Are we diabetics, or just people?
I was reading an interesting post today about the term 'user' and how it's become over-used in computer systems and software manuals.Josh Bernoff does a good job of pointing out how that simple label affects how we think about people who use our systems and software.
I can't help thinking about the companies that make products we depend on. Glucose meters, syringes, insulin, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors.
Are the makers of these things thinking of us as diabetics, or patients, or something else? I hope that they remember we're also: children; moms; dads; people who are trying to live our lives despite the challenge of diabetes.
So I'm going to take his pledge here and now. I'll try and let it affect how I write this blog and my life as a software architect.
I promise to avoid the word user whenever possible.
I will think of people who use technology as people, customers, and friends. I won't use them, and they won't use me.
Labels: people, pledge, software
posted by Bernard @ 11:29 AM
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