Creating a worldwide, cross-industry standard isn't easy
Summary
Topics
While you may have read of a recent usability "test" of Bluetooth wireless technology products, I believe some perspective is needed to accurately reflect on the results, and to fairly evaluate the current status of our efforts to make Bluetooth technology the standard for personal wireless connectivity. As many of us are learning, the process of establishing a workable worldwide technology standard that transcends lifestyles, industries, and product categories is an immense undertaking--an effort that admittedly has only begun.
One should first acknowledge that a great difference exists between imperfect product design and a flawed technology standard. While it's fair to say one can find incompatible Bluetooth wireless equipped products, I know the opposite is also true--there are products that work very well together.
I daily use Bluetooth-enabled wireless headsets (two of them), a PDA, a mouse, a personal computer and a mobile phone. Just last week I sat in a Bluetooth-enabled vehicle and pressed a single button for hands-free calling using my Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Surprisingly, some of these products are nearly one year old and, also of note, no two of these products are from the same manufacturer. I've heard that my user experience is not exceptional, but using products from different manufacturers together most certainly is.
In our own testing, carried out within an academic environment, we too have seen variance in the quality of the user experience with Bluetooth products. This finding did not surprise nor alarm me. In general, our findings have shown better usability in some markets, while in others more efforts are needed. I'd also add that this testing was done with high-level user tasks and measured our high expectation of less than five minutes to successful completion of a task. My question to you: Can a normal user with no prior experience successfully print a document from a new computer within five minutes of having just opened the box of a new printer?
We should also be careful to understand what we see as our collective "water mark" for measuring "ease of use." If I were to buy three different after-market DVD-RW drives to install into my desktop computer, I likely would have differing "ease of use" and "success" experiences during the installation process.
Also troubling is the assertion that a restricted common user interface is needed to ensure adoption of Bluetooth technology. This assertion is flawed given the diversity of products we already see that include Bluetooth wireless capabilities. I've never heard a single person ask for a Ctrl-Alt-Del key on the dash of their car, nor have I heard much demand for an ignition keyhole to turn on a mobile phone. Should there be guiding user experience principles to guide product developers? Yes. Should they exhaustively describe the UI widgets, menu items and mouse clicks needed to do something? Certainly not. It could be said that if this approach were taken in the computing industry, we would all still be tapping out "cd c:dos" or hauling around punch cards. A good user experience is a must, but innovation and freedom do not need to be sacrificed to get there.
These comments are not designed to excuse away a real issue, but rather to make the observation that to be successful with mainstream users, manufacturers of all technology-related products need to focus on the out-of-the-box experience.
Good user experience and the interoperability of Bluetooth wireless capable products is the highest priority of the trade association and our over 2,000 member companies. Perhaps this promise is why over a 100 new companies join the Bluetooth SIG each month. In fact, it can be said that only with good interoperability will the full potential of our efforts be realized.
Again, this is an immense task. Bluetooth wireless technology is applicable in nearly two dozen personal use cases, and is built into products as diverse as automobiles and factory floor sensors. As a core requirement, our standard is deliberately designed to provide freedom to manufacturers to implement the use cases they believe their customers will want and offers unique opportunities for differentiation and innovation in designing good user experiences.
To address the needs of our association's members and end users alike, late last year we introduced our "5 Minute Ready" program, which is designed to universally improve the out-of-the-box experience for all wireless products. This program includes over two-dozen initiatives that will improve the interoperability of our members' products. It's an ongoing effort that I expect will have no end as we continuously explore and discover new ideas to make products more usable to the mass market.
What really does hurt is the truth. What the members of the Bluetooth SIG are trying to accomplish--interoperable products from thousands of companies, from scores of industries, for dozens of markets, from nearly every continent on the planet--is hard. Despite the enormity of the task, in only a few short years the technology has matured from a "pie in the sky" idea to a really useful technology offering real user productivity in hundreds of high volume products. The truth is, it is a miracle in the making.
The discussion hasn’t started yet. Why don’t you begin it?
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
