User Centered

Now onto the use cases. I actually wrote this first and will leave it in that original form for the sake of preserving my perspective.

Opera Unite is still in Beta but the architecture issues here are still fair game.

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I've been playing with Opera Unite over the past couple of weeks, using it to share files and I must admit I'm disappointed. What is the problem Opera is trying to solve here? Let's use Opera's own words, "Opera Unite is a form of collaboration technology that allows you to share data such as files or photos with other users, directly from your computer." (What Is Unite)

File sharing. Excellent! I love file-sharing and often long for an easy fast method of sharing files... We'll get to an overall evaluation after a case-study.

Here is my need: I have 40 pictures I need to share. I need my friends to be able to view those pictures, inform me of their favorites (and why) and keep track of that information. I'm trying to come up with the overall favorite picture and two different genre "subfavorites" based on their collective opinions (with some people's opinion receiving more weight than others)

What do I have? I have the 40 pictures on my desktop. They are high resolution images of ~4MB each. I have a relatively slow DSL connection (1.5 down/740 kbps up) but I'm not running any other services on my connection so that isn't too bad for my friends.

I have a few options.

• I could email the pics, I've tried this and while it is very convenient for my friends, it's nearly impossible when dealing with this many pictures of this size (I could scale them down, but again... more work).
  
• I could upload to a web server. Currently, I have access to only a few and they aren't my "personal web space" -- so I'm not keen on putting my personal stuff up there. Hunting down a web host doesn't hold much appeal either (nor the cost of it).
  
• I could use a service like Dropbox, it allows me to upload to their server (up to 2GB) free and I just have to "drop" my folders into my Public Folder (it is integrated with my OS). Then my friends could goto that site and download and view at their leisure and not dependent on my setup. Not too bad but...
  
• Opera Unite. Being an Opera fan, I decided to give Opera Unite a go.
  

Case 1: Setup & Go

So, I activate Opera Unite, track down my folder and set it to share. It takes me a while to find the password box (my window was shrunk and I didn't think to scroll down, I thought the password option would be in Opera Unite settings, not on the page itself). Which gets to my first issue. Settings are not centralized. There are the right-click Opera Unite options (this is where you set the folder you want to use) and then there are the "page view" options (this is where you set the password). I had to mentally bridge the gap ("Oh, there are two entirely different places where you can set vital preferences on Opera Unite.")

I got it setup quickly as I was racing out the door to meet some friends I wanted to show the pics to. I arrive at their house and was excited I was going to be able to just pull the pictures up!

I goto the webpage and I discover two major problems. First, I had set up the Opera Unite service for "File Sharing" instead of "Photo Gallery" -- Whoops! -- Now instead of thumbnails, I had a list of 40 files (and no way to change it remotely). Worse, I discovered how painfully slow my upload connection was. About 3 minutes, per file. That's a problem, because my 3 friends are standing over the computer and we want to browse through and compare the best.

Okay, I'll just download them all and then look at them... Surely there is a... Nope, no way to download all the files. That's the second major issue. I resign myself to clicking each file (but not too many, because it errors-out) every few minutes. Eventually the files get downloaded and I show my friends.

Case 2: Different Times

Next, similar situation, now long distance. I want my friend on the East Coast to look at the photos and give me her opinion. I give her the URL and password information and say, "check it out."

She sent me an email not long after trying saying she couldn't get it to work. It so happens I have my laptop off at night (dang fan is way too loud). Now this is a "classic duh". Obviously, if you're computer is off, it's not going to work but this speaks to a major problem with this model. Asynchronous file-sharing is not possible. With stationary desktops, this isn't too much of an issue, with laptops it makes the solution completely untenable.

Case 3: It worked great! and can I....

Next up, a different friend in the Central Time Zone. I was going to go through the photos with her on the phone. By now, I've setup the Photo Sharing option so that thumbnails appear and it's much easier to navigate the photos. It works beautifully (it's a little slow but not unbearable). We spend half-an-hour on the photos and I get her favorites, we go back and forth, comparing, narrowing down. Excellent.

All of a sudden, I realize there are 20 other pictures I want her to look at. Now -- I'll be honest, my immediate mental solution may not have been the most efficient or effective but it was the first one that came to mind. I didn't want to change my file structure (dragging the 20 pictures from their folder into my "sharing" folder). So I decided to add another "Photo Sharing" Service (they are now called Apps). Now this process is unclear to me and I'm not sure I found the best method but I looked around for a way to just share another folder and couldn't find one.

I went to the "Add Opera Unite" service (after trying to add a "folder" and not having it display any "folder" selection options) and just added another Photo Sharing service, setting it to my other folder. Then I had my friend login to that service and we continued on. It is still very unclear to me how I should have done it "right".

Case 4: Got it working smoothly. It'd also be nice...

