Talking of the potential of UI’s, we should note that how easy our lives have become thanks to various online services. Earlier, we used to work hard for things as small as getting a railway reservation. We would stand in queues, reason out with strange people and after spending a lot of time and effort, we would be able to get a ticket. With these things becoming as easy as clicking a few buttons and entering a credit card number, people are getting mentally lazy as they do not need to “think” much.
This would lead to deterioration in the power of the human brain as it will adapt and mutate to the “less thinking” type. This might pose a serious threat to the very existence of the human race in future. But luckily, quite a few UI developers have realized this, and are doing their best to develop UI’s which keep people mentally fit and active because of the amount of thinking required for their operation.
Talking of the railway reservation example, we have online booking websites which make sure to provide you the complete experience of waiting in queues by increasing the page-loading time and also the “thinking” part of the ordeal by complicating forms and adding too many irrelevant elements.
This restructuring exercise is obviously being opposed by users worldwide, because it is human nature to resist any kind of change, especially any change which tends to “improve” them. One such account can be found here. Notice how the user expresses his frustration by labeling such a UI as “Bad UI” without realizing his own indolence. Such reactions have so far not succeeded in discouraging developers to continue with their practices and, I hope, will never be able to deter the spirit of the so-called Bad UI Developer.
Rebellious users have gone to the extent of compiling a blog as a Bad UI Gallery, which I suggest, every UI developer should follow with an intention of learning how to develop masterpieces which force the user to think to an extent of driving him crazy. Don’t be put-off by the attitude of users; remember that social reforms were never accepted easily and will never be. Just keep trying your best and history will remember your contribution long after you are gone.
For those who have not yet mastered this art, some very useful tips can be found here. Just stick to them and believe in your “gift”. Humanity is in need of such UI’s to help people maintain their thinking capabilities. We can not let the most intelligent race weaken or fall prey to other inferior species. I regret that Cheese would probably never be able to join this reform movement as we do not have developers with the “sacred gift”, but we can at least do our bit by spreading the message across. Those who get our “message”, please do your bit to assure whatever you think is best for endurance of the human race.
