Diminishing returns due to complexity appears to be a theme that is appearing in more and more systems. This phenomena appears to be more a cultural problem than a technical one. From desktop software to apps on phones, each software "upgrade" seems at times to offer more problems rather than benefits.
I originally was going to offer a series of awards for this. However, due to an overwhelming amount of potential nominations in the commercial software realm, it is just more efficient to have the nominees print their own trophies. The preferred printing material should be brown, ideally made from food based media such as chocolate or maybe...
So, about those awards!
People
Against the
Creation of
Excellent
Usable
Software.
The main idea behind PACEUS isn't about recognizing usable software or affordable software. Rather, it's software that simply maximizes "Timeburning". That is, the more time a user spends using the software the better - even if the user gets no benefit for doing so. The PACEUS principle is based on the following: Difficult expensive software = Long time configuring software = hours spent paying attention to software = popular software = claim of best software!
PACEUS points are cumulative. Point earning is of course subjective. Here are some suggested criteria that can be used for point accumulation:
- Make software browser dependent but don't specify which browser or edition to use. Just make some features not work or even be visible depending on the browser. Bonus if two or more browsers plus command line plus legacy Java (or Flash) environments are required to get full functionality.
- Instead of functional menus, use unique icons with no labels or hover-over tool tips. Waste screen space such that user needs a supersize monitor just to click "OK" in a corner. Also, promote feature of context sensitive help but only redirect users to a website homepage. Make the index search feature so bad that Google works better - and have critical solutions behind portal so search engines can't index.
- Require, but do not include downloadable software components for proprietary hardware. Make sure such components are "free" to use with the product and would only ever work on that hardware but require customer to contact sales before download. Bonus points if customers tend to infect themselves with malware due to downloading software from other sketchy websites in a desperate attempt to get their hardware to work.
- “Hide” necessary software features but prominently feature top10 lists and other screens that endlessly promote how great the software is and how things can be done! (not how-to, just that it could be done)
- Have expiring “features” such as security certificates, software license renewals or upgrades which require human intervention, ideally only be completed under direction of remote tech support. Ideally, expiring features are buried deep within the system and cripple the system in unpredictable ways with no notification of cause.
- Have an unclear licensing model with an onerous purchasing and renewal process. Points awarded based on hours lost spent viewing webinars or even whole courses offered to guide the user through how they can license their product.
- Sell the product as a "hybrid service” that require continuous Internet access to work yet also requires user to host pieces of the product using their own server resources. Then, have that software or hardware be unreliable enough that a duplicate on-site appliance also needs to be installed.
- "feelgood" controls instead of functional controls. For example, an "off" switch, which really should be called a "sleep" switch, should require multiple steps with multiple confirmations to just turn off an item. Even then, item should still consume power just in case the user selects to turn item back "on".
- Highest points awarded for the following: Make support options for crippled equipment dependent on functioning of that equipment! For example, if an email server needs support, make sure to provide support through email. If network equipment fails due to licensing, make sure licensing depends on connectivity to the Internet!
