The dial has five positions: a green rectangle representing my desire for the computer to take complete responsibiliy for the shot - and I am rather hoping that engineers and expert photographers have embedded their wisdom into creating the perfect exposure setting; a P setting that lets me fiddle with the computer suggested apeture and shutter speed; two positions for letting the computer pick either shutter speed or apeture, but not both; and finally there is the M or Manual position. It’s up to me to rise to the challenge of learning how best to use that M setting and thats what makes it such an interesting and engaging product. I hope it will become simpler for me over time and I would like to think that I will use the green rectangle dial position less and less as my skill improves.

But if the computer technology gets better and better at setting the perfect exposure, and all I am left to do is compose the picture, then will my behaviour change? Would I be bothered with setting my own exposure if I got the image I wanted with the computer doing all the complex hard work behind the scenes? Well both yes and no. For me and many others there is a great deal of pleasure to be gained from mastering a new skill, theres no pleasure from letting the machine do all the work, unless it is helping me understand or when I really dont have time to get it wrong. If it could explain its reasons for setting that exposure then effectively I would have my own personal tutor every time I switched to the green rectangle.

So that complexity dial may begin to find its way onto many other products in the near future because it puts people back in control of their stuff. It gives them the choice on how complex their products are moment to moment rather than just that one time in the store.

Features are facts and simplicity is perception. In software, in an ideal world, this means creating a product which allows users to accomplish tasks without (as much as possible) being hindered by the application.

I’ve noticed that some tech writers are beginning to go this way. For example, Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal recently wrote about his frustrations with buying a new PC…and all the junk that came along with it: Using Even New PCs Is Ruined by a Tangle Of Trial Programs, Ads. This gets to your point nicely…we need to talk about the experience of owning something, not the promise of features.

In suggesting that we need to communicate simplicity more (in ways other than just interface design) I wasn’t ruling out a discussion of how usable or efficient something is. I think that’s definitely a good way to go, because as you say, people have a hard time assessing it. (or, as the case may be, don’t consider it at that point in the process).

This is why videos showing actual use are so powerful on the Web. If you can show someone using a product with ease, then it becomes that much more attractive because people will gain the confidence to use it on their own.

Given the advances of the last few decades, the coming generation of seniors is probably less likely to be intimidated by new technologies. But to what degree will this be offset the various degenerations that inherently accompany aging (cognitive processing, decision-making, motor skills, peripheral vision, etc.)? Does the visibility of extra controls or an overall high-tech look carry any weight at all when it comes to forking over their hard-earned retirement allowances?

For these users, simplicity may indeed sell. I’d like to see that as a consideration in any discussion like this.

That is exactly why I’d like to see a “Consumer Reports” type of site that focuses on the usability of the product first and foremost.

I want “usable reviews” instead of “product reviews” Almost every review I read just tells me what’s available on the product, what features it has, and how it compares to other products, with little mention of how well all these work together. You’re lucky to get a “it has ‘feature X,’ but I found it too difficult to use…”

I don’t mind paying more for a product, I don’t mind simplicity, I don’t mind complexity, as long has thought is put into how they are used and if they are done so intelligently. If there was a source of usability experts that wrote product reviews and solicted them from other likeminded writers, I would use that as my primary “should I buy?” research tool.

As it is now, I look at my favorite usability/design sites and wait for the occasional product review and add it to my list of “if I’m ever looking for…”