I’m a software developer and consultant using FileMaker Pro as my development platform. As a builder of software applications, I find it important that my software not only work well, but is usable as well as easy to use. I pay close attention to what appears on my screens and printed page.
Below is an example of a dialog box that simply does not work.
I’ll give credit where credit is due. I found the dialog in a review of the TomTom GO 720 GPS. The article is posted on TidBits.
It was in the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII played on January 22, 1984 that the video announcing the first Macintosh ran. It ran only once, but surely impressed a lot of people with its power and creativity. Some would say the video was the precursor of “event advertising” during subsequent Super Bowls.
According to Wikipedia, which seems to have an article on everything, that commerical cost $800,000 to make and another $800,000 to air during that game between the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders. For the sake of accuracy, the Raiders won that game 38-9.
At the time, I was an Educational Sales rep for an Apple reseller and actually saw the commercial back in December at a Macintosh product roll-out. Those of us in the room were stunned; literally blown away by the impact of that video. The Macintosh computer itself was also quite revolutionary for its time. Unlike the Apple //e, which I owned at the time, and the IBM PC XT, all the components were inside one box. Additionally, instead of a command line interface, it used a mouse and graphics to make the computer work aka a GUI (graphical user interface).
As an employee in an Apple store, I was eligible to purchase one of these computers under what was called “Own a Mac.” For $2500, I received the original Macintosh, the first ImageWriter Printer, MacWrite word processing, MacPaint, a revolutionary graphics program, a subscription to MacWorld, and a carrying case for the computer. It showed up in several boxes on my doorstep in March of 1984.
I still have the carrying case and printer, although I’ve not used either in years. The original Macintosh is long gone, although subsequent Macs, including my current MacBook Pro, are commonplace in my office and home. Soon after the product announcement, I purchased a few hundred shares of Apple stock, based upon what I beliefed to be a great product. I was proven correct by the share price, and sold my holding a few years later for a down payment on our current Cincinnati residence.
If you have an thoughts about that video, or experience with early computing, please feel welcome to comment below.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock or haven’t connected to the web since the beginning of this year, you’ve been reading about Apple’s newest technology contraption, the iPhone. A mobile phone, video iPod for music, and PDA that can browse the Internet, while supposedly powered by Macintosh OSX under the hood. It’s a smart looking and creatively designed product that promises to revolutionize the handheld technology arena.
As previously mentioned, anyone who writes about technology has written an article or blog about this new device, most hailing it as the greatest thing since sliced bread. That may well be the case, and down the road apiece, this may change things quite significantly. Additionally, Apple does make great products. Consider the ubiquitous iPod for example.
Ted Landau, long-time Macintosh author and advocate has posted his more critical take on the iPhone in an article on his excellent website, MacFixIt. In the article, he makes some valid points about this possibly revolutionary new piece of technology.
It’s Expensive. Not only is the purchase price compared to other devices at the top end of the range, it will likely require high-end wireless services.
Limited Storage. The iPhone uses a flash drive rather than a hard drive like other iPods use.
Stuck with Cingular. I am not a Cingular subscriber, so I’ll not make an attempt to evaluate their service, but the fact of the matter is that the iPhone user is limited to that carrier at this time.
It’s Locked. Folks will be limited to Apple’s software as well as the functionality as allowed by Cingular, the wireless provider.
Size Limitations. Apple claims it will have a touch screen keyboard. It’s already hard enough to “type” on one of those small keyboards. What is going to happen when there is no tactile response at all the “pressing” the keys?
Watch out. Early adapters had better be careful when using one. I suspect it will easily be lost or stolen. And there were cases where people were mugged or pickpocketed for the new iPods.
On the other side of the coin:
It appears well designed.
The iPhone looks cool.
The interface appears clean and elegant.
The iPhone appears easy to use. Not that it would take much compared to today’s cell phone interface and software design.
The product is designed by Apple, their design concepts are exceptional.
It will improve and the user experience will get better.
Look, I don’t want to completely denigrate what is likely a revolutionary product. I just think it’s going to take some time to work the kinks out and make a more satisfactory device for those using it. Like Mr. Landau, it’s likely that I am not the target customer for this device anyhow. I own a cell phone that I use for one purpose: to make calls. I don’t need a web browser nor a PDA, nor do I want to get email on my phone. I carry a laptop almost everywhere, and when I need to get connected I can. Besides, there are plenty of times that I really don’t want to be connected.
Once I figure this “blogging thing” out, I intend to bring more focus to this page. Expect to hear more about User Interface Design. I actually know something about this topic, having spent the last 20 years as a Computer Consultant, mostly building database systems for the last 12 or so.
Along with commentary about Interface Design and software development, expect the “random” (my son’s word for unexpected happenings) posting about horse racing, tennis, and other random goings-on in this world of ours.
I work as software consultant based in Cincinnati, Ohio, building custom information
systems for education and businesses. My company, Watzman
Associates, Inc. has been in business for over 20 years.
Using FileMaker Pro as my development platform, I build database solutions that work for those using them. The hard work is done "under the hood", what my customers get are tools to improve their schools and businesses.
