Are Users Stupid?

It was argued that usability tests have been tested using stupid people which screws up the test results. The results stem from people who know nothing about computers are are impotent. If the tests were to be performed with more inteligent people the results would be different.

"Test Users are Stupid"

Tests were performed on the ease of using the internet through telephones. They wondered where they found such stupid people. However; when new technology is introduced it is crucial for people to be able to easily use the products. The investors ignored the studies based on the assumption that the studies were done on stupid people. Doing so they missed two viable points.

First, it ignores the fact that users' initial experience with a new technology is crucial. People will never become experienced users unless they are capable of learning the technology in the first place.
Second, our study's participants used WAP phones for a week, and we tested them both at the beginning and the end of the period. If a full week of use is insufficient to learn a user interface, we are surely not talking about a mainstream consumer technology.

When people have problems using a design, it's not because they are stupid. It's because the design is too difficult. When the studies are performed it is hard for the creators of the program to sit back and watch. When the first one or two come and fail the creators are often in denial. It often takes several people who fail to finally convince the creators that their creation isn't as user frindly as they had hoped.

"Real Users Don't Mind Complex Design"

It is not a question of whether users are capable of overcoming complexity and learning an advanced user interface. It is a question of whether they are willing to do so. I will only spend a few seconds on a sight before i get bored of it and move on to something else. I'd rather spend more time looking for a good sight than taking time to learn one.
There have been many usability studies with users who had immense computer experience, great aptitude for technology, and high levels of IQ and education. These users are just like anybody else: they just want to get their work done. They have neither the desire nor the time to learn the idiosyncrasies of individual websites.
There are many people who could spend time to learn a web sight. The problem is that they don't want to. They would rather just find a different one that will meet their needs.

Looking ahead

Technology is going to keep on changing. People will naturally get smarter at technology. they will no doubt start figuring out the harder web sights as time passes because they will pass by so many of them. It is inevitable that they will be better users. This does not in any way give a reason for us to make our web sights harder. Keeping things simple and easy to use is the best anecdote
I plan to make my sight simple enough for users to use and provide only the information that they will be looking for.

February 15, 2008 7:10 PM

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