I've written about air travel in the past, specifically about the painful exercise of trying to get off the plane in an efficient manner once it's landed. For today's rant, I'd like to focus on the embarkation process.
There used to be a method to the madness. Start in the back, load us in a few rows at a time, and fill the plane logically and efficiently. Add a few stragglers at the end who still don't believe they will ever hit traffic going to the airport and we're done. Close the pod bay doors, HAL, and let's get started on that generous portion of peanuts.
But no. Efficiency leaves little room for special treatment—and in this day and age, we must all be special. I wouldn't say that includes me, as I'm a perennial Zone 6 kind of guy, but those Zone 8 folk look mighty envious.
I fly frequently—not as much as some, but more than most. As a result, I have a pretty consistent routine for boarding. Right before I actually step into the aircraft, I remove my backpack, remove my tablet from my backpack, and carry them the rest of the way to my seat (the Jabra headset is already in place). That way, I don't strike several of my fellow passengers when I try to remove my backpack in the aisle. It also means I'm ready to stow my gear, be it in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of me, as soon as I'm in position.
Stow the bag, scoot out of the aisle, sit down. The process only takes a few seconds, then I'm out of the way and free to watch today's episode of "Inefficiency on Parade."
I wish the following two observations were not true.
On my flight back from CEDIA, a woman stopped in the aisle, her destination the middle seat in the row in front of mine. She was ill-prepared. She handed three different items, including her beverage, to the stranger already in the aisle seat, while she detached herself from her carry-on and stowed it. Once she was seated, reclaimed her items, and just about settled, she realized she was in the wrong seat. Hilarity did not ensue.
A short time later, an older couple walked past me. Maybe they wanted to scout the emergency exit or restroom locations. All I know is that in very short order, they were back, swimming upstream against the current of fellow travellers. I'm convinced that neither of them was actually looking for their seats until they realized they had reached the aft galley.
The people using your technology are not idiots; they just don't live in the technology space.
What can we learn from these embarkation observations? First, for some people, disorganization is business as usual. Some people just make things more complicated than they need to be. Also, some people want to feel special, while others just want to move things along. And finally, some people just don't pay attention.
Which brings us to the user interface (UI). You know, that touchpanel, matrix switcher, or wall controller that make the AV magic happen in your conference rooms, classrooms, and other presentation areas. All the observations from my aviation adventure can be applied to UI design.
Make sure your UI is straightforward. Keep the startup process simple, with as few steps as possible. Secondary menus are a disaster waiting to happen. Simplicity should placate the disorganized and overly complicated, while keeping the users who just want to get in and get to work happy, too.
If you're willing or able to take that extra programming step, perhaps you can create personalized settings for regular users. Also, even if you've provided training, don't be afraid to post startup and shutdown instructions. You can even use an e-paper display to avoid disrupting any modern or professional aesthetic.
I don't like the term "idiot proof" when talking UIs. The people using your technology are not idiots; they just don't live in the technology space. Technology is their tool, not their passion. It's your job to do everything you can to make them not look like idiots when they bring that AV-loaded room to life. Once you've done that, I'd be most grateful if you could tackle the flight embarkation process … or just upgrade me to first class.
