Comments on: Park it forward http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/ ode - little bits of learning - a digital content store for educators Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:57:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Roger TCB http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/#comment-593 Roger TCB Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:42:35 +0000 http://odeworld.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-593 No testing at all - its a technical engineering solution to a perceived technical financial problem. Usability wasn't the criterion; stopping people giving unused ticket time to others was. The law of unintended consequences says the car park will now be much fuller, possibly full, at peak times as people get their money's worth and park there for longer than they need to. In High Wycombe you can buy 20mins & 30mins as well as 60mins. This would have been a more human solution to this car park - not loosing revenue & keeping spaces free for very short term use. No testing at all - its a technical engineering solution to a perceived technical financial problem. Usability wasn’t the criterion; stopping people giving unused ticket time to others was.

The law of unintended consequences says the car park will now be much fuller, possibly full, at peak times as people get their money’s worth and park there for longer than they need to.

In High Wycombe you can buy 20mins & 30mins as well as 60mins. This would have been a more human solution to this car park - not loosing revenue & keeping spaces free for very short term use.

]]> By: Garrett Coakley http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/#comment-590 Garrett Coakley Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:53:53 +0000 http://odeworld.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-590 Also, next time you're around one of these, notice how people struggle with the vertically arranged 1-9 A-Z keyboard. You can almost see the collision between it and their mental model of how a keyboard should be arranged. I'd be interested to know how much user testing they did before deciding to go with that layout and not the more familiar QWERTY. Also, next time you’re around one of these, notice how people struggle with the vertically arranged 1-9 A-Z keyboard. You can almost see the collision between it and their mental model of how a keyboard should be arranged.

I’d be interested to know how much user testing they did before deciding to go with that layout and not the more familiar QWERTY.

]]> By: Mr B http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/#comment-589 Mr B Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:03:27 +0000 http://odeworld.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-589 Desire lines is a perfect example - enough people saying "no, I don't think so" and making their own way will always win eventually. "The kind of control you’re attempting is not possible because if there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it’s that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories, and crashes through barriers painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh, well there it is. (Jurassic Park)" You MUST experience ideo's photo book "Thoughtless Acts" on how humans shape the world around them, often unconsciously: http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/28/new-ideo-book-though.html Desire lines is a perfect example - enough people saying “no, I don’t think so” and making their own way will always win eventually.

“The kind of control you’re attempting is not possible because if there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it’s that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories, and crashes through barriers painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh, well there it is. (Jurassic Park)”

You MUST experience ideo’s photo book “Thoughtless Acts” on how humans shape the world around them, often unconsciously:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/05/28/new-ideo-book-though.html

]]> By: sosheen http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/#comment-588 sosheen Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:43:48 +0000 http://odeworld.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-588 And as an example of human behaviour bypassing the best laid plans, look no further than 'desire lines', eg http://www.flickr.com/photos/24480318@N08/2320025274/ And as an example of human behaviour bypassing the best laid plans, look no further than ‘desire lines’, eg http://www.flickr.com/photos/24480318@N08/2320025274/

]]> By: sosheen http://blog.odeworld.co.uk/2008/04/29/park-it-forward/#comment-587 sosheen Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:38:50 +0000 http://odeworld.wordpress.com/?p=190#comment-587 I encountered one of these awful systems once in Birmingham when I didn't have enough change on me. Luckily (ho ho) there was a phone number that allowed you to pay by credit card. If you think the push-button interface is bad, you should try giving your registration number and credit card details by voice recognition ("If the first letter of your registration is between A and M, say 'yes'). Aaarghhh. I encountered one of these awful systems once in Birmingham when I didn’t have enough change on me. Luckily (ho ho) there was a phone number that allowed you to pay by credit card.
If you think the push-button interface is bad, you should try giving your registration number and credit card details by voice recognition (”If the first letter of your registration is between A and M, say ‘yes’).
Aaarghhh.

]]>