When I read tech blogs, I’m surprised at how often people assume that everyone else must have the same needs they do, and that the people they work with must be emblematic of the world in general.
Hint: What you want out of a piece of hardware or software isn’t necessarily what I want. For me, for example, customization of software is important. I like to streamline my apps so toolbars and menus are as uncluttered as possible. Here’s my Word toolbar, and it’s more cluttered than I’d prefer:
There are lots of software (and hardware) features that are crucial for you, but mean nothing to me. You want a music player that has a shuffle function, but I listen to audiobooks and need one with bookmarks. And so on.
So when I read things like this opening sentence from blah, blah! technology, I just shake my head:
IM (Instant Messaging) is for most people a vital part of their work flow.
It is? For most people? Really? Yes, I use IM at work, and I know many others who do. Most of them dabble with it, and it’s certainly not a “vital part of their work flow.” Of course, in some places it is crucial. And in others they don’t use it at all.
Sometimes you can justify a “most people” statement if it’s backed up by the facts. Most people could have, oh, three fonts installed on their computers and get along fine. (Try telling that to a graphic artist, though.)
But those cases are the minority. Do “most people” prefer to hit Ctrl-B to make text bold, or to click on the “B” icon? Do they buy a cell phone for its camera or not? Do they use instant messaging?
I don’t know. But it’s so darned common for people to assume that everyone’s like them.
PC Magazine still hasn’t gotten over its fondness for features. Back in the early ’90s, when I worked there, products got high marks for the number of features they had. And still the magazine gives a lot of credit to how many things a product does, instead of just how well it does it. Everyone likes lots of features, right?
Maybe not.
This is why software product development is so tough. You have to appeal to all sorts of different people. Does your keyboard need music controls? App-launch buttons? Lighted keys? Yes and no. Good luck trying to appeal to everyone; that’s why there are product lines.
So keep this in mind the next time you’re about to say or write, “Most people [want what I want].” Don’t assume.
tommy says:
Most people want software bloated with features they’ll never use.
Most people need and want Windows Vista. (Most people think it’s better.)
Most people are willing and able to pay more money every year or two to get a new computer so they can run the latest bloatware.
Not me. I want the newest/fastest computer so I can run older software faster, not newer software slower.