Usability expert finds Windows 8 on a PC confusing

I must say I found this article to be interesting!  We are quickly working through interface updates to streamline processes not confuse customers.

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Here is the article from NBC's website
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/usability-expert-finds-windows-8-pc-confusing-954680

Though Windows 8 is winning rave reviews for its touch-friendly tablet experience, many feel that the operating system’s “Modern-style” UI makes life more difficult for PC users. Count usability expertRaluca Budiu of the Nielsen Norman Group among these critics. Though she has not conducted any formal studies on Windows 8, the former Xerox PARC researcher and user experience  specialist has used the new OS enough to conclude that, for productivity tasks on the PC at least, Windows 8 is less user friendly than its predecessors.

Budiu explained to us why the design principles Microsoft used don’t make sense for PCs and have the potential to confuse desktop users and slow them down.

Laptop: Is Windows 8 more or less user-friendly for PCs than previous versions of Windows?

Budiu: It’s hard to say without doing an in-depth study, but at least for some tasks, the usability is worse. There are things that you can do more easily in Windows 8. For instance, it’s easy to share a news story through email or with friends on Facebook. But, I am not sure that these are the tasks that people do most often on a PC.

Windows 8 is optimized for content consumption rather than content production and multitasking. Whereas content consumption can easily be done on other media (tablets and phones), production and multitasking are still best suited for PCs. Windows 8 appears to ignore that.

Laptop: How will switching back and forth between different environments (Modern and Desktop) affect PC owners? 

Budiu: Users will need to remember two different interfaces. They will learn Windows 8, but won’t be able to forget Windows 7. And they will need to keep track of which app goes with each framework. [It's] definitely a cognitive burden, but not an insurmountable one.

Laptop: Is it a mistake to force people to relearn an interface that has been popular for 20 years?

Budiu: So it seems, at least if we talk about desktop computers. There are several reasons:

• The learning curve is going to be steep.
   
• The duality of Desktop-Metro is likely to confuse at least some of the users.
   
•  Most important, while Windows 8 embraces some important mobile design principles (such as giving priority to content), not all these principles are well suited for the larger non-touch screen of most PCs or laptops.  

Many apps waste a lot of space for huge images and give little space to text. The idea of hiding the controls to give priority to content may make sense on mobile, where screen space is so limited, but it doesn’t make that much sense on a large screen, especially if users have to work harder to access hidden features. For instance, to expose the URL bar or the list of tabs in the browser you will need to click the right button of the mouse. The back button is not visible either, but if you hover on the left hand side of the screen, it becomes visible.

Courtesy of Laptop

Laptop: If you are in Windows 8′s desktop environment and want to launch a new desktop application, you must return to the tile-based Start screen to click a shortcut. One could argue that going to a different screen is no more time consuming that opening up a Start menu that overlays on top of the screen. Was Microsoft really wrong to remove the  Start menu?

Budiu: The advantage of the overlaid menu is that it preserves context. Cognitively, there’s more of a burden when you have to switch context twice (desktop->start screen; start screen -> desktop). There are reasons to force users to switch contexts, especially in the tablet or phone environment, where screen real-estate is a lot more expensive and a menu is forced to use only part of the (already-small) screen. In that situation, a separate page makes better use of the small screen space.

There are fewer reasons for a separate page on a desktop – the start menu is a cheaper interaction than the start page. Microsoft probably does it for the sake of consistency – they want you to start an app in the same way, regardless of whether you are in the desktop environment on a PC or laptop, or in the Metro environment on a PC or on a tablet, or on a mobile phone.

For the PC case, I think that if you are going to have two environments, consistency is important, because otherwise people will always have to keep track of which action to use in which environment – which is an extra burden on their memory. So although the start menu is the cheaper solution (in terms of interaction cost), not using it in the desktop environment is probably the right thing to do, given the choices already made by the Metro interface.

Courtesy of Laptop

Laptop: The Windows 8 Switcher displays each Modern style app as its own thumbnail but folds all the desktop apps into a single thumbnail because it considers the desktop itself to be an app. Is this a usability problem?

Laptop: When using Windows 8 with a mouse, you must hover for half a second over the upper left or right corners of the screen to bring up key menus (the Switcher, the Charms menu). Does hovering slow the user down?

These hidden menus also have zero affordances on the desktop, which makes them hard to discover for the first time. And even if you discovered where to click, being able to correctly remember which menu goes with location on the screen will require a fair amount of practice and continuous usage.

