Agist Agonistes


Agist Agonistes

It used to be that convenience and usability in tech gadgets was mostly constrained by scarcity of resources.

That really isn't true, anymore, except for those who desire a completely immersive experience.

So I find it pretty irritating when gadgets and platforms sacrifice basic usability for gee whiz gimcrackery. Although, with Google engineers having a median age of less than thirty, I should not be surprised.

Apple has generally done better with accessibility tweaks to its platforms, but the drive to be cool and stylish still makes lots of iOS functions less than ideal for folks with aging eyes.

The current trend for "soothing" grey type on grey (or colored) backgrounds is everything I hate about "design."

In a similar vein, I'm amused to note that the web version of Goober+ now has a red top banner with white (miniscule) type. Guess what color the notification gizmo is? Red. Eesh.

The only rational explanation I can see for all the current changes is the drive to attract Kool Kids (and to promote things like webp).

Circles was Andy Hertzfeld's innovation, and it had potential, but it would have been better suited to an Apple social media project. The design criteria of narrowcasting and privacy control are somewhat at odds with Google's revenue basis in advertising.

I don't expect I'll ever use Facebook except as an occasional lurker. It is too simplistic, and the general tenor of interaction is not what I like.

Eventually, some of the Young Tech Turks will get older, and there will be more options for staid and useful. I may not live to see it.

Comments

  1. Meg LNovember 20, 2015 at 6:01 AM

    "I find it pretty irritating when gadgets and platforms sacrifice basic usability for gee whiz gimcrackery."

    Got it in one, Drew.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim O'BrienNovember 20, 2015 at 6:06 AM

    I'm nostalgic for the days when the smartest person coming to help you move brought his skateboard.

    ReplyDelete
  3. James KaraganisNovember 20, 2015 at 6:22 AM

    Essentially this is what happens when good design is subjugated to marketing imperatives. That's why I hate companies that are "market driven."

    Google is supposed to be "data driven", and I can't believe the data tells them that this is where they should be going.

    ReplyDelete

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