Technobabble

When I first entered the technology world I imagined that beta-testers for new software filled a useful and even valuable role. Over time, though, I began to see end-user's real position in a lot of software development. The input of end-users (often but not always) receives the lowest priority from those developing the product. This applies not just to programmers but management, marketing, and anyone else involved in the product. I remember being impressed by this early in my corporate youth. Focus groups and solicitation of user feedback were crafted to support a pre-existing plan. The disdain sometimes heaped upon a web site's audience amazed me. It may have been symptomatic of old media vs. new, and I have to believe that the relationship has improved over time. I got fired from corporate in 2001 and have had no thought of returning. Now that I think of that word -- technobabble -- I think that that level of disconnect between the product teams and their audience is partly responsible for my lack of interest in returning there.