And yet another problem of these menus in the left and right corners is that they interfere with scroll arrows in some apps. The scroll arrows at the bottom of the screen are very close to the bottom corners of the screen, which are supposed to expose the menus. In general, it looks like the corners of the screen (the top, too, presumably, since this is how you close the app) are no longer good places to position controls.

using a menu does slow users down, but that’s not the major problem. The fact that the menus are hidden is primarily what slows users down – remember that what’s out of sight is out of mind. In our studies with mobile devices we found that whenever a menu was not in plain view, even users who knew about the existence of that menu (that is, they had discovered it in the past) didn’t use it as much or took a longer time to think to use it than if the menu options were all visible. So it’s not only the hovering that slows users down – it’s the lack of visibility that makes these menus less available.


try us at http:/www.careercoachoffice.com

Starting a business can seem slow as molasses!

After three years of development our team finally got excited of the release of our new software, Career Coach Office.  The initial tests with experts in the field stated everything would go well. On launch day we had technical issues that were minor, but still issues nonetheless.

It seemed like it took forever to correct the tiny issue not displaying a client's  picture correctly and fixing the dreaded "un-styled" tax update form that was buried way in the invoicing tool.

Let me just say every business has it's obstacles that must be overcome.

1. Expect that there will be obstacles and deal with them as they come.
2. Don't freak out when something goes wrong. All the planning in the world won't eliminate issues.
3. Break your issues down to small components so they can be addressed in a timely fashion.
4. Don't give up! When the going get's tough, you know the rest!

What seems like an incredibly slow period to you is really a short period of time to your consumers. They have no idea how many sleepless nights you've had so relax and fix the issues in an expeditious orderly fashion.

visit http://www.careercoachoffice.com and tell us what you think.

5 Reasons to hire an IT Career Coach

Here is a great story I found that I believe applies to any career coach industry, not just IT.

http://www.informationweek.com/global-cio/careers/5-reasons-to-hire-an-it-career-coach/232800033

by Cindy Waxer |March 30, 2012 12:34 PM

 

12 Enterprise IT Resolutions For 2012

(click image for larger view and for slideshow)

Silicon Valley might be known for its brilliant tech executives, but even they need a little career help every now and then. Enter the IT career coach.Although career coaches have long helped workers in a variety of industries set realistic goals and pave career paths, an increasing number of IT execs are recognizing the value of a career counselor.

 

"Within Silicon Valley, there's now a much greater awareness that just because you're smart about technology doesn't mean that you know all about human interaction, management development and leadership skills," said Michael Shur, an executive career coach and an assessment specialist at CareerPlanner.com, a career counseling firm in San Jose, Calif. "IT professionals, especially when they reach an executive level, require more career coaching."  A career coach can run as high as $250 an hour. What's more, because the majority of career coaching's benefits are 'soft,' calculating a return on investment can be difficult. Yet there are certain rewards IT professionals can expect to reap from hiring a career coach. Here are five critical areas a good career coach should be able to address:

1. Mentorships. A career coach doesn't need to know Java script to counsel an IT professional. But if technical skills are at issue, a career coach should take the necessary steps to help you find the mentorship you need. "Career coaches generally don't have IT specialization," said Shur. "However, a career professional can encourage and work within an organization to establish a mentorship program to assist IT professionals from a managerial and technical perspective."

2. The future. Many IT professionals have a tendency to live in the moment. A good career coach can help broaden that vision by working with clients to create a five-year career plan. With the proper guidance, an unwelcome administrative task today might start to look like a much-needed skill set down the line. "A career coach can help IT professionals see themselves as part of an ecology of growth so that they become less resistant to saying, 'Why should I help out with customer service? I'm an IT guy,'" said Shur. After all, he adds, customer service experience might come handy when that IT professional reaches a management level.

3. Dual career needs. No matter how technical the job, many techies split their time between monitoring networks and satisfying employees. "IT professionals often have dual career tracks," said Shur. "One for technical specialization and one for management." A career coach can help bridge this gap by encouraging both certification courses and networking opportunities such as conferences and seminars.

4. Conflict resolution. Today's IT shops often are rife with multi-generational strife stemming from millennials' and baby boomers' disparate approaches to work, life, and interpersonal relations. The good news is "a career counselor can help with personality conflicts," said Shur. "A lot of it centers around helping the IT professional understand how they process information and how their preferred way of working may be radically different from how other generations like to work." Understanding these differences "can help individuals realize that it's nothing personal," said Shur.

5. C-level prep. You'll need more than a new briefcase to prepare for executive office. "Certain competencies need to be developed for the CIO's office as C-level executives are expected to be more team-oriented with an increasingly global and strategic vision," said Shur. The trick is finding a coach that best meets your position. "There are some coaches who are better for more junior members and then there are the more experienced executive coaches who specialize in advanced skills and sensitive transitions." said Shur. Find one that's right for you.

Coaches, feel free to visit us at http://www.careercoachoffice.com .

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/CareerCoachOffice

Follow us on twitter:
https://twitter.com/CCoachOffice

Is the Facebook’s Graph Search a positive or a negative?

