This trip back was done with everything I own able to fit into my truck with the top carrier.  It was not really that tight of a fit.  That’s mostly because I don’t have very much stuff.  I love that (for me).  I know that most people (in America) chose not to be that simple.  However, for me, it has become a mantra of the past few years.

I think this mantra carries over into the tech world.  Simplicity rules.

As a technologist and consumer of various technology, I have watched a lot of gadgets and programs and computer systems.  I’ve watched as people design and build things.  I’ve watched as end users gobble up or reject things.  The one solid constant is that simplicity rules.  That doesn’t mean that there should not be advanced options.  It does mean that defaults should be secure and simple, not just fastest to completion and fastest to sell a product.

Part of our information overload is due to too many products that are not designed well and ‘simply’ put, have too much crap.  For me, I decide to simplify and not consume as much.  I decide to make a personal choice to have less.  That is not for everyone.  But, it is one idea to help the glut of unorganized chaos not have such a negative force in my life.

Now, my motives and thoughts are not always to be the most profitable.  I’ll give you that.  My motives are not always to get the biggest numbers of users.  I’ll give you that.  My motives are more often to make the best, to solve a problem or to fill a niche.  Designing systems and processes that have a smaller scope is a different complexity that designing for the masses.  (That’s something that I hope to learn a lot more about in the near future and in the coming years!)  For now, I’m commenting on some feelings and some observances, not on everything and not totally comprehensively.

When we put in a CD or DVD and want it to play, we push play.  When we leave the house and want to secure it, we lock the door.  When we want to go online to view something, we want it to just work and the Internet to just be there.  Yes, I do understand the work it takes to make technology be simple.  But, I think there are things that we’re doing wrong – like making devices and systems and processes with too many options.

This post speaks more to the point of what I’m trying to say here.  Computers shouldn’t make people feel like idiots

Here are a few quotes that I think we should take to heart and should make it into the new systems we build.

“People don’t know how to use computers. And not just stupid people. Millions of people. People who are adults. And that’s pretty damn lame.”

“For those of us surrounded by the minutiae of computers all day, it’s easy to forget there’s a world of people out there who just don’t get it. And it’s not their fault. It’s ours.”

“(Note: It’s not just about making a computer or an app more accessible for people who don’t get it. It’s also for people who do get it because this way is better.)”

“You can crank up the snow machine. You can set up the slalom course perfectly. You can shape all the moguls so they’re just right. But if people can’t ever get on the ski lift, there ain’t gonna be any race.”

In short, we need to cut features.  We need to eliminate designing for false target users when our audience is not “everyone” and we need ot make things that work for a real group of target users.

We need to shape the market and redefine the market and help the market by making simple things that just work.  We need to educate the market and facilitate growth by making things that people will use… We cannot just feed the market and expect that it will figure it out.  Many times it will not.  And, many times it will find another way – if we don’t adjust and make things to be simple.

When the consumer says, “I don’t get it.” that is our fault as designers.  It is not the consumer’s fault. We need to take responsibility as technologists and designers and developers and IT pros and builders of any kind.

Take note: Simplicity rules.

P.S.  It’s been a little bit since I’ve posted here.  There have been very few times like this, lasting longer than a month, even going all the way back to 2003 or 2004, when I started blogging.  And, when it has happened, it’s been due to a good reason, like I have a bad attitude or I’m burned out or I’m moving across the country or, or, or… The point is, that it’s a new year and a new season and, well, here I go again…  (Actually, I do have several other blogs where I did post.  So, it’s not like I have not been blogging.  It’s just on this particular blog that it’s been a little while.  Anyway…)

The air outside is warmer than the air inside.

Sitting out on the deck is now done without a little space heater.

I can just feel it.  It’s warmer and the daylight hours are getting longer.

Several months of AWESOME weather are ahead.

I think you should look forward to more blog posts about the weather, about fun summer activities, about road trips, about great 4×4 Weekend‘s!

