If users can't use it, it's USELESS
10:46, 26 March 2008
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US Census officials are considering a return to using paper and pencil to count every man, woman and child in the USA because the handheld computers that were programmed especially for the 2010 census have proven too complex for workers who have tried to use them, and because the computers were not programmed to transmit the large amounts of data necessary. Technology problems could add as much as $2 billion to the cost of the 2010 census and jeopardize the accuracy of the nation's most important survey. Ofcourse, the contractor is blaming census officials for a poor job spelling out technical requirements, and is claiming that the computers are "as easy to use as a modern cell phone." All this according to a story from CNN.Now, I'll tell you what I think, based on many years of experience being a part of or observing government organizations or nonprofit groups adopting new technology:
- The company thinks a modern cell phone is easy to use? Only if you are 14-years-old. Are they not aware that many cell phone shops are reporting returns from people who bought a modern cell phone and are so frustrated at not being able to do even basic things with it that they want to downgrade? This statement by the company speaks VOLUMES about how little they know about ease-of-use for the average user.
- It is not a tech designers place to ever say, "It's easy-to-use!" That's a statement that can be made only by users. And if users say it ain't, then it ain't. Period.
- The contractor gave the census bureau what the contractor thought would be best for the census bureau, and would look snazzy when shown off at an upcoming tech fair.
Yes, I'm making a wild guess based on nothing but a hunch and some very suspicious statements. But when it comes to the realities of a government or nonprofit organization adopting technology, I've got some darned good instincts...
