tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post3431345742738160533..comments2024-03-22T11:13:26.808+00:00Comments on Life is a Mind Bending Puzzle: A lesson in usability from an octengenarian.mbphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037758442729422620noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-49888876494970282722011-11-08T20:13:49.904+00:002011-11-08T20:13:49.904+00:00Ah but there's owning something and using it &...Ah but there's owning something and using it & owning something and never turning it on. The latter applies and so they may just as well be back in the shop.DM Osbonhttp://dmo42.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-43968246299088011832011-11-07T21:08:39.981+00:002011-11-07T21:08:39.981+00:00I should explain by the way that my mother was not...I should explain by the way that my mother was not the lady mentioned in the main article. If it was my mum I would have known better even before we started.mbphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037758442729422620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-82758264612527252032011-11-07T21:07:07.729+00:002011-11-07T21:07:07.729+00:00Gosh DM I am impressed that she uses a mobile and ...Gosh DM I am impressed that she uses a mobile and a laptop. My own mother (88 last week) is a technophobe and panics when confronted with any technology developed after about 1960. <br /><br />This has become a real handicap as she gets older because she cannot use many conveniences that would improve her quality of life. Never mind computers and the internet. My mum will not use a microwave oven or even the stair lift we installed in her house.mbphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037758442729422620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-7010311833980783042011-11-07T20:07:20.054+00:002011-11-07T20:07:20.054+00:00My own mother - who is close to 80 - resists me te...My own mother - who is close to 80 - resists me teaching her anything to do with remote controls, her mobile or laptop. I always get blamed that I don't explain myself properly but I feel it's more that she rather not know.DM Osbonhttp://dmo42.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-55390133187289545472011-11-07T16:48:53.043+00:002011-11-07T16:48:53.043+00:00Thanks Capn John. They both look like a big improv...Thanks Capn John. They both look like a big improvement. I will check UK Amazon because there may be compatibility issues with the US version in Europe.mbphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037758442729422620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-46386352762477544822011-11-07T15:36:07.206+00:002011-11-07T15:36:07.206+00:00Actually this one might be even better, because th...Actually <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flipper-Device-Universal-Vision-Remote/dp/B003IE8TEY/ref=pd_sbs_e_5" rel="nofollow">this one</a> might be even better, because the previously linked remote not only has uni-color buttons but the Volume & Channel buttons are all identically sized triangles, whereas <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flipper-Device-Universal-Vision-Remote/dp/B003IE8TEY/ref=pd_sbs_e_5" rel="nofollow">this remote</a> has a Green On/Off button, Blue Channel up/down buttons, and Orange volume up/down buttons.Cap'n Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15267651027289124037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-18830383120761026982011-11-07T15:32:08.011+00:002011-11-07T15:32:08.011+00:00MBP, if you can get it through Amazon (maybe UK Am...MBP, if you can get it through Amazon (maybe UK Amazon?) this is what you want: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tek-Pal-Button-Remote-Control/dp/B0016RNSHS" rel="nofollow">Large 6-button remote</a>Cap'n Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15267651027289124037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-33556445580171190072011-11-07T15:30:06.330+00:002011-11-07T15:30:06.330+00:00Hi JT you are very harsh and remember that I am on...Hi JT you are very harsh and remember that I am only guessing at this ladies motivation. <br /><br />I have other elderly relatives and I am often reminded of how much of the world becomes inaccessible to the aging population due to bad interface design. Even products that are designed specifically for the elderly often have chronically bad usability.<br /><br />I do agree with you though that we can be our own worst enemies in not admitting to a problem and seeking realistic solutions. It would certainly have made my job easier if this lady had said to me: "I cannot use this remote control because the buttons are too small".mbphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037758442729422620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36733892.post-41543102628589651742011-11-07T14:21:38.826+00:002011-11-07T14:21:38.826+00:00There's definitely a lesson here, but usabilit...There's definitely a lesson here, but usability isn't it. The lesson here is on willful ignorance. While as a CS rep you're right in doing what you can not to offend her, the fact is that she doesn't know and more importantly from how you describe it, doesn't *want* to know. She's clearly happier blaming it on something breaking in order to at least partially shift blame away from her own inadequacies in dealing with new technology.JThelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01154318552494642680noreply@blogger.com