inessential.com: Weblog: Comments for ‘Listening’
Expose in OS X Panther is a ground-breaking new GUI feature. Like many fine things, it really needs to be seen to be appreciated, but even then one still may still not get it. When I was picking up my copy of Panther in TST, the shop was doing a demo of Expose to a Windows user. He didn’t get it, and the expression on his face was more like “what’s the big deal?”
As for the art of listening, it is easier to say than to do. Unless the clients are highly intelligent and very open-minded, chances are when they suggest a solution they have already made up their mind: they won’t be happy unless they see their version of the solution implemented, yet they still won’t be pleased with the result, because their solution doesn’t work all that well. Apple, Microsoft, Sony et al can do whatever they like so they have space to go bold. Most web developers are not so lucky: clients usually don’t know bugger all about web technology, and still want to take full and minute control of the implementation. Once they have made up their mind, it’s mental shutdown time. Ken has this nice analogue: a patient walks into the doctor’s office, and proclaims that he has a certain condition and not the other illness, and all he needs is a certain drug and that no other form of treatment would be necessary.