1. Can you think of a specific instance when you have become frustrated with a software user interface?
Not right off hand, although I know it has happened on numerous occasions.
2. Is it possible to make computer software significantly easier to use?
Yes but you can only dumb it down so far. If you get it to easy to use you may have to remove advanced features that may be important to more experienced users.
3. Would you agree that programmers do not understand the viewpoint of a typical computer user and consequently produce bad software?
No, most programmers are users also, and although they may have more experience in using computers than a typical user they still want the programs to be easy to use.
Although the user bill of rights is an interesting concept, it is not really that practical. While programmers should try to make programs that are easy to use we are talking about a high tech industry and there is always going to be a learning curve. Just like someone visiting another country may want to learn a little bit of that countries language first a user of a software package may want to study up on some of the features of that software.
As for using technology for educational purposes, I really like taking courses online. I don’t have to go to campus and I can work on them at my own leisure. Computer and technological classes seem to work best for online classes. I feel that oncourse is a very good interface but I would like to see more multimedia utilized for lectures and demonstrations. Online items that don’t work are fill in the blank tests that the computer tries to grade, and I am not sure that blogging is that great of a learning tool.
