No such thing as intuitive software?
March 21st, 2008On occasion I hear software vendors claim that their software is “intuitive”. They are of course implying that it just so simple anyone can do it.
On the other hand I sometimes here complaints that so and so software is not “intuitive” meaning its too hard.
Perhaps I am nitpicking at at vocabulary but it seems to me that no software can be intuitive.
Software skills are not inborn (well at least not yet) so we all must learn the basic skills needed to stumble our way around technology.
Most of my generation was raised on the Apple ][e. A fine machine but not really anything like my fancy new Vista laptop. Today’s kids have been raised on the past few generations of MS and Apple OSs.
My point being that what is intuitive to me isn’t always intuitive to others. It all boils down to what software each individual has had experience with. The broader the experience the more software will seem intuitive.
On the other hand maybe there is an underlying common software psyche, a blend of the most common software over the past few years.