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COMP 2903 A7 – The Beauty of Simplicity. Danny Silver JSOCS, Acadia University. Linda Tischler Fast Company, Nov 2005. Senior Writer, Fast Company, US http://www.fastcompany.com/user/linda-tischler
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COMP 2903A7 – The Beauty of Simplicity Danny Silver JSOCS, Acadia University
Linda TischlerFast Company, Nov 2005 • Senior Writer, Fast Company, US http://www.fastcompany.com/user/linda-tischler • Fast Company sets the agenda, charting the evolution of business through a unique focus on the most creative individuals sparking change in the marketplace. By uncovering best and "next" practices, the magazine and website helps a new breed of leader work smarter and more effectively. • Fast Company empowers innovators to challenge convention and create the future of business. • Other artciles she has written http://labs.daylife.com/journalist/linda_tischler
Technology Time Savers • “Never in the history of mankind has there been so many time saving devices and yet so little time.” • Examples: • Email • Universal remote • Wrist watch
Innovations Paradox • We wish to have more functionality • We wish to have more ease of use • Take your average word processor for example. How much of its functionality do you feel you use?
Make it Simple as Google ! • Marissa Mayer – The GateKeeper at Google • “Google is like a Swiss Army knife, and the home page is when its closed, ready to go in your pocket” • To make it to their home page a new service needs to be compelling > M page views per day • And … The Google home page was not a design choice
Search Engine Comparison • Ending June 27, 2009 (%of US online search market): • Google - 74% • Yahoo – 16.2% • MS Bing – 5.25% • Microsoft's Bing grew at an average rate of 25 percent per week, according to research company Hitwise.
T + E = $ • Technology + Easy of Use = Profit • It is time for the technology challenged (mots people) to be heard • 87% of people said “ease of use” is most important feature
Think, Pair, Share • Name 1 product you love – Consider Why? • Name 1 product you hate – Consider Why? • Compare with your partner • Share with everyone
Simple is elegant • “Simple is elegant” …. Why? • Google’s Mayer “It gives you what you want, when you want it, rather than everything you couldever want, even when you don’t” • Milton Glaser (eminent designer) says • “Less isn’t more; just enough is more”
Stop adding features !!! • Arron Oppenheimer (Design Continuum) says • “Technology is a blessing because we can do anything with it, and a huge curse because we can do anything with it.” • Phillips • Customer survey in 2002 total them to simplify products (see p.30) • So they started by simplifying the company • Resulted in the campaign “Sense and simplicity” • Sales growth in 2005 was 35%
Intuit’s – Quicken Accounting • 2004 - QuickBooks Basic • Test drive with 100 potential customers bombed • Too hard to use • Laboured for a year to improve ease of use: • 125 setup screens reduced to 3 • 20 major tasks reduced to 6