There is the complexity required to make something functional. This is about 20% of the complexity. Then the further complexity required to make something usable. This is about 80% of the complexity.

Often people get these figures the wrong way around, put 80% of the effort into functionality, and 20% into usability. This results in something perceived as complex, but actually less complex than it needed to be.

The car has an advantage in that there's been much more work done on the user interface. Back when cars began, they required a lot more knowledge of their working, and only an engineer (or someone who could afford one) would have one. Most people couldn't understand why someone wanted to travel so fast.

It's the same with the Nokia tablet. It's a technology which will change the world, but this isn't even as accessible as Henry F's little black number.

It'll be ages before linux reaches the complexity, and therefore imagined simplicity of the humble motor car. This is because it's designed by engineers who think the UI is 20% of the work required.

Apple's iPhone is approaching the car problem from the other direction: It has a wonderful UI which really makes it easy to use, but at the moment there's nothing to use. But they've done the tough 80% of the work and features can come thick and fast now.

I wonder who will reach the sweet spot first?

I'm betting Apple have an internet tablet announced in under 2 weeks time.


Faye