Right there -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Scott Barnes Posted At: Wednesday, 17 March 2004 10:40 AM Posted To: CFAussie Conversation: [cfaussie] Re: [OT] CMS Shado vs FarCry -> User friendliness Subject: [cfaussie] Re: [OT] CMS Shado vs FarCry -> User friendliness
On the train ride in this morning i noticed one thing to sum up general people stupidity. I looked out my window and noticed a 2 car pile-up just up from an off-ramp to the main highway. Now heres a very simple example of how we humans just don't think. Concept: If you see an on-ramp ahead, that cars utilise to GET on the highway, it makes perfect sense that in order to allow these new objects to merge with the mainstream flow, one would move into another lane (or multiple lanes if you will). YET.. There is always a cluster of clowns who just don't get it and end up plowing into the car thats trying to merge. (Truck nearly did this to me yesterday aswell). Simple procedure, totally [EMAIL PROTECTED])ked up by a user. Point: You can only hand hold so much before you just need to start doing random beatings. -- Regards, Scott Barnes - http://www.mossyblog.com http://www.bestrates.com.au CFAussie wrote: > Further to this, and also from a commercial perspective.. > > We've developed an app called Sitewizard (www.sitewizard.com.au) that is > aimed at novice users who want to get a hosted Web site in minutes using > a pre-defined template and packaged features.. Now, we set out to make > it very easy to use -- big icons, big text, lots of "help" options, etc > etc.. > > A lot of people have commented about how easy it is to use. But there > are also those who still don't get it, and still need to have their hand > held. My point is that it is impossible to build an interface for a CMS, > even a very simple CMS, that *everyone* will get. I don't even know if > focus testing for two months or getting Donald Norman in as a consultant > would help. > > Darryl > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Scott > Barnes > Posted At: Tuesday, 16 March 2004 4:03 PM > Posted To: CFAussie > Conversation: [cfaussie] Re: [OT] CMS Shado vs FarCry -> User > friendliness > Subject: [cfaussie] Re: [OT] CMS Shado vs FarCry -> User friendliness > > > Dude, > > I've busted my ass a couple of years ago writing a CMS for a few govt > depts for a company called Urban Media. We spent more time making the UI > then we did the architecture behind it, it was pretty sexy in regards to > feedback and what not (i dazzled the monkeys with progress bars, funky > dhtml/flash combinations etc - those who saw it can confirm/deny its > ease of use aswell). > > Despite it being very simple to use it wasn't as mature (enterprise > level) as Shado or FarCry, but it allowed them to run sites via a simple > approach (pretty much contribute kinda simple with dynamics) (ie no DMS > or high-tech backup stuff etc). > > Having said that, it still wasn't enough. The UI was still not clear > enough for monkeys who can't even install Office let alone run a > website? and in truth applications like DreamWeaver (which is very > simple for most) is a failure in that regard as well (just look at all > the self-help books around). > > Point is, you can only automate a solution so far before the gloves come > off and you have to start digging with your bare hands. This is where > the developer comes into play. > > One can argue "think outside the box" all they like, but if you manage > to formulate a balance between Server-Side CMS and Client-Side CMS > solutions, then you are years ahead of solutions such as > Shado/FarCry/Common Spot etc > > CMS by nature are solutions put in place to formulate the web > development process, to allow the abstract thinking to take care of > itself and make it a straight forward solution (backups, auto-archiving, > auto-search engine seeding, auto-search-indexing etc). > > The biggest problem and annoyance is a lot of software keyturn solution > makers, have spun the "CMS for Dummies" tune way too much, which in > return, raises everyones expectations on how a CMS should work. If it > was that simple and dummies could run an enterprise level site out of > the box, then we would all be out of a job. This isn't the case, so > expecting an out of the box solution thats intuitive in the eyes of UI > design is well, dreaming a little. > > I know why you need a CMS solution, and we have reasons on why we chose > SHADO vs FarCry, so feel free to ask those if you need to, but you won't > get an Intranet solution straight out of a box. Its just not that easy > i'm afraid. > > --- You are currently subscribed to cfaussie as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] MXDU2004 + Macromedia DevCon AsiaPac + Sydney, Australia http://www.mxdu.com/ + 24-25 February, 2004 --- You are currently subscribed to cfaussie as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] MXDU2004 + Macromedia DevCon AsiaPac + Sydney, Australia http://www.mxdu.com/ + 24-25 February, 2004
