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It looks good - but does it work?
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The old analogy of a beautiful, graceful swan gliding smoothly across the water while furiously paddling beneath the surface can be applied to most areas of IT. Behind every piece of software's glossy facade is a complicated system of coding that would baffle anyone without a working knowledge of software development.
Although it takes knowledge and effort to create a beautiful website or piece of software, making sure it's easy to use should be a simple case of common sense. But all too often we see baffling examples of style over substance when it comes to IT, with software designed to simplify tasks causing users hours of frustration because their shiny new piece of kit is just too complicated.
This is unnecessary and avoidable. Applying a modicum of common sense to website and software design and development will ensure the user's experience is stress-free. You wouldn't ask a visitor to your business premises to go up the escalator, around the top floor and then back down the stairs to get to reception, so why do it with visitors to your website or people who use your software?
Luckily, you don't have to be an expert in IT to know what to look out for to make sure you remain in control of your business's software and website. Our latest feature will guide you through some common dos and don'ts, and you don't need a degree in software development to understand them - just a modicum of common sense.
The team at Meantime |
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Fenner's links
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We've been long-time critics of the monopoly large IT companies have on Government IT procurement, and now it seems the powers that be are also waking up to the fact with this new report into IT spend from Whitehall [link]. The buck shouldn't stop with IT equipment though; there's simply no need for projects that run massively over-budget, are delivered months or even years past deadline and never work as they should. In a recent report, Whitehall recommends that government should use small and medium-sized IT companies for new projects - we agree.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14314935
Are the days of loading memory sticks with essential documents for working on the move over? Microsoft would like you to think so, as it launches a new cloud-based version of its omnipresent Office software. Called Office 365, it's not free, but for a small monthly subscription businesses can gain access to secure email, word processing and spreadsheet programmes on Microsoft secure web-based servers rather than installing fixed software in offices and business premises. It's currently aimed at businesses who already operate web-based software, but will it eventually spell the end for the installation CD?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13943437
With Twitter fast becoming the go-to resource to reach businesses and individuals, printed telephone directories are almost obsolete. Twellow aims to provide a "directory of public Twitter accounts, with hundreds of categories and search features to help you find people who matter to you." We're not convinced it does anything the regular Twitter search can't do, but it does indicate the growing shift away from picking up the phone towards searching social media databases to get quick results.
http://twellow.com/
If you're not convinced that Twitter is replacing phone use, have a look at these interactive maps which have used Twitter and Flickr geo-tags to map the world. With the concentration of Twitter tags in England, it's clear that our businesses have embraced it as a must-have tool.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664462/infographic-of-the-day-using-twitter-and-flickr-geotags-to-map-the-world
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If you'd like to comment on any of the content in this newsletter please get in touch - we'd love to know what you think.
From the team at Meantime
Meantime Information Technologies Ltd
w: www.meantime.co.uk
t: 01539 73 77 66
a: 1, Riverside Business Park, Natland Road, Kendal, LA9 7SX
Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 2589414
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Latest News |
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| Meantime's software simplifies procurement for SLDC |
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| A piece of software developed by Meantime for South Lakeland District Council will simplify procurement processes for the council's 430 staff and cut out red tape. Find out how |
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Features |
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| Usability guide |
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| It looks good but does it work? |
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| A day in the life |
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| We've got a great team here at Meantime and they don't often get the recognition they deserve. To rectify that, we'll be introducing you to each of them in turn in our new 'Day in the life' feature. If you've ever wondered who the talent behind our designs is, wonder no more. Step forward Louise Illingworth - this is your day in the life! |
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