The idea of HELP systems are a great idea, and yet, as the book stated, we tend to ignore them even when we want help. I think this is because a HELP system rarely gives you the answers you seek within the first minute of accessing it. With the internet and the ease of getting information instantly, we become conditioned into thinking, "Well, if it isn't the first few links that show up, then the answer just isn't there. I will move on to something else." HELP systems, at least in my experience, don't give you what you want instantly, and so users become disinterested and go to a search engine that is supposed to be quick and effective.
That being said, however, I think it is still necessary to have these HELP systems. They are tailored towards providing useful information towards the specific thing a user is on. I think they are necessary because there is no "perfect" design for users, and there will always be users who don't grasp the way to use something based on design alone. There needs to be that back-up of information that can explain how to use the system in a different way if the visual effects are not working.
As for Project #5... Maybe one of the better catagories to focus on for personas would be the the moderately-chronic fans. Not everybody who is involved with the show or book is going to make themselves and expert on it and watch every single episode or intensively read every line. A target group would be the ones who know a majority of the subject and understand the basics of what is going on, but they aren't experts on it.
Ally,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea for focusing on who the persona should be about. I have been having problems with the persona for our superhero. There are certainly always more people who are moderate fans than people who are experts, simply because it is easier to be a moderate fan than an expert fan. Nice post!
Mardin
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DeleteI agree with your idea that a persona idea for this concept should be focused on more moderate types of fans. It makes the most sense also because I feel as if the majority of total fans are moderately involved in this topic and less completely fanatic. Therefore, doing a persona that is geared towards moderate fans is a more realistic view of the entire target group as a whole. Very good thought you had while stating this point of focusing on a moderate fan type of persona.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea on the persona, but try to be more specific on exactly what type of group you're looking at for a persona (such as their age, gender, background, etc). Besides that, good post!
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