The Era of Incompetence: Black Lives Matter, but does the United States Government?

Since 2016, we’ve entered the Era of incompetence, or if you like, the Counter-Enlightenment (or if you prefer the Un-enlightentment or the Anti-Enlightenment). Science, Factual Knowledge, Rationality have been replaced by “Saying makes it so” neo-Medieval Do It Yourself Reality culture. Scientific facts, reality, reason, things we had taken for granted have been blatantly and…

The mythical 80/20 rule

In a sad day for most digital products and services, an italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, observed that 80% of Italy’s wealth was owned by 20% of the population. From that economic observation has come a torrent of the most far flung interpretations of a non-existent 80-20 rule. There is no 80-20 rule. There never was…

Misleading Designs

(Adapted from a previous editorial I wrote for interactions Magazine) This editorial is from a controversial issue on measuring usability. This special issue covered CIF usability testing (a seemingly innocuous if important topic). Upon publication many took strong esxception to our coverage of CIF testing. But perhaps these critics also took exception to our criticizing…

Results Are In: Fidelity Deception Ranks High on Usability Problems

This editorial is from a controversial issue on measuring usability. This special issue covered CIF usability testing (a seemingly innocuous if important topic). Upon publication many took strong esxception to our coverage of CIF testing. But perhaps these critics also took exception to our criticizing a practice all too often employed: how to lie with…