Comments on: Photo of the day: Visualizing Genres http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/ Improving the human experience one day at a time Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:24:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brandon http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5145 Brandon Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:21:54 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5145 Don't they also use a similar style of images in their elevators, and on various bits of decor? If so, it would seem to be more of an extension of that branding/design/general aesthetic than a move towards improved UX. The style of photography, solid blocks framing, and the font is definitely in line with what I remember throughout the rest of the hotel. Found a random example via Google image search: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/4a/be/20/07-elevator-decoration.jpg Don’t they also use a similar style of images in their elevators, and on various bits of decor? If so, it would seem to be more of an extension of that branding/design/general aesthetic than a move towards improved UX. The style of photography, solid blocks framing, and the font is definitely in line with what I remember throughout the rest of the hotel.

Found a random example via Google image search: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/4a/be/20/07-elevator-decoration.jpg

]]> By: kikilarue http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5144 kikilarue Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:11:29 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5144 I can tell you from personal experience that those idiotic buttons are absolutely no use when trying to find the local NPR station... I can tell you from personal experience that those idiotic buttons are absolutely no use when trying to find the local NPR station…

]]> By: Raj http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5114 Raj Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:33:46 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5114 I guess they are in the right direction. One touch and I get to play some genre of music (instead of fiddling with a scan button) I agree with Timothy that it allows me to explore. A hotel can have a great variety of guests and hence this model could easily invite anyone to explore (of course people who dont read english are going to have issues). I would prefer buttons that light up when pressed. And simple words like News, Music, Sports etc., may work without the metaphor. I guess they are in the right direction. One touch and I get to play some genre of music (instead of fiddling with a scan button)

I agree with Timothy that it allows me to explore. A hotel can have a great variety of guests and hence this model could easily invite anyone to explore (of course people who dont read english are going to have issues).

I would prefer buttons that light up when pressed. And simple words like News, Music, Sports etc., may work without the metaphor.

]]> By: David http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5111 David Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:23:56 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5111 I'm a little bit surprised by the negativity on this one. I think they deserve an E for effort and I think the main mistake is that a few of the metaphors could have been better chosen. "What in their minds could possibly be the benefit of all of this cost and effort?" Um, maybe they wanted to go the extra mile and create a special experience for the user, something they would remember :-). Since when does an image or icon HAVE to make it something easier to use, often it's simply a pleasant visual cue. Also, hard to know how much cost and effort this actually added. Could be a piece that is being OEM'd and sold to many different channels for quite cheap. I’m a little bit surprised by the negativity on this one. I think they deserve an E for effort and I think the main mistake is that a few of the metaphors could have been better chosen.

“What in their minds could possibly be the benefit of all of this cost and effort?”

Um, maybe they wanted to go the extra mile and create a special experience for the user, something they would remember :-). Since when does an image or icon HAVE to make it something easier to use, often it’s simply a pleasant visual cue. Also, hard to know how much cost and effort this actually added. Could be a piece that is being OEM’d and sold to many different channels for quite cheap.

]]> By: Timothy http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5109 Timothy Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:06:09 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5109 If I come across a device (especially a noisy one like a radio) that's labeled in an unfamiliar language, I'm usually a bit too scared to just press buttons randomly to "see what they do". While I agree that the images on the buttons leave a lot of room for interpretation of their classification, I wonder if they might also encourage a bit of exploratory behavior on the part of users? I think I'd be more likely to press the picture button that appealed most to me from this set (I'd press the cow), just to see what it was, and maybe try pressing some of the others too - I wouldn't be worried that I'd be accidentally turning on the alarm. Of course, the main goal of hotel guests is probably not finding something nice to listen to, but more likely making sure they don't miss their flight in the morning! "Super-easy to set", they say - is it? If I come across a device (especially a noisy one like a radio) that’s labeled in an unfamiliar language, I’m usually a bit too scared to just press buttons randomly to “see what they do”.

While I agree that the images on the buttons leave a lot of room for interpretation of their classification, I wonder if they might also encourage a bit of exploratory behavior on the part of users?

I think I’d be more likely to press the picture button that appealed most to me from this set (I’d press the cow), just to see what it was, and maybe try pressing some of the others too – I wouldn’t be worried that I’d be accidentally turning on the alarm.

Of course, the main goal of hotel guests is probably not finding something nice to listen to, but more likely making sure they don’t miss their flight in the morning! “Super-easy to set”, they say – is it?

]]> By: Rachel http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5108 Rachel Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:39:08 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5108 I absolutely love the idea, but the pictures miss the mark. I wonder if the pictures are even necessary. Are musical genres the same across cultures? I know most countries have "rock" but does "oldies" mean 60s-70s to those outside the US? I see that "rock" isn't even a button. Surely, that's an oversight too! Which button do you push to listen to Green Day? I absolutely love the idea, but the pictures miss the mark. I wonder if the pictures are even necessary. Are musical genres the same across cultures? I know most countries have “rock” but does “oldies” mean 60s-70s to those outside the US?

I see that “rock” isn’t even a button. Surely, that’s an oversight too! Which button do you push to listen to Green Day?

]]> By: Cennydd http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2010/06/17/photo-of-the-day-visualizing-genres/comment-page-1/#comment-5106 Cennydd Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:00:50 +0000 http://whitneyhess.com/blog/?p=3614#comment-5106 Yep, completely inappropriate metaphors. How about a violin for classical, a football for sports, an electric guitar for rock? Yep, completely inappropriate metaphors. How about a violin for classical, a football for sports, an electric guitar for rock?

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