Apps/Thingies and being happy with them... Maybe... Who knows?!?

Hey hey…

So recently I have had some time on my hand to try out different technical gimmicks or “trendy” pieces of software, which supposedly makes your life a lot easier, solve world hunger or bring back unicorns to life. However, this is rarely the case. There is always this one thing that bugs you out, or that is not properly working or put behind some paywall. You can’t get everything in life, I guess…

So in the end, you may end up unhappy, maybe even try out something else or give up completely. I, myself have not found a solution to this “problem” yet, nor do I claim to be the messiah in these circumstances. I’m just writing about this, because I simply felt like it.

I am experimenting with this all the time, so probably the things I am using right now will probably change next week or next month, or whenever… However, these changes kinda all have one thing in common: They strive to make my life a bit easier or less complicated or solve some “issue” I had before.

Simplicity

A weird word, to be honest with you, mostly due to its subjectivity. Some things just come easier for people than for others and that is the beauty in life. Despite that, there is still some general consensus on what is considered “simple”. Does it include being intuitive, taking as few steps as possible, or being well-marked/clearly visible? Honestly, that kind of depends on the context and you could make an argument for or against each of these factors in isolation, but together it at least forms a good-ish basis. However, this is a topic for philosophers, or UX-designers, or someone else.

But here’s where things often go wrong. The more features a product has, the more difficult it becomes to maintain that simplicity. However, applications with loads of functionality are naturally more complex by having lots of options. Yes, by designing these things well, you can still create something easy to use but you can probably see the issue. 😅

Naturally the thought would be to choose or create something, that has the minimum amount fo features, that you might need, but selection can be quite limited and different people have different needs. Therefore you kind of need to deal with the “extra fluff” added. As with everything in life, there is a compromise necessary to be made. A compromise, that you kinda need to be mindful of, when introducing something new, not to overburden yourself and your users. I mean… This sounds a bit like your standard rambling about minimalism that should be a bit obvious, once you say it out loud. d’uh In a world, that maximizes on consumerism and the idea of getting more and more, it is something, that should be thought of more often.

Besides the factor of having the latest and greatest thingy, or something that sounds really cool to have, the fear of missing out on them feels like a relevant factor to that.

But does it actually help? Or does the thing just introduce additional problems?

What would be the solution to all of that? Well… That is a bit of a personal question, but just being mindful about that, is a good first step in my opinion. I had the situation quite often, where someone wanted something new and specific but didn’t actually need it. But one should also try out different things and evaluate them accordingly… Does that app actually solve a problem I have or is it just a shiny object?

When I thought about it, these factors came to mind, when evaluating this matter:

  • Utility: Does this app/feature solve a specific problem that is currently unsolved?
  • Frequency: Will you use it regularly, or is it a “just-in-case” addition?
  • Redundancy: Does it replace something you already have, or does it add a new layer of complexity?
  • Integration: Does the thing with existing tools? Can it make the overall system more streamlined, not more complex?
  • Replacement: Does it allow you to get rid of something else, simplifying your overarching situation?
  • Longevity: Is this new thing going to be supported in the long run, or is it a temporary trend?

Besides that, one should also gain the encouragement to let go of things, that you don’t really need and evaluate that frequently.

So… Is everything that relevant? Not in every situation, there the basic principle just think about it applies. Be conscious and don’t overthink everything. You can’t really achieve 100 percent “cleanliness” for that matter. So don’t overdo it. You’ll waste more time than without it. Think of it more in terms of the Pareto principle with making big gains of the 80 percent, that you can easily prevent and not with the last, and hardest 20 percent. 😄

Well… I guess, that is all I have on my mind right now, and how I at least handle that matter regarding that.

I hope you found it at least a bit thoughtful.

See ya.