ReachCustomersOnline.com

Situated Software

Posted by TimSlavin at April 1, 2004

"Situated software isn't a technological strategy so much as an attitude about closeness of fit between software and its group of users, and a refusal to embrace scale, generality or completeness as unqualified virtues. Seen in this light, the obsession with personalization of Web School software is an apology for the obvious truth -- most web applications are impersonal by design, as they are built for a generic user. Allowing the user to customize the interface of a Web site might make it more useful, but it doesn't make it any more personal than the ATM putting your name on the screen while it spits out your money."

Very interesting article about the nexus between small groups and how software is created. Traditionally software is expected to scale to large groups. But software scaled only to a small group can be just as effective or more effective. There are a number of good implications buried in this article. From Clay Shirky.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.reachcustomersonline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1178

Comments

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: