I ran across an article on the LA Times this morning that sums up my concerns about cloud computing very succinctly. It is critical that you make certain to read what you are agreeing to in the EULA (end user license agreement) when signing up for a cloud-based service. Particiularly important is what you are agreeing to in terms of intellectual property. Unlike using your local computer, using a remote service means that your content is being stored by someone else, and is subject to their rules. As the article below indicates, there can be some questions as to ownership of content based upon not only what is clearly stated in the agreement, but also what might not be so clear. Just make certain to read the legalese with an eye toward who owns what and what your rights are by using the service. It could save you trouble later on.
You can find the LA Times article here.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Are tablets a bridge between machine and human interaction?
I ran into an interesting opinion piece this morning on ZDNet: "Lure of the Tablet: No Intimidation". Depsite the back and forth of whether a tablet such as a Kindle Fire or an iPad is truly a computer or not, there are some interesting ideas brought forth in this article. The tablet is by its very nature a more personal device because it provides a tactile experience for the user. The user interacts with the device directly with their hands in different way than using a mouse or a track pad. I think that may be a key element to why the tablet and associated devices like smart phones are being accepted so readily. The newer capacitive screen tablets provide an even different experience than earlier resistive screens, in that resistive touch screens are most useful when using a stylus, which, much like a mouse, separates the user from the tactile experience of interacting directly with the touchscreen. It may be a small distinction, but in terms of use, it seems to me to be an important one.
Another factor may have to do with cognitive load. Computers provide a very rich environment for creativity and productivity, but there is a price paid in complexity. Thinking about it from the aspect of the user interface, both use programs that are activated via icons. On the computer, bringing up a program by clicking on an icon yields a screen filled with options. Take Word for instance. One is greeted with an array of different possible actions immediately, and the user must navigate this interface in order to find the action that they wish to take with the program. You don't have to look any further than the menuing system in Word to see how daunting that might be for a novice user. The GUI gets in the way of productivity if the user is not familiar with the product already. Compare that to the tablet, where the applications are not as complex and do not require as much learning, or for that matter decision making in order to use. The choices are usually fairly straightforward and few. An editor on the iPad for instance may have the ability to type and to change font characteristics, but formatting is not something that is a main concern, inputting text is.
The tablet also differs from the laptop. The laptop is a computing device with the strengths of the desktop, but even for its portability is not that much different than the experience of the desktop. The interaction is still via a GUI using programs, not apps, and the user is still separated from the device by having to use a trackpad or other mouse-like device.
Finally, there is the ability to use the device at any time, anyplace, and almost instantaneously. There is no real boot time to worry about.
So in many ways the tablet seems to me to be a logical extension of what people desire in a device. You can pick it up and use it immediately, it is easy to load and arrange small programs built for simple tasks, and the apps are very specific in their purpose and offer a low learning curve. Top this off with a new means of interacting with the device and it doesn't matter if it is Android, iOS, or Windows 8. All are readily accessible to even the least experienced computer user.
Another factor may have to do with cognitive load. Computers provide a very rich environment for creativity and productivity, but there is a price paid in complexity. Thinking about it from the aspect of the user interface, both use programs that are activated via icons. On the computer, bringing up a program by clicking on an icon yields a screen filled with options. Take Word for instance. One is greeted with an array of different possible actions immediately, and the user must navigate this interface in order to find the action that they wish to take with the program. You don't have to look any further than the menuing system in Word to see how daunting that might be for a novice user. The GUI gets in the way of productivity if the user is not familiar with the product already. Compare that to the tablet, where the applications are not as complex and do not require as much learning, or for that matter decision making in order to use. The choices are usually fairly straightforward and few. An editor on the iPad for instance may have the ability to type and to change font characteristics, but formatting is not something that is a main concern, inputting text is.
The tablet also differs from the laptop. The laptop is a computing device with the strengths of the desktop, but even for its portability is not that much different than the experience of the desktop. The interaction is still via a GUI using programs, not apps, and the user is still separated from the device by having to use a trackpad or other mouse-like device.
Finally, there is the ability to use the device at any time, anyplace, and almost instantaneously. There is no real boot time to worry about.
So in many ways the tablet seems to me to be a logical extension of what people desire in a device. You can pick it up and use it immediately, it is easy to load and arrange small programs built for simple tasks, and the apps are very specific in their purpose and offer a low learning curve. Top this off with a new means of interacting with the device and it doesn't matter if it is Android, iOS, or Windows 8. All are readily accessible to even the least experienced computer user.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)