The buzz word hype and web 2.0

Pelle

3/4/2006 5:53:35 PM #

I would like to hear how you like work you've done recently - for instance I doubt very much that some of the stuff we are working could be done "the regular way" just two years ago?

Mads Kristensen

3/4/2006 6:17:47 PM #

I actually think it is cool that someone else take a stand on what technologies to use other than developers. What makes it cool is the fact that developers have one less thing to decide and that designers get more involved in the technology being used. But I have found it a bit difficult to adjust to the fact that designers have a say in this matter. But when I did, it proved to be cool.

Pelle

3/4/2006 8:22:37 PM #

I can promise you that the last word has not been written yet - watch out for posts on The Dojo ;)

Mads Kristensen

3/5/2006 11:18:56 AM #

I'm looking forward to reading a more detailed oppinion from you, Pelle. Post the link to it here, when you have written it on The Dojo (www.thedojo.textdriven.com).

Mads Kristensen

3/7/2006 2:01:56 PM #

Jimmi just wrote a very good post at The Dojo about this subject. I agree totally with him. Go check it out at thedojo.textdriven.com/2006/03/07/mind-the-gap/

Pelle

3/7/2006 8:07:22 PM #

I wrote an even better comment on the subject at while commenting Jimmi's post

But to get back to our conversation: There's lot to be said about the development life cycle. For starters I think we can agree that it is better to leave the old ways behind - I'm thinking of the waterfall and the whirlpool.

Jonas Löwgren og Erik Stolterman have presented a far more dynamic model for developing in their excellent works, go see http://webzone.k3.mah.se/k3jolo/ .

Also to understand the switch from static to dynamic models and the difference between HCI and interaction design, you should read Jonas' review of Interactiondesign by Jenny Preece at boxesandarrows: Just How Far Beyond HCI is Interaction Design? - www.boxesandarrows.com/.../just_how_far_beyond_hci_is_interaction_design_

Mads Kristensen

3/7/2006 8:22:51 PM #

Waterfall does not equals old. Waterfall is still used all over the word. I use it all the time doing a variaty of things. Prototyping and whirlpools are extremely efficient at some things and waterfall at others. I fail to see where you are going with this. My theory is, that with emerging mainstream technologies, the decision makers outside the developement sphere are participating in deciding which of these technologies to use when and where.

As I wrote in a comment, I like the fact that it is happening, but it takes some getting used to. You could call it an invasion of the developer's domain I see it as a one way invasion or monologue if you will. Again, maybe we agree benetah our retoric.

Pelle

3/7/2006 8:30:10 PM #

Oops I forgot something.

I should have mentioned one other thing; participatory design. While some think that this a new thing from the US, it has been widely used in Scandinavia for the last 20+ years (Pelle Ehn did a lot of the early work). What I'm getting at is that developers must get used to interference from other persons, when programming new applications.

Any designer has been used to this for a lot a years, so now it's your turn.

Mads Kristensen

3/7/2006 8:40:02 PM #

It is not the interference from other people I'm talking about. I'm used to that as much as any other member of a project team is. My point is, that one thing that has always been exclusive to developers and technical executives have been the choise of platform, tools, technologies etc. It's not the inteference in general that's new to us, it's the intrution of our exclusive decision making. We don't have many, so we try to keep the once we've got and the once we know we are good at. They are usually the same.

I know we have to get used to it, but it takes some adjusting thats all. Times have changed as you say, and we as developers have to follow along if we like it or not. it can however, leave you with a feeling of being under valued because your believes/decisions get invaded from outsiders.

Pelle

3/9/2006 11:09:54 AM #

For starters let me point out and stress (can I say something else to make it clear?) that this is not about not trusting or underestimating the work of developers. At the end of the day what management pays for is your bright mind and your skills.

While this is all good but the time has come to make a switch in the decision making. Companies only change to survive is to better and faster than the competitors. The best way to be that, in my humble opinion, is to let someone else than only developers get a say when choosing platforms and technology - let's face it, at least some developers can be a bit conservative at times ;)

We don't develop products because it is fun to do, but because we need features...