Usability of Apple and Window products.

Just noticed something I could rant/discuss about. <^_^>

I always hear people, mostly Microsoft haters -- you know the ones that use the archaic M$ and think they are original and/or funny, complain about Office 2007's Ribbon and basically write the whole suite off as crap because of it.

Well, one day after my father asked me to help him with his iPhone, I finally realize I hated there usability. Maybe, Apple users have no problems finding what they are looking for in a few clicks instead of searching around, but when they use a Microsoft product, like Office, they might have the same difficulty and become frustrated with the product. (The same can probably be said about Linux)

I guess there is a certain expectation on where each type of user (Apple, Windows, Linux) expect to find what they want in different areas.

I bet this would be a cool study to do research on. Give a set of different users some simple tasks like changing the font type, using the thesaurus, etc.. and see where they instinctively go for their first few clicks. I would hypothesis that the majority of each group of users have different patterns. 

I will admit, my first use of the Ribbon, in Office 2007, was difficult in the beginning. Now it just makes more sense and I'm glad for the change. Rewriting someone's instinctively learned behavior is never easy at first but change in behavior is possible.

Now, I only wish it was that easy with Golf!

Learned from college

One of the first classes that I had in college was a communication's course on Usability. Being an avid computer and Internet user I would expect some concepts to be obvious, but as pointed out by the professor -- not everybody is familiar with the unwritten rules of conduct. How would someone new to the Internet know that a blue underlined text might be a link to more information. I hated that I had to make my class project ugly by putting information like this:

Click here to go back to the home page --> Home Page

The project, learning about rainbows, had a focus group for 4-6th graders. I would expect that they can pick up minor nuances quicker, because their behavioral learning is a blank slate.

Lesson Learned

• Designers - try to keep in mind of your main users, if not all of them. Never design based on your personal preferences and then expect everyone to like it.
• Haters - don't trash something because you feel like a 2 year old. Give it some time.

Evolution of Tech Companies Logos and their meaning. Plus a look at my university's logo.

Logo changes

An interesting read on how and when some of the current tech companies got started and the transition of their logo throughout the years.

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/07/the-evolution-of-tech-companies-logos/

Concept behind the logos

So what is the meaning behind of these famous logos?http://www.tmsgraphics.ca/tmsgraphics/pages/logo.html , shows where and what the ideas behind them are. The thought behind Apple's logo for example is now obvious:

Apple Based on its company name, they selected an apple as its main form of branding. Initially, the very first logo depicted a small apple shape sitting under a tree with Apple Computer Co set into the frame of the picture. It is this apple that has continued to be used. This initial logo design was perceived to be a bit too complex and hard to view, so Regis McKenna worked on the logo some years later and added a “bite mark" into the apple to symbolize the concept of seduction of the customers and the marketplace in general. Next, the monochrome version was replaced with the rainbow–colored logo as a reference to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve in which the apple represents the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. It brings to mind that people must pursue their dreams. While this was not initially a deliberate goal, it did encourage business and consumers to consider the Apple brand for the first time and was successful in generating increased profits.

My University Logo

Around 2002 my college, SUNY-IT, was going through another logo change (3rd or 4th change). They went to some company to do "research studies" and "focus groups" to find a logo that would work for our school. The logo they came up with was:

Not bad, unfortunately, I and some others didn't care for the Nike like swoop. The old logo, which resembled a bikini

actually had some meaning behind it and it was sad to see the history erased. If you look closely you will see that the old logo consisted of three letters U, D and C ;which stood for Upper Division College (until 2003, the college was upper division only, consisting of junior, seniors and grad students since 1966)* ** ***.  

Making a significant change to any logo is a tough job. I'm sure the transition made many people angry at the time, but the new logo is  better for marketing.

The earliest logo, which can be found on a flag at the college, consisted of the SUNY logo

   on a blue background with the name of the college on it.

*Another fun fact: The college actually started in the city of Utica, at a refurbished Mill factory.

**Even more interesting: The reason why the Donovan building   
seems so strange and confusing from the outside and definitely the inside is because it was modeled after the old Mill factory where the college originated from.

*** One of my favorite things about the college was that classes, before the change, were only Monday through Thursday. (an extra day of partying)

Technorati Tags: sunyit,suny-it,state university of new york,institute of technology,logo,nokia,ibm,apple,canon,history