Compete on Usability

Dasher interface types by pointing

This YouTube movie demonstrates the Dasher interface, developed at the University of Cambridge in the UK.  Dasher works by pointing to a letter in a vertical list.  The subsequent letters, weighted in order of probability, unfurl and you can keep pointing to make words and sentences.  Try Dasher in Java here.

It's flashy and interactive, and even elegant somehow. It's very quick with English dictionary words, but slow on proper nouns like names and places. I can imagine Dasher having great potential for disabled users, as well as for simple touchscreen interfaces.

Even cooler, what about a similar interface for choosing complementary colors or configuring a set of related product options?

(Link via GUUUI)

Usability named a Best Career

This week U.S. News & World Report magazine included usability / user experience specialist on their list of 31 top careers in the United States.  They do a reasonable job of explaining the position and putting it in context with a day-in-the-life feature, and they also include professional organizations and important books.

Although the article made good use of its concise column space, I think it would have been more interesting to interview actual practitioners. Without any quotes from real people the content feels artificial. Still, it's nice to get some mainstream recognition.

Google Charts API

If you do any display of usability result online, try out the Google Charts open API at http://code.google.com/apis/chart/. Unlike other chart APIs I have seen (Yahoo, for example), you don't need Javascript or any embedded code.  Just a correctly formatted URL.  There are plenty of examples at the Google code URL to get you started.  Don't forget to avoid legends whenever possible, though I'm disappointed the API doesn't currently support much in the way of labeling.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Web form to help with formatting the URLs though.  Anyone seen one yet?

Factors for success in the field, part III

In parts one and two of this series, I wrote that successful user experience professionals need to have passion with perspective and wield implicit authority across the org chart.

The third trait common to the most successful UX folks is being cognizant of their workplace values.  Organizations and individuals both have ways they like to work, reflecting what they find most important. Often unspoken, these choices and habits nevertheless can lead to frustrating cultural conflicts that really 

At one of my first job interviews out of college, I came armed with interview questions cribbed from books.  One of them met with a surprising response:

"What is your vision as a company?  What do you see as your overall strategy for success?"

My response?  "Well ... (pause) this really isn't a 'vision' type of company. We aim to be profitable and succeed in our markets, while still being flexible enough to pursue new opportunities. Does that answer your question?"

It answered me, but it wasn't the right answer for me. I was looking for a vision company with a clear identity.  In the emerging Web space, I believed that would help them develop a consistent business strategy, while establishing them in the minds of customers as standing for something.  I took the job, and learned a lot in different roles.  But afterwards, enduring reorganizations and new bosses every year, I thought back to that interview and wondered if I should have kept looking.

User experience is an organizational value. Either the organization understands and values UX, or it doesn't ... and it can be very, very difficult to "bubble up" a corporate value. Now, you may still choose to do usability at a company that doesn't hold the customer experience as a core value.  The important thing is to recognize that going in, and temper your expectations accordingly.

Easy button goes too far

Just a humor post related to an online comic someone sent me today.

The webcomic is Office Online by David Salaguinto.

Factors for success in the field, part II

Following up on my earlier post, the second thing I've seen common to successful UX practitioners:

Wield implicit authority across the org chart.  Managers have to get their subordinates to do work -- that's basic.  But the most successful people can inspire and convince their peers, clients, and bosses to jump on the bandwagon with them.  Implicit authority in the workplace springs from confidence in oneself, and effective communication.

In my career I was slow to realize the importance of this trait.  There wasn't a single "eureka" moment of clarity, but at one job, I saw my respect level increase dramatically once I started user testing and presenting results. I quickly went from chasing after coworkers with unsolicited interface tips, to having people come to me every day asking how to solve their user challenges.

It’s particularly important for a user experience professional to have this kind of influence, since UX is a new discipline in many organizations. A finance person can reasonably expect business processes that will involve them at the right time, but in user experience, often one isn't involved until it's too late (too expensive, too time-consuming) to address an issue.

Unquestionably, it helps to be comfortable and familiar with your coworkers. New managers can start bossing people around on day one, but implicit authority often must be earned through time and trial.

The negative side of wielding implicit authority is people who express too many opinions about areas outside of their responsibilities, or who stridently complain about the same issues repeatedly.  These are good ways to get yourself ignored.  To successfully promote user experience, start by asking questions and listening.

Three factors for success in the field, part I

I find a few key traits tend to characterize the most successful people I've worked with in the web and software business. Actually, they probably generalize to many fields, since they don't come directly from job skills and competencies.  These success traits transcend simple requirements like:

• Are you good at your job?
• Do you work hard?
• Can you get along with coworkers?
• Do you manage your time effectively?

These are necessary to stay employed, but not sufficient for success.  Consistent winners have other things in common.  Here is the first one I've seen:

Passion with perspective.  "Passion for your work" is something employers add to almost every job posting in the industry.  Without an emotional connection, it's difficult to persevere through challenges and deliver good results. Indeed, many people self-actualize through work and invest plenty of themselves into the job.

At times, however, despite heroic, inspired efforts, you won't succeed.  Or even get to finish what you started! The market may change, your client may run out of money, or your company may reorganize, and suddenly your project is no longer part of the master plan. I've seen many people become bitter and cynical at this stage, mourn what might have been, and remain unable to apply themselves to the next big thing.

Keep perspective about your company and project, so you don't take passion too far and burn out. The most successful people can immerse themselves into the current thing, yet when it's time, quickly shift their passions to something else. From the outside this behavior seems dissonant -- almost hypocritical. But in an industry that's always changing, it's critical for long-term success.