(Photo by Kevin Smith - Some Awful and Hilarious Stuff You Can Find Out About People Using Facebook Search)

Facebook has come up with another way to create a strange perception that will be difficult for employers and coaches to manage.  It’s called “Graph Search” and it is on the horizon. This new technology will let you search the public to get “opinions” on almost any subject you would like to search on.

The problem is the data can be incomplete or unscientific and may cause people to form assumptions based on skewed information.

Here is what you should do if you are a Facebook user:

• Change your privacy settings
• Have your close friends modify their settings
• Review your timeline every once in a while to see how your name is being used and what you are associated with.

Career Coaches Top 10 list of website fears to address immediately

Use one word this year “Simplify!” 

“Where are your services?” and “How do I contact you?” were the questions “Rodger’s” customers asked him.  His reply “My prices and contact information are on my website.”

By the way, we are using “Rodger” as his name to protect the innocent and the information is not from a real website, but the situation is very real for many!

I visited his website and here is what I found:

Working Stiffs  |  Free Stuff  |  Career Mapping  |  Blog

I clicked around this website for about 15 minutes and I finally found his contact information buried on some obscure page. However, I never found his pricing nor could I discern what I was going to get from him.

I asked him why he didn’t include his pricing or have a services page and his reply was “When I talk to my potential clients I can win them over. I don’t rely on my website!”

My reply to Rodger is “Why own a website if the information is not reliable?”

Rodger read my Top 10 list of website fears to address immediately:

     1.  FEAR OF OVERPRICING

In my opinion, hiding your pricing makes me think you have something to hide. Place pricing for your products and services in a quick to access location and let me (the customer) decide if what you are selling is worth it.

     2. FEAR OF COMPETITION

Competitive edge should be “protected” not “invisible!” Give me enough information about your product or service to entice me to ask more about you without giving away your secrets. 

     3.  FEAR OF “THEM NOT GETTING IT”

Please, oh please do not ramble on your website! The “more” you tell me, the “less interested” in you I become! Tell me enough. Give me a short bio, tell me a little about your product, give me a snippet of a testimony and trust the process.

     4.  FEAR OF WASTING TIME UPDATING A WEBSITE

Your workshop you put on was great, but it was in 2007 and it’s still on your web page. Please keep your information relevant. Take a moment each week to add some fresh content to your website. Your old information will run enough customers away and then you will have plenty of time!

     5.  FEAR OF NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH

Complicated websites look like you’re trying too hard. I need quick and easy access to your information. Does the “flash” add anything? Can I get to your information in two clicks? One word… “Simplify!”

                               

     6.  FEAR OF BLANDNESS

I visited one website and thought I was watching NASCAR. Too many colors along with ads along with multiple messages confuse me. Try to tone it down a bit. Use neutral tones with only a splash of color for emphasis. Minimize ad space if possible.

 

     7.  FEAR OF BEING DIFFERENT

Did you design your website just like everyone else’s site? If I see that same woman everyone uses on their site again I will scream. What do you want to tell me? Can a photo or illustration enhance your message or are you mimicking everyone else?

     8.  FEAR OF TAKING YOUR OWN ADVICE

When you consult on resumes you talk about “white space,” fonts and keywords for emphasis. I have seen websites with a lonesome picture, a huge gap and some unreadable tiny font. Do you have misspellings or poor grammar?

9.  FEAR OF USING TOO MUCH TECHNOLOGY

I visited one website that only had one page, no pictures, minimal words and a phone number. Visiting this site made me feel like I was in a room with a single light bulb dangling from a pull-chain. Which brings me to my next point…

10.   FEAR OF MOVING BUSINESS PROCESSES OUT OF THE 70’S

With social media, databases and cloud tools available, I still see coaches clutching onto day planners from the 70’s. They use websites like answering machines of yesteryear. Your clients expect a different level of interaction that your notebook can’t provide. Simplify your business processes today!

Resume Writers… It’s virus season!

You have a package so the United States Postal Service decided to send you an e-mail about it. Also, you have a new electronic fax and you don’t even have an e-fax service. Or, my favorite… I’m trapped in <insert country> and I need <insert amount>.

Resume Writers and other small businesses who receive a lot of e-mail tend to be vulnerable to the rising attacks. I know this is picking up because this is my number one question this week.

What are they after?

·         Identify Theft – The golden prize is access to your financials. Technology has made it easy to do banking, investing and purchasing so a carefully placed “sniffer” virus can track use of your credit card or password on unprotected sites.

·         Jump Off’s – Spammers are looking for e-mail addresses to propagate their scheme, scam or virus. They have written worms to crawl through your contact list

·         Validation – Thieves are checking to see if you are home by getting you to respond to e-mail’s. They desire to use valid accounts to do their dirty work.

