While I am trying this Blogust experiment (thank you, Wendy Girven!) I think I'll devote one post each week to sharing a favorite article.
This week, it's The Expert User is Dead by Leo Robert Klein. I love this article if only for the title. It is a phrase that I know I've wanted to scream before in many an interface design meeting (or really, just any meeting. Why not?) "People! The Expert user is dead!!"
That would get a reaction. Just a few weeks ago someone mentioned to me that the next version of the CAT had better have the advanced search screen front and center, and I almost tore my hair out right then and there. Ugh.
I'm hoping to have more time over the coming year to explore interface design and how public services librarians, who are front and center experiencing patrons' needs and wants, are central to the design process. Klein's article goes a long way in explaining why we need to advocate for the vast majority of our patrons--users who want to access information for their needs quickly, easily, and in the simplest manner possible.
This week, it's The Expert User is Dead by Leo Robert Klein. I love this article if only for the title. It is a phrase that I know I've wanted to scream before in many an interface design meeting (or really, just any meeting. Why not?) "People! The Expert user is dead!!"
That would get a reaction. Just a few weeks ago someone mentioned to me that the next version of the CAT had better have the advanced search screen front and center, and I almost tore my hair out right then and there. Ugh.
I'm hoping to have more time over the coming year to explore interface design and how public services librarians, who are front and center experiencing patrons' needs and wants, are central to the design process. Klein's article goes a long way in explaining why we need to advocate for the vast majority of our patrons--users who want to access information for their needs quickly, easily, and in the simplest manner possible.
Thanks again for pointing out a great article, Ellysa!
Ellysa,
I would recommend arming yourself with a copy of Robert Hoekman, Jr.'s Designing the Obvious for your next meeting as well. Some of the same ideas are there too.
There's also the old 80/20 rule (actually there are many variations of the 80/20 rule, I think): 80% of your users only use about 20% of the features, so why not keep the main viewing area clean by displaying only the most used features? The other features (like an advanced search) can be buried; the "experts" are clever enough to do a little digging.
Good luck! (Sometimes committees tend to feature-creep a project until it is no longer useful even for the people who wanted the features. Hoekman notes that often a disconnect from what people request and what they really want.)
Nikki
Ellysa,
This is very thought-provoking. In most regards, I think the expert user is dead...of suicide. For most types of searches and general users out in the world, "good enough" information defeats "quality" information nearly every time. However, as educators, I think it's our duty to give them what they need instead of what they want. Yes, this is probably me still tilting at windmills, but I just don't want to give in to the Googlization of everything. I'm not saying we need to teach them how to be expert searchers, but I'm saying that the basic one text box search screen helps maintain a level of idiot users.
On a happier note, I love your Blogust project.
Nikki---thanks for that recommendation---I am putting Design the Obvious on my reading list. I am trying to get through 'Here Comes Everybody' now--it is taking me a while. (My reading has gone almost Web-only, sadly).
Russ--I love your statement that the expert user is dead...by suicide. :) I agree that we need to give them what they need rather than what's they want (i.e. what's at the top of the results list.) I think a good interface can inherently teach the user, whether they are expert or novice.
Perhaps I haven't seen many good interfaces. :)
Well, perhaps neither of us have. But one can hope, right?
Absolutely!
I was looking for an online copy of that article and came upon your Blog.
Thanks for the positive remarks!