RE: I totally disagree with Jakob Nielsen

It is hard to argue with "Web firms rushing to serve the small, committed minority might find they make a site far less useful to the vast majority who come to a site for a specific purpose" as long as "might" is in the sentence.

And again, he is probably generally right when he says that "Most people just want to get in, get it and get out. . . For them the web is not a goal in itself. It is a tool."

One problem is the implication that any consideration of anything beyond Nielsenian "basics" means getting the basics wrong. While it may be worth mentioning that striving for aesthetics, personalization, and automation has resulted in some bad websites, assuming that ugliness and generic character makes a good website is peculiar at best.

The second thread of illogic running through Nielsen's screeds is the assumption that there is one answer and one need. He would have us believe that the singular goal for all web users is to get in, retrieve information or make a purchase, and get out with the fewest clicks possible and that the goal of all organizations is to support that effort. The retail equivalent would be the belief that the goal is to get into the store, get what you already knew you wanted, pay, and get out as quickly as possible. That doesn't really work for the 7-11. It certainly doesn't make a good business plan for Armani. But a glance at Nielsen will let you know that he doesn't shop at Armani.

Which brings me to the third problem I have with Nielsen. It is inherent in problems 1 and 2. His arrogant assumption that his experience defines all of humanity (and that any proof to the contrary must just be an adolescent phase) is unwise in the extreme. Jakob Nielsen is many things; broadly typical of humanity in general (or even of computer or web users in particular) is not one of them. Even if he were, see "the second thread" in the paragraph above.

Gunnar
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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] on behalf of Hitesh Mehta
Sent: Thu 5/17/2007 8:17 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AIGAExperienceDesign] I totally disagree with Jakob Nielsen
 
I was completely shocked to read such an article at the BBC site, Mr.
JaKob Neilsen, known as the usability guru has something to say on
web2.0 'distracting design'.

Check: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6653119.stm

READ FULL REVIEW: http://hiteshmehta.in/?p=8

Post your comments on my blog.

hitesh mehta | communication designer
www.hiteshmehta.in



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