Finally, my friend in Mountain Time Zone (LOL, I just now realize I am traveling across the US). I was at a coffee shop far from home and plugged in my laptop to go through the pictures. It worked well but I realized how badly I wanted her to be able to provide recordable feedback on the photos so I didn't have to keep a little notepad of that information. Not possible. (even if I just typed in her feedback on each pic)

Case 5: Show me the pictures!

There is one intervening incident that took place that is worth mentioning. I was at a friend's house and I wanted to share a bunch of pictures I had taken earlier in the year. Again, large in size, about 40 of them. Alright, go Opera Unite!? I activated the Opera Unite service and pulled up the photos on my friends computer. My plan was to simply save the files that she liked on her computer.

However, it was running very slowly. I didn't understand it, we were on the same LAN together, it should have been operating much faster. At first I assumed that it was because all data was sent through Opera's proxy server in Norway (while this provide privacy and some additional security the cost is speed). Though our two computers were literally sitting next to eachother, it seemed each packet was having to go to Norway (via my slow upload) and back (via the somewhat speedier download).

I'm not sure what the issue was that caused the major slow down. Perhaps the proxy did activate and my theory is correct but I saw no way of *knowing* that. There is no indication, no flashing light, no status report.

Even in the photo gallery, saving files was not obvious at all. Right-clicking on the displayed image showed "void.gif" -- I'm sure it had something to do with how the navigation worked but if I'm sharing photos with my friends, 9 times out of 10, I want to let them keep them.

I quickly gave up, activated Windows File Sharing (gah) and luckily it worked. I dropped the whole folder in her computer and 6 minutes later it was done (She can prune unwanted pics later).

What went splat?

From my usability perspective:

First, the UI is bit unclear. I quickly got the idea of "services" (and I applaud the change to "Applications") and how to turn them on. However, the division of settings means I have to search different locations in order to make modifications (there are even further settings in opera:config but you'd only know that if you Googled Opera Unite and read through the FAQ). Further, I couldn't figure out how best to share multiple folders in different locations on my HD.

Second, no easy way to handle big bundles of files. Remember, the problem Opera is saying it wants to solve is "File Sharing". Sometimes people want to share a lot of files but there appears to be no elegant way of handling that.

Third, I couldn't fix my "wrong service" remotely. I wanted Photo Gallery but selected File Sharing (you can see why I made a mistake, File Sharing is broadly what I wanted to do -- I just wanted to share them in a different format). This is probably good in a lot of ways but all I could think about as I had my three friends looking over my shoulder was "OMG! How do I fix this!?" From a security perspective I see no advantage in not allowing the remote change of how the files you are sharing are formatting.

Fourth, asynchronous sharing. This is a tough one, because the idea is to make your computer a Server. It works as designed. However, that design means portable device users must make their devices available to share. This presents a lot of logistical problems that the user has to solve to use OU when there are *far* simpler asynchronous solutions available (Hi DropBox).

Fifth, as it is explained on OU it attempts direct connection and when it can't, it goes through a proxy. I'm not sure what happened when I attempted to share files on the LAN but the connection was excruciatingly slow and there was no way to troubleshoot it. (Even just seeing that the proxy is not active would have allowed me to figure out what on my end was slowing the LAN link).

Sixth, the last-mile is still an issue for many users. OU might work great when you're on your University LAN or if you happen to have a high-speed upload connection but for the rest of us, are our friends willing to wait? (idea: Opera Testers signs on to OU via a local dial-up connection and shares with their friends, rate experience)

Some of these are easy problems, some though, are symptoms of deeper issues.

The thing to remember about usability is this: It must work for nearly everyone. It doesn't have to work the same way, but if 30% of the users can't make something work, it's a failure. I'd argue, that for wide adoption, you probably need 90%. Think about innovations in the world, even if they are complex, if people find the payoff worth the investment of time then it's "worth it."

Look at cars and their drivers. There are legally stipulated levels of operational ability to use a vehicle but the payoff is you can go most anywhere within certain geographical constraints. (My "It'd be nice" are the cup-holders of the world)

Likewise, email isn't exactly intuitive but the payoff for learning how to use it is cheap, immediate communication with the whole world -- most importantly -- it works well once you gain that basic understanding. Like driving, once you get it you are set forever!

Next up... back to the high level evaluation.

I wanted to get a "Game Informer" subscription as I previously had one and miss it. Going to the website, I found the subscription link easily enough with a link that takes me to gamestop.com to do the shopping cart stuff. Fair enough. But I don't think these two companies got together and actually walked through this use case, otherwise they would have seen that there is a "shipping charge" and "X business day/transit nonsense that cause me to just abandoned the app in favor of calling them directly. You're treating a subscription like it's a one time purchase. This is unnecessarily confusing.




