The Cranky User

THE CRANKY USER (an excellent ongoing series which, ironically enough, doesn't seem to have a separate index past THIS ONE): Everything I need to know about usability, I learned at the arcade:

A program that is integral to the operation of your business can be hard to use -- yet you will use it anyway. A video game that is hard to use is no fun, and you won't use it. Forged in this crucible is an attitude that's common to most games: Usability is paramount. Productivity software should learn some of the same lessons.