Monthly Archives: December 2012

Dec
30
2012

Violating the Three Click Rule – Part 1

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In the early days of computing, there was a rule that any action should be no more than 3 clicks away.  Prior to mice and web, it was 3 selections from a menu (basically a menu tree).  With the advent of the web, that same 3 click rule applied to reach any action.

There were many reasons for such a rule, primarily to keep the computer users attention to the work that was being performed and make locating some action fast.

Many web sites today fail the three click rule.  Many tablet operating systems also fail the three click rule (clicks being various touch capabilities).

Recently FIOS changed their Video On Demand (VOD) menu.  The older one pretty much held to the 3 click rule…the newer one is grossly violating it.  For example if I wanted to watch a CBS tv show…it was FREE>Entertainment>CBS and I then had a selection of CBS programs.  The new version TVShows>ByNetwork>A-C and then stepping through a flat list of all the categories A though C (about 18 clicks just to reach CBS (or even a more complicated Search)…just to get to the list of CBS shows to scroll through.

Anyone for automated fines, just like Speed and Red Light cameras, for violating the three click rule?  Its about time!

ED

Dec
30
2012

Commentary – “Lack of Applications”

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Many commentators are critical about the small number of Applications in the Windows 8/RT ecosystem.  What I fail to see is their mention that the Windows 8/RT platforms are new…thus the number of applications is not at the same level as more “mature” platforms such as Apple’s iPad and Google’s Android.

Where Microsoft and Apple differ is the latter has provided a platform where the iPhone and assorted iPad devices share the same operating system and thus the same application base.  In Microsoft’s case, the Windows Phone 8 platform and the Windows 8/RT “metro” applications do not share the same operating system although they are similar.  The result: different compilations at best and some redesign at worse.

But another factor is key…how many applications does one need.  If there are 10,000 applications available (a very small number on any platform) how many are you going to use???  I have tablets on multiple platforms – iPad 1, Nexus 7, Motorola Xoom, and Microsoft Surface RT.  My average number of applications installed is generally about 50 and the ones I use frequently are probably less than 10.  So if the ecosystem has 10,000 or 100,000, as long as the few I use the device for are available, I’m OK…its the functionality that is import.  (Note: I sometimes install applications to see their functionality and then don’t use it much afterward)

In time, as the number of sales grow, the number of applications will likewise grow.   Look more to the device characteristics and operating system than the application suite…for that will follow for successful devices and operating systems.

ED