S60 Open to new features

As you know there is an endless debate going on: should it be User Experience or Usability. My question is: does it really matter? If the user’s needs, satisfaction and requirements are met and fulfilled, the whole issue is irrelevant. In this case the user-centered design has proved its place. It could have been some spontaneous feeling that hit the target but in most cases we are not this lucky. Some people just have the hunch and probably they are billionaires; unfortunately this isn’t the case always. Anyway, to be able to execute these issues in project work and to make the ideas come true it is strongly recommended that there is some kind of available definition. This could even save some time (money, in other words) and make the cooperation between different experts more enjoyable … :) However you can begin to ponder the issue with an excellent article on Usability News. Hey, isn’t that great that someone really measures these two separately.

My personal opinion is that there is and should be a clear difference between these terms: for me, usability is part of User Experience. The experience could be really subjective (or not) but as we know you can create standards in the usability world. Is it really possible to standardize the experiences that people are gathering? I’m afraid not. If the term is understood broadly the thin line between market research and user experience research is almost gone or, at least, it could be. The methods, study objectives, tools etc. are pretty much the same. It’s just our habits and working practices that keep these two on different sides of the table. Does it really have to be like this? I know…there are some differences between the perspectives but still, it’s always the same: before you try to satisfy client, end-user, or someone else, start to satisfy the person!

So, is it experience or usability that makes the difference? Hmmm, it could be the case that a not so usable or easy-to-use product hits the big time. Think about the famous iPod: let your grandmother use it and ask her whether it easy or observe how traditional PC user gets familiar with iTunes! Still, we’re witnessing one of the greatest success stories in this decade. I’m not saying that usability does not matter at all, just the opposite. In my ideal world it’s the combination: an application that will inspire me and which is easy-to-use. This isn’t always a compromise.

I have seen the light with some Flash applications: well-known and standardized UI logic, boosted with innovative and good looking UI design. So what we need is a well-working platform which allows developers to release their creativity. The S60 is on the right track, when the platform supports an economy of scale (provides the possibility to make scalable applications and remove the need to tailor every piece), we are almost there.