There are two major user experience problems with the way Microsoft implemented the "My Document" folder in Windows XP. The first is a problem of taxonomy and the second is a problem of collation.
Taxonomy Problem:
The "My Documents" folder in Windows XP provides us with an important lesson in how a misguided informational taxonomy can cause major usability problems. As expected, documents (Word, PDF, Excel files, etc) are found within the "My Documents" folder. However, folders entitled "My Music", "My Pictures", "My Videos", and "My Downloads" are also found within the "My Documents" folder. This creates a parent-child relationship between "My Documents" and those sub-folders. This is problematic because videos, music, and pictures are not types of documents. Therefore, there should not be a parent/child relationship between those folders and "My Documents".
Collation Problem:
The second problem is related to collation. Collation is the organization of information (in this case folders and files) into a meaningful order. When viewing lists of folders on a computer the most common type of collation that people utilize is alphabetization. Because the word "My" is appended to the front of the folder names, users are unable to utilize alphabetization to find the folder they’re searching for. For example, the video folder wouldn’t be found listed with other folders that start with the letter "V", rather it would be found under the "M" section. From a user’s perspective, this is unexpected. Unexpected behaviour is very often the cause of usability problems.
The solutions:
The solution to both of these problems is simple. Placing the folders for documents, videos, downloads, and pictures on the same level will solve the taxonomy problem because it will remove the unnatural parent-child relationship that existed between "My Documents" and its sub-folders.
Removing the word "My" from the front of the folder names will solve the collation problem because it will allow users to find folders based on the alphabetization of folder names. As you can see in the screenshot below, the software developers of Mac OS X have named its folders correctly.
The goal of television networks should be to monetize each phase of the content (i.e. television program) lifecycle. In order to accomplish this, consumers should always have a way to legally access the content throughout each phase of the lifecycle. Content vacuums–periods of times where content is not legally available for purchase by consumers–is when piracy has the potential to be highest.
Unfortunately, these content vacuums traditionally occurred shortly after the initial television broadcast, when consumer interest was highest. Obviously this wasn’t a problem before broadband internet. However, with the widespread adoption of broadband, consumers are now able to stream or download content at acceptable speeds which makes illegally distributing and consuming content much easier.
Monetizing the entire lifecycle
1: Television Broadcast Phase
This is the phase that we’re all familiar with. Networks broadcast their programs on TV which generates revenue through the sale of on-air advertisements or via subscriptions (e.g. HBO).
2: On-line Broadcast Phase
This new phase will occupy the space between the original television broadcast and the DVD sales phase. Piracy activity has traditionally been highest here. Due to the fact the content wasn’t legally available, pirates moved to fill this content vacuum.
Content vacuums–periods of times where content is not legally available for purchase by consumers–is when piracy has the potential to be highest.
Networks must continue to move into this space and create revenue by streaming their content via the web (YouTube, Hulu, etc.) or selling content via programs like iTunes. Revenue during this phase can be ad based, pay-per-view based, pay-per-download based, or subscription based. It’s important to remember that the latter three options require a low-barrier ‘one-click’ payment method similar to the iTunes’s music store’s process in order to facilitate transactions.
Obviously this will not eliminate piracy. However, these activities will reduce piracy and monetize a phase of the product lifecycle that was previously ignored.
3: DVD sales Phase
DVD sales should begin shortly after the television program’s season is complete. It is important to note that any free on-line broadcasts of the same content (eg. on YouTube or Hulu) should be stopped. Free online content will cannibalize DVD sales if the ‘on-line broadcast’ phase and the ‘DVD sales’ phase are allowed to overlap.
Conclusion
Television networks are experts at monetizing the ‘television broadcast’ and ‘DVD sales’ phases of the content lifecycle. Embracing technology such as video streaming and developing in-house or partnered (i.e. YouTube) delivery services will allow customers to legally consume content. That, coupled with a streamlined content purchasing system similar to iTunes or an ad based revenue model, will allow television networks to monetize a previously untapped revenue source.
Back in the old days, computer processing was centralized in large mainframe computers. "Dumb" terminals with very little processing power were used to access the mainframe and display data to the end user. As time passed, the mainframe/terminal configuration was eventually replaced by PCs that were able to handle complex processing.
With the push towards mobile computing, history is now repeating itself. Google Chrome OS, which is designed for low-powered netbooks, is based on centralizing processing and data storage in the cloud. Removing the burden of processing from netbooks will allow these computers to run low-power, energy efficient CPUs. Additionally, storing data in the cloud, rather than on the netbook itself, allows these computers to keep a small form factor which aids in mobility.