How they work

·         Viruses attach themselves to programs. Every time you use the program it propagates itself or destroys the operating system.

·         E-mail viruses are after your contact list to further spread destruction.

·         Worms look for vulnerabilities in your wireless network to spread to every computer attached.

·         Trojan Horses are fake software, usually free, that says it will do one thing but does damage.

What to do right now

·         Backup your files – Spend the cash and purchase an external hard drive. Disk space is far less expensive than losing your clients’ resumes.

·         Windows users make a bootable virus scan CD – This enable you to scan your entire computer before the virus has a chance to load.

o   http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline

·         Check websites before you visit them – Google has a Safe Browsing tool that has been around for a few years.

o   http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=< Your site name>

o   Example:

http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=careercoachoffice.com

·         Report Spam – Forward unwanted or deceptive messages to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov.  Be sure to include the complete spam email.

o   Do not call registry / International Spam

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Here is my 2012 list of e-mail scams

10. Complaint Report - looks like it’s from Better Business Bureau really from quiccalabria.com

9. A new Account is Available – from Ameriprise

8. Dating Unread Messages – from mediadis.cccampaigns.com

7. Order Inqiury – from various and YES it is misspelled

6. ACH [Miscellaneous number] Transaction Rejected (made me look!)

5. WU urgent action needed – looks like it’s from Western Union really from tips828.net

4. You have a new fax [24 pages] – looks like it’s from Rapidfax but I cannot determine the source.

3. jConnect Fax [28 pages] – Looks like it’s from the “Fraud department” at the IRS but I cannot determine the source.

2. Confidential to all Employees – Looks like it came from MY company!

1. Wire Released – Looks like it came from WebsterBank.com. Said I had $160K

All of these e-mails had attachments and embedded links that can be catastrophic to your computer. Do not unsubscribe or click on any link unless you are absolutely sure you know the source!

Have a safe Holiday!

Take Three Tablets and grow your business!

Smartphone, Tablet, Mini Tablet, Android™, Windows™, Apple-OS™, Nexus 4™,  Nexus 7™,  Nexus 10™, , Microsoft Surface™,  IPad™,  IPad Mini™  and IPhone™ sounds like language from nerd weekly.  These clever gadgets have us mesmerized.  Last week I watched someone almost walk into traffic looking at their smartphone.

What makes us buy them? Is it status? Is it acceptance from our peers? I don’t know, but I really, really like my smartphone!

Okay I’m a “Droid” person. I like the number of apps developed for the Operating System and Google is trying to take over the world. BUT… I am interested in the new Surface Tablet.  Tablets are mostly used to read content or to use an app but they are rarely used to “produce” content.

Photoshop and other content development apps do not run on smartphones or tablets. Microsoft Surface is leaning toward being the only tablet that will run full blown applications to develop content.  It runs full versions of Office now, but I’m going to wait.

What do these clever little gadgets mean to your coaching business?
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Apps I like for coaches

I won’t go into all 600,000 apps today, just a few that coaches’ access from their smartphones and tablets.



Tweet, Tweet, Tweet! Most of the coaches I know have a Twitter account and they have a following who desires to hear from them.  They attend conferences, workshops and other special gatherings and state meaningful observations to their crowd. Mobile twitter is a decent app for your following.

Mobile Facebook

Having a Facebook page for the business is vital. I have seen coaches respond the moment a person “likes” their page.  They use their smartphone to contact them with a “thank you” to increase the strength of the relationship.

Google GPS

Okay I tried to stay neutral but I love the Google Android “Free” GPS. It is by far the best I have ever used. Coaches rely on this great tool but it limits your conversation if you leave the voice commands on.

Cloud Print by Paulo Fernandes

I quickly added my 6 year old wireless printer (that is not ePrint enabled) to Google’s Cloud Print app.  Within seconds I was able to print from my phone to my office printer from anywhere in the world! To add more printers I simply log into the local wireless network and any printers that are available are added to my list. (Requires Google Chrome and Google Account)

Battery Notifier (Big Text) by SHKIL/LARRYVGS

Battery life is extremely important to me and this battery meter tells me when I am running low without having to go and check the status. It places a percentage number conveniently in my status bar on my phone and I can manage when to charge my phone.  By the way, I let my battery run all the way out before I plug it in, preserves its life.

Believe it or not, it’s a phone. Coaches please protect your phone with some outer skin that can take abuse. Public service… Be safe on the road! Many coaches have thrown away the blue tooth devices and have traded them in for the tangle-less headsets. Many of the phones are voice activated. I rarely use this feature out of courtesy to people around me and noise.

Show Phone Courtesy. Please figure out how to turn off your screen before holding the phone to your face to avoid touch tones! Mute your phone on conference calls. Stay in your car during that important call. I have seen coaches get a bit relaxed and continue to conduct business during their convenience store transaction.