There's no conspiracy against usability, it just has to compete with cost, features, regulatory compliance, and other considerations. Software developers naturally target the criteria that drive purchase decisions, even if the result is a compromised user experience.
...the face of Elvis.
I recommend writing a screensaver. These are typically small, self-contained programs that work closely with the underlying operating system. The screen display can be as simple or elaborate as you like, and you get experience packaging and deploying your software to meet the requirements of the host system.
Java's focus has always been on enterprise software development. Consider this quote from the Java EE 5 Tutorial on “Development Roles”:
Also consider the Java EE Architecture Overview diagram from the same document.
This “tutorial” is aimed at enterprise people with time and money to spend.
If television is what O'Reilly calls reality, then yes, I'm divorced from it, and happily so.
I wonder if this is a good deal financially--
Assuming that raising student grades is a function of the hours a teacher invests in honing lesson plans and providing extra assistance and tutoring, how does it compare to alternative ways the teacher has to supplement their income? Does it yield more per hour than, say, getting a night job at the supermarket, or earning a law degree and leaving teaching altogether?
I just got tired of games crashing my computer. Or segfaulting in the middle of the action.
Standalone devices with predictable specs are just more stable than the zoo of general purpose computing systems, be they desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. Keep games where they belong.
CBS News report on Watergate from 1972-06-19.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I28mQEVJQso
Did you just turn 35? It seems like movies are pitched at the demographic from teenagers to mid-thirties. By 35, you've seen every trick in the Hollywood book, so nothing seems fresh. Everything strikes you as a copy of something you've already seen.
I submit it's not that the movies have been so bad lately, but rather that your sensibilities have changed.
Good point. I'm going to buy insurance company stock immediately in order to benefit no matter who realizes the savings from this.
Seriously, could you imagine the insurance discount you'd get if they knew every incidient would be photographed?
New application suite Microsoft Simplify due for release in 2009Q2! Register now for beta testing starting 2008Q3!
I'll start defrauding my employer as soon as I figure out how to charge them for open source software...
This website hosting this article is just not very credible. It uses popup windows and hosts ads for dubious anti-aging products and precious metals investments.
I'm all for a debate on global warming, but this source doesn't pass my personal credibility filter.