A friend forwards Catalyst Resources, a “user experience” consultancy. I couldn’t help but be struck by their “problems viewing this site” link, which launched a javscript pop-up window that said:
This is is optimized for 4.0 browsers and above on a PC. You need to have Macromedia’s Flash 4 player installed in order to correctly navigate the site.
No 4.0 browser or flash? You can just go away now, thanks.
Now that’s user centered!
Another new UX consultancy draftsix, however, is as low-fi as it comes, and I’m sure they load lickty split… though some of the copy sounds oddly familar…
I should watch it; last time I insulted a small consultancy I ended up working there…
Anyhow, UX companies are springing up left and right, and Carbon IQ is about to be 1 1/2– still kicking!
I can only consider this proponderance of UX companies a very good sign. If they are getting work in this thin market, it suggests that companies are putting more emphasis on customer satisfaction. Perhaps yesterday’s rant will soon be a thing of the past.