Comments on: Appealing to the Buyer Head and the User Head http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/ UIE\'s latest insights on the world of design Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:46:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ashley McKee http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-77278 Ashley McKee Tue, 29 May 2007 17:06:36 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-77278 Another thing the GPS system is good for is seeing where there are restaurants, gas stations, service stations, hospitals, and other points of interest, along with their phone numbers. Can you also see that with Google Maps through the cell phone? I'm partial to the GPS because of a recent incident in Florida. I was driving with my friend and our car broke down in the middle of a huge intersection. A state trooper helped push us to the side of the road. We asked if he knew any tow truck companies, he replied no, and left. The GPS allowed me to look up all of the towing and repair companies in our area, and we were rescued soon after. There's also the issue of the passenger not wanting to deal with maps and directions. Sometimes they just want to see the sites. A GPS is your dedicated, no-nonsense navigator. It would be nice if the GPS system could project a larger map of the area. Another thing the GPS system is good for is seeing where there are restaurants, gas stations, service stations, hospitals, and other points of interest, along with their phone numbers. Can you also see that with Google Maps through the cell phone?

I’m partial to the GPS because of a recent incident in Florida. I was driving with my friend and our car broke down in the middle of a huge intersection. A state trooper helped push us to the side of the road. We asked if he knew any tow truck companies, he replied no, and left. The GPS allowed me to look up all of the towing and repair companies in our area, and we were rescued soon after.

There’s also the issue of the passenger not wanting to deal with maps and directions. Sometimes they just want to see the sites. A GPS is your dedicated, no-nonsense navigator.

It would be nice if the GPS system could project a larger map of the area.

]]> By: Benjamin Ho http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-77158 Benjamin Ho Thu, 24 May 2007 13:57:33 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-77158 Okay, so we've done our road trip and we decided to use the paper map (Rand McNally's Road Atlas) instead of the GPS. Since I had a navigator (aka the wife), I thought the map was more beneficial instead of having to learn another piece of technology. The paper map has some advantages: 1. You can see an overview in a larger format than a 3.5" screen 2. No batteries to run out. However, where the map lacked in features was: 1. Intricate details of the city such as a lack of the ramp/exit markings. 2. The need of a skilled person to read the map. Since I had a dedicated navigator in the passenger seat, she also used my Samsung Blackjack internet connection to run the Google Maps to get better details of the city and highways. Learning to use the Google Map was actually very easy and quick. So using the paper map and technology in tandem made the trip more efficient. So really, having to get another piece of technology - a dedicated GPS unit? Perhaps if I were driving alone, I'd consider it more, but for now, a somewhat skilled person might be better. Okay, so we’ve done our road trip and we decided to use the paper map (Rand McNally’s Road Atlas) instead of the GPS. Since I had a navigator (aka the wife), I thought the map was more beneficial instead of having to learn another piece of technology. The paper map has some advantages:

1. You can see an overview in a larger format than a 3.5″ screen
2. No batteries to run out.

However, where the map lacked in features was:

1. Intricate details of the city such as a lack of the ramp/exit markings.
2. The need of a skilled person to read the map.

Since I had a dedicated navigator in the passenger seat, she also used my Samsung Blackjack internet connection to run the Google Maps to get better details of the city and highways. Learning to use the Google Map was actually very easy and quick. So using the paper map and technology in tandem made the trip more efficient.

So really, having to get another piece of technology - a dedicated GPS unit? Perhaps if I were driving alone, I’d consider it more, but for now, a somewhat skilled person might be better.

]]> By: Benjamin Ho http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-76734 Benjamin Ho Thu, 03 May 2007 18:19:06 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-76734 I'm currently in a tight spot where I have to decide whether or not to spend $300 on a GPS unit, or up to $20 worth on a good map book within a week. I'm thinking about the trade-offs, one of them being price, the other, programming time of the route. I know the GPS might take a little longer only because of adjusting the route, avoiding tool roads or majorly travelled arteries I'd like to forgo. I can do the same with the map book and it gives me a better, larger view, but the detail in certain spots might not be there if I needed it. The overall criteria will be, which device will enable me to get the most detail quickest. I know most GPS units can do this well despite the small screen. And if I go the mapbook route, I'd have to get a pretty darn good one! I'll let you know the results! I’m currently in a tight spot where I have to decide whether or not to spend $300 on a GPS unit, or up to $20 worth on a good map book within a week. I’m thinking about the trade-offs, one of them being price, the other, programming time of the route.

I know the GPS might take a little longer only because of adjusting the route, avoiding tool roads or majorly travelled arteries I’d like to forgo. I can do the same with the map book and it gives me a better, larger view, but the detail in certain spots might not be there if I needed it.

The overall criteria will be, which device will enable me to get the most detail quickest. I know most GPS units can do this well despite the small screen. And if I go the mapbook route, I’d have to get a pretty darn good one!

I’ll let you know the results!

]]> By: angela http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-75931 angela Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:58:24 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-75931 Buyer head seems male, user head seems female. Buyer head seems male, user head seems female.

]]> By: Ashley McKee http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-74791 Ashley McKee Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:27:50 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-74791 I'm in the market for a new cell phone, and I'm switching from Cingular/AT&T to Verizon (Verizon is the plan we use at work). Anyway, I decided on the LG enV...lots of features, looks pretty cool, not very expensive, and I've heard mostly good things about Verizon's service. My buyer head is definitely working in full force. It'll be interesting to see what my user head thinks of this decision. But what I really wanted to point out was Verizon's new "30-day test drive" of their network. You try out their network for 30 days, and if you're not completely satisfied, the calls you made are on them. Trials with limited or no liability are definitely an interesting way to see if you can get a potential customer's buyer head and user head in agreement. I’m in the market for a new cell phone, and I’m switching from Cingular/AT&T to Verizon (Verizon is the plan we use at work). Anyway, I decided on the LG enV…lots of features, looks pretty cool, not very expensive, and I’ve heard mostly good things about Verizon’s service. My buyer head is definitely working in full force. It’ll be interesting to see what my user head thinks of this decision.

But what I really wanted to point out was Verizon’s new “30-day test drive” of their network. You try out their network for 30 days, and if you’re not completely satisfied, the calls you made are on them. Trials with limited or no liability are definitely an interesting way to see if you can get a potential customer’s buyer head and user head in agreement.

]]> By: Daniel Szuc http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-74743 Daniel Szuc Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:30:35 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/04/25/appealing-to-the-buyer-head-and-the-user-head/#comment-74743 It would be great to have a web based tool where you can enter: 1. Product - what you are interested in buying 2. Goals - what you would like to achieve with the product 3. Features - what you think it should have to meet your goals 4. Price - how much you want to pay And a SHOW ME button. Recently went through a comparison of mobile phones and it still amazes me how functionally/specification driven the product information on the web. Which is fine if you understand the technical terms, not so good if you just want to know how the product can actually help. It would be great to have a web based tool where you can enter:

1. Product - what you are interested in buying

2. Goals - what you would like to achieve with the product

3. Features - what you think it should have to meet your goals

4. Price - how much you want to pay

And a SHOW ME button.

Recently went through a comparison of mobile phones and it still amazes me how functionally/specification driven the product information on the web. Which is fine if you understand the technical terms, not so good if you just want to know how the product can actually help.

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