Work has been good.  In an honest, introspective way, work has made the weekends that much better.  I’m excited for a fun summer.  Both of my sisters are getting married this summer.  That means two trips back to the old stomping grounds.  It’s been over a year since I’ve been back.  That’s the longest time away from MN since our family lived in Puerto Rico, from when I was 10 to 13 years old.

It’s good to have a good work-life balance.  I’m appreciating work more than I ever have in my life.  I’m appreciating friends and time away from work more than I ever have in my life.  I’m not taking any of it for granted.  And when stuff doesn’t just go swell, I know that’s part of life too.

I just said swell. 

The service from Les Schwab will be remembered!  And, I am remarking.  I am listening to events like this.  When I am involved w/ service, I hope that when people leave they want to call friends and write about it.  Remarkable.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep my Jeep for a while.  With my current finances and undefined career ahead of me, it may be a challenge.  Here’s a link to a slideshow of My 2006 Jeep Commander Photoset on Flickr that I just updated.

UPDATE: Check out this cool Jeep Commander Blog.

Maybe I’ll go drive my Jeep in some snow today.    Too bad 4×4 Weekend isn’t around any more.

And here are links to lots more…

…from my recent road trip to Rawlins, WY

…my new SuperFavs set that will grow as I go through more pics

…all of My Flicker Pics

…all of My Flicker Sets

Enjoy!

UPDATE2: I liked the way the next SuperFavs post looked after adjusting the images layout and size a little bit.  Each picture above links to that picture on My Flickr.

I have a friend with a trail name of Skittles, who is hiking the CDT this summer.  He’s due in Rawlins, WY around Thursday-ish.  I’m gonna head that way and try to meet up for maybe a day or so with him around that area.  It is not a big town.  I just love road trips, and Skittles is a good friend.

I also have some relatives that live near Casper, WY.  I got their contact info from my mom the other day, and I might try to connect with them, especially because Casper is only about 120 miles from Rawlins.  “Hey, I’m just passing through.  You guys wanna do lunch?”  Hehe…

In the mean time, I thought of having a friend do some guest posts.  The idea was to try something out here on this blog, and also to get his brain moving to get his own blog going.  Hopefully that could maybe get a little momentum going with writing, which usually helps creativity all around.  I was thinking it might draw in some other more diverse viewers too.  (That’s a nice way to describe the fun Persing family!)

So, Dave, if you’re up to it, I can figure out the details on the road.  I’m cool either way, especially while I’ll be cruisin’ down the road in my new truck and checking out some new cities I’ve never been to, and listening to satellite radio and whatever channel suites my fancy.

I’ll have my PDA phone with me and will probably check online with it periodically… maybe…    I just installed Pocket Streets and have a Bluetooth GPS receiver to play around with too.  At least if I get lost, I’ll have my exact, lost coordinates.  Geek.

The interstate weather looks good, albeit a little on the warm side.  Yay!  Road trips are so fun!  Happy blogging!

I’m still keeping a few things. But most of the things I got multiples of, I’ll be returning. I needed several of certain things to be able to outfit a small group. Not outfitting. Not needing those extras.

So, in a way, this is another day of simplifying, like I’ve done a whole lot over the past few months. I don’t remember if I mentioned this in any earlier posts, but I brought eight large plastic bags of clothes and shoes to the Good Will earlier this month. I also threw away a few bags. This simplifying thing is so healthy and feels so right.

Looks like it will be a bit warmer today. I think I’ll do my workout later today, and really sweat up a storm! I already buttoned up the apartment to keep the cooler air inside for the day. That usually makes a huge difference for the late afternoon and early evening hours when the sun beats down and shines so brightly in the windows.

BTW, I think it’s pretty cool that my apartment has multiple windows on three sides. I like that feeling of being able to open up a bit. I also like being able to close all the windows and shades and just coup up as much as I want. Versatile.

Anyway… after wrapping up some of the startup business stuff, I’m going to start the new job hunt on Monday. I’m sure I’ll have some stuff to post about that, including my resume…

…Joy, Joy, Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!