A couple thoughts come to mind here: * Is it true that there's an 8-to-1 ratio of existing users to (potential) new users. That is, there will never be more than about 10% of the existing base having to learn it in the future? If so, it may not be worth trying to institute change, because you've got a super-mature, effectively dead (stagnant) product. If there's no one new coming in, there's little value in forcing new paradigms on the users. (On the other hand, if that added 10% is just the immediate new user base, and it will grow from there such that new users will eventually exceed current numbers, you can make a better business case.)
* Have you done research as to what the breadth of feature usage is? If the current UI is regressive, or if there are a lot of features which are seldom accessed, then the ribbon-type UI might either have low impact on the majority of existing users (because they don't use many of the feature to start with) and could serve to open up some of the otherwise ignored features to a new audience. * Have you done research about what annoys current users -- especially the intermediate and above users? You may find that they feel limited or inhibited by the current UI and would actually welcome a new paradigm, even with a learning ramp. (I can think of a few apps that are like that, even some that I actively avoid using and do things "the hard way" to avoid them.) -- Jim, Seattle -----Original Message----- >From: Lois Lewis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >What I find most interesting about this question is how interface >changes/"enhancements" affect an entrenched user base. It's the >balance between old users and new users and an existing mental model >vs. a new one. I'm all for a better interface - but I find myself >still stalled using things I used to be totally comfortable with in >Word like Table tools and Drawing tools. I'm currently working on a >"new and improved" EAP product suite for my company. We are making >radical changes including adding in a ribbon. As the lone User >Experience person I keep voicing my concerns that we'll have low >adoption from existing users simply BECAUSE the new UI is so >different. > >It's sort of conundrum. The original UI was designed by the >"inmates in the asylum" so its horrible - I want to radically >improve it - but users have learned it. The ratio of existing users >to new users is approximately 8 to 1 so there are many more who >already know the product. > >What do you all think? How do you balance making it better with what >users already know? ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
