Trends in Technology

Riiight. If you havent seen it you should check out Idiocracy.

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The real trick is to maintain the "powerful" aspect of all the features, but retain a simple interface. The new RPLS is, in my opinion, the worst designed site I have ever seen (it doesn't help that Wendell did such a great job on this one). I could have made a forum site in just a few hours that would be better than the new RPLS in terms of ease of use and thread view-ability, not saying I could have done what Wendell has done - no way.

When I think of good simple user interfaces that sort of hide the power that is available I think of the iPad or the iPhone. I personally prefer Android, as it is an open platform, and have made up my mind to buy a Google chrome netbook when they launch.

As for how this translates into surveying software there are a couple of aspects that we have to consider. For one thing, I am glad to be a surveyor, but we have to remember that the software developers aren't going to sell couple million copies of what they produce. What we get will represent the amount of spit & polish that they are able to put in it, not necessarily what they want to include. Secondly, I know I would not want a single feature to be removed from any software; maybe just incorporated a little better.

IMHO Carlson software and Microsurvey are probably the two best as far as ease of use being balanced with the amount of features goes.

I think it would be a neat idea to include a "setup wizard" with a new software install. For example: which font do you want to be standard, which annotation style do you like, how do you want your areas formatted etc.

It turns my stomach to see a plat with standard or simplex text all over it.

Definitely moving towards simplicity, but many have not yet gotten the message. I first noticed this trend with Google and their simple web applications (gmail) as compared to the Outlook 2007 bloated beast. Apple further simplified the UI with their iPod Touch and iPhone.

The trend I see is to let users 'discover' features and get that "AHA" moment, rather than provide voluminous user manuals (and help systems) that spell out every "feature".

Some applications may not be easy to simplify. However, at the very least, these apps should be re-factored (or re-written) so they are easier to support and modify. Development tools have improved significantly in the past 10 years.

In some cases you start to see things branch off to the full-featured versus the dumbed-down, and the two will coexist, each with separate markets and audiences.

>(it doesn't help that Wendell did such a great job on this one). I could have made a forum site in just a few hours that would be better than the new RPLS in terms of ease of use and thread view-ability, not saying I could have done what Wendell has done - no way.

> I personally prefer Android, as it is an open platform, and have made up my mind to buy a Google chrome netbook when they launch.

I am proud to say I am married to this genius "Geek". He has put his heart, soul, blood, sweat & tears into this place for you guys. You should hear how he talks about all of you!! He speaks very highly of every single one of you with respect, integrity and no bias. Every one of you that has signed up here he personally recognizes by your name/sign up handle. He's like a little kid over there..."Ohh so and so is here!! I remember when..." & then goes on to recall and tell me a wonderful (& usually a survey) story about you guys that may have came from several years back. He does not and will not EVER forget you fellows. =) (Just my 2 cents...)

We both have DROIDS. At first I didn't want something so "bulky" & hard to figure out but Wendell told me not to worry, it is simple and I'll pick it up easily. I'm one of those that gets frustrated learning a new toy. Amazingly enough, it was easy like he said and I am very thankful I have it!! It's built well too; I've dropped mine (accidentally of course) a few times and ya cant even tell. Not a scratch. (They must have built these things knowing a woman would put it to the test!)

My old blackberry on the other hand...I dropped it once and...well...:-/

I hope we're moving to a 'Less Is More' situation,
Cad : there will be no simple Civil3d but a package that will do it all, survey and engineering is very hard to please all users.
Software in general : since we all use large monitors now, I don't get it why all recent software takes so much menu and ribbon space at the top half of the window, I can't even read a whole letter on my screen.
chr.

I agree with Adam on the simple Apple interface. I purchased an iPad without really knowing a whole lot about it. I knew that I could get e-mail, surf the internet and do Word Processing. It does all these very well and with a very clean interface.

I wish that I would have gotten gmail years ago. So much faster than the MS product. It does not have all the bells and whistles but I don't miss any of them.

And now I'm also using Safari (Apple Browser) on all my computers for the same reason. It has a simple interface and not a lot of frills. I see another advantage of these 'light' versions of software. Not so much code that a hacker can find a hole to enter and create havoc.

I've download several apps for the iPad and most are under $5.00 or even free. They are very fast and I love the touch screen. I did not get the phone enabled iPad but there are wifi spots everywhere now days. I took Gale to have some tests done and both here doctors office and the hospital had wifi throughout.

My contract is out on my Blackberry and I'm likely to get one of the iPhones to replace it in a couple of days based on my experience with the iPad.

Deral

> I hope we're moving to a 'Less Is More' situation,

I hope so too!

As Wendell always tells me, "Use the KISS mode". I said what's that?? He says "Keep It Simple, Stupid!"

I like less is more. 🙂

You want simple? There's an app for that!