Comments on: The Colonialist Perspective in Social Software http://fstutzman.com/2006/10/18/the-colonialist-perspective-in-social-software/ Thoughts about information, social networks, and privacy Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:54:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Fred Stutzman http://fstutzman.com/2006/10/18/the-colonialist-perspective-in-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Fred Stutzman Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:04:00 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/~fred/projects/blog/?p=327#comment-386 It's basically a slightly convolunted way of saying that rather than trying to get into the mindset of the user to answer new needs in the software, the designer will rely upon his or her beliefs to make desicions about the needs answered going forward. This is fueled by the belief that the "user doesn't know what he wants." Because the user is unable to articulate his or her needs, it doesn't mean those needs should be written off by the designer. It’s basically a slightly convolunted way of saying that rather than trying to get into the mindset of the user to answer new needs in the software, the designer will rely upon his or her beliefs to make desicions about the needs answered going forward. This is fueled by the belief that the “user doesn’t know what he wants.” Because the user is unable to articulate his or her needs, it doesn’t mean those needs should be written off by the designer.

]]> By: Anonymous http://fstutzman.com/2006/10/18/the-colonialist-perspective-in-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Anonymous Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:58:00 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/~fred/projects/blog/?p=327#comment-385 Big fan of your work-- it's very insightful and stimulating. Just wondering if, when you get a minute, you could clarify something from this post..<br/><br/>"It isn't so much that users don't know what they need, it is that designers don't know what users don't know they need. "<br/><br/>Didn't quite follow that. Much appreciated! Big fan of your work– it’s very insightful and stimulating. Just wondering if, when you get a minute, you could clarify something from this post..

“It isn’t so much that users don’t know what they need, it is that designers don’t know what users don’t know they need. “

Didn’t quite follow that. Much appreciated!

]]> By: Bertil http://fstutzman.com/2006/10/18/the-colonialist-perspective-in-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Bertil Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:03:00 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/~fred/projects/blog/?p=327#comment-383 Wow. Great post.<br/><br/>I'm just back from a conference abroad, and dead-tired---but as soon as I get some sleep, I'd love to comment.<br/> If I am right, what you are saying is that: <br/>- communications tools are impacting social relations by (unconsciously) forcing users into their framing;<br/>- neither the users current perception (prior to using it), nor companies own perception of their interest (prior to testing on a large scale) will decide what would the technology impact on social relations be.<br/><br/>Then, can social sciences help forcasting SNS?<br/><br/> I guess I'll need a week of isolation and silence to come back with a decent answer. But prior to any miracle like that happens, I needed to tell you the points you made are essential. Wow. Great post.

I’m just back from a conference abroad, and dead-tired—but as soon as I get some sleep, I’d love to comment.
If I am right, what you are saying is that:
- communications tools are impacting social relations by (unconsciously) forcing users into their framing;
- neither the users current perception (prior to using it), nor companies own perception of their interest (prior to testing on a large scale) will decide what would the technology impact on social relations be.

Then, can social sciences help forcasting SNS?

I guess I’ll need a week of isolation and silence to come back with a decent answer. But prior to any miracle like that happens, I needed to tell you the points you made are essential.

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