...A message to you Game Informer and Gamestop- I just said I abandoned my shopping cart and I intend to just call you. That was last week at least, and I still haven't done so. If you'd had a proper shopping cart for dealing with subscriptions, you'd already have my money, now you have to wait for me to get motivated to call. Maybe that will be the next time I pick up another crappy "GamePro" magazine, but who knows.

My friend Dan, having read and heard about my quest for the best travel mug (see this and this) bequeathed unto me the best gift ever... (which I just realized he hinted at in the comments of the Brugo review)

The Stanley outdoor travel mug. It meets just about every requirement I have- namely, thermos-like temperature, sealable, and ability to drink from like a regular mug:

I'm looking for a thermos that I can easily drink from (without pouring) and get access to coffee with one hand, or at least that doesn't require "unscrewing" the lid to get access. Or, if we go the other way, a standard travel mug that I cant put in a bag and not worry about spilling and doesn't have the goofy handle.

This Stanley mug is the only one that I actually use on a daily basis. The Bruno mug I reviewed a while back? It's on my "close but no cigar" shelf of failed coffee mugs.

...but there are a few catches. First, the lid assembly requires the prowess normally reserved for US Marine's piecing together their rifle:

My fiancee had a hard time figuring out how the whole thing went together when she pulled it from the dishwasher.

Second, the first mug I received had a poor rubber seal somewhere in this assembly and it leaked coffee at inopportune times (ie- all over my white work shirt). I'm happy to report however, that when I notified Stanley PMI about the leaky cup, they promptly shipped me a brand new one, free of charge, no questions asked. It turns out this one leaks as well, but diligent "reseating" of the rubber seals seems to (literally) stem the flow.


But these minor problems don't take away from the fact that thing keeps my coffee freakin' scalding throughout the day. You know that tepid first sip you take of a hot cup of coffee? I roll like that all the way until 2:00 in the afternoon! (even if I leave the lid in "drink mode") That also means I drink significantly less coffee as I'm nursing this single cup all day long.

Operation is simple once you figure out the moving parts, you just twist the ring as you would on any regular mug and you have a small opening, twist it back to seal it up and throw in a bag. Of course, there's likely a small amount of coffee still caught up in all those rings, seals, and compartments, so use caution when tossing into a bag. It's metal inside and well insulated, and you can tell the lid has insulation -it looks like a bank vault.

Two (spoon) thumbs up. And thanks to Dan for the gift- you know me well. Granted I've had this mug for a year and a half now, but I like to really give'er a go before I write a review

• Pros: Easy travel mug, fits in most cup holders, WELL insulated, easy to drink from
  
• Cons: A bit tall and lean, rubber grommets and rings are prone to slight leaks, requires basic training to figure outthe assembly of the lid.
  
  

A USB key is never around when I need it. I'm always saying "yeah... I left it in my laptop bag" or "it's plugged into my computer at work." LaCie integrates into what you already are used to always carrying around with you, your keys. I would have also accepted the following:

• Credit card sized USB drive
  
• Mobile phone that flips out a usb slot like a Flip Mino
  
• A shoe lace/flash drive
  

My only complaint would be that I would want a something other than a removable plastic cover for the end of the key.

Our office building recently upgraded (eye of the beholder I guess) to the Dyson Airblade. It's pretty novel the first couple of uses, although it doesn't exactly communicate its function as clearly as possible.

It operates using sensors and timers. The timer really needs one of those countdown displays you find at the automated car wash dryers. You know, as you're driving out of the carwash a big overhead/side dryer kicks in and a countdown begins letting you know how long you have? Well, it's the same idea here. In fact, the hand dryer works in pretty much the exact same way. You stick your hands in there and slowly pull them out, the airflow "squeegees" off the water from your hand as you pull them out.

The biggest gripe I have with it is in the sensors used to detect a hand is in there. I must have particularly small fingertips, because the Dyson Airblade will ALWAYS cut off just right as I get to the end of my hand (fingertips) causing me to walk out feeling like I just dipped my hand in a glass of water.

After talking with my coworkers, I've found that this is not an uncommon situation (thankfully, my fingertips are normal). In commiserating, we've all shared our workarounds for getting fully dry hands, all are a variant of the (thusly defined/coined) "Dyson Shuffle" and the "Dyson Flap."

• Dyson Shuffle: This action involves keeping one hand fully inserted into the Airblade while the other dries off, this allows one hand to dry while keeping the sensor active. Then, while dry, you move it back into the Airblade to dry the other hand. This looks a lot like a DJ working the ones and twos.
  
• Dyson Flap: Same idea, but this has both hands moving up, then you quickly move your hands in from the side before the sensor shuts off the device to repeat the process. This move looks sort of like Michael Phelps doing a butterfly stroke. Logic- two quick dries equals one full dry
  

Of course, all this is to illustrate the silliness of the whole matter. How about just repositioning your sensor to accurately detect the hand? or perhaps extend by an extra second or two the airflow before shutting off?