Machines and technologies are an integral part of our everyday lives. Stop for a moment and think about all the machines you've interacted with in the last hour alone. Making phone calls, browsing the Web, driving a car, watching TV, and even using the microwave are just a few examples of actions that require us to interface with machines.
Unfortunately, we all know that these tasks often bring with them a tremendous amount of confusion and frustration. Why? Because all too often, the creators of these machines somehow forget the most important component of the machine: its human operator.
Effective human interface design is the critical link that bridges the gap between man and machine. Without it, questions arise. Frustration grows. Goals become unattainable. And worst of all, productivity suffers.
The bottom line: a poorly designed human interface means lost time and money for both the creator and the user of that interface.
Is your human interface holding you back? If so, I can help.
Does your organization have a large, information-rich, data-driven Web site or intranet?
Does your company produce consumer electronics devices or home appliances that require a high level of human interaction?
Are you a media outlet that creates and publishes a news-driven Web site such as an online newspaper or magazine?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then effective human interface design is critical to the success of your organization.
As evidence of this fact, let's take a look at one timely example — the digital music player market. There are plenty of music players on the market from a variety of companies. However, it's no surprise that the music player with the most intuitive interface is also the world's best selling music player. It's also no surprise that the company that created this music player has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Yet another testament to the importance of effective human interface design.
If your company's intranet or Web site employs an unintuitive interface, the consequences can be dire. For your public Web site, it means that potential customers can't find the info they need to make an informed decision, which means they are less likely to buy from you. For your intranet, it means that productivity suffers as employees have to spend more time than they should searching for documents and information that are critical to their workday.
If your company's consumer products utilize a hard-to-use interface, the consequences are equally serious. It means that when potential buyers try your product in a retail store, they'll get frustrated and instead purchase a more user-friendly alternative.
If your online news site is hard to navigate or read, it means that your potential viewers will turn to another media outlet for information, resulting in a loss of online advertising revenues.
In all three cases, I can provide you with comprehensive Human Interface Consulting services that will enhance your interface and ensure that it is as intuitive, efficient, and functional as humanly possible.
My Human Interface Consulting services can be extremely useful in situations where your existing interface needs to be redesigned, or where your interface needs to be designed from scratch.
I begin by thoroughly studying you, your organization, and your goals for your human interface. Next, where applicable, I study competing human interfaces to learn what's been done and what could be done better. I then test and survey your end users to determine their needs and identify real-world examples of where your interface both succeeds and fails. Finally, I create specifications and concepts that detail the look and functionality of your new or improved interface.
The end result is a customized solution that essentially serves as a blueprint for the implementation of your human interface. Your solution can consist of a written report, a competitive analysis, survey and research findings, my recommendations, concepts and storyboards, wireframes, detailed specifications, or any combination thereof depending on your needs.
From there, your in-house design, engineering, marketing, and/or IT teams can take that blueprint and use it to build the finished interface. Or, if you lack the resources in-house, I can continue and help you make that blueprint a functional reality.
If you feel that your organization could benefit from my Human Interface Consulting services, I encourage you to contact me.
