'Who said "in simplified terms" isn't the new fool-proofed user-friendly?'[1]. It's up to you how you decode a message they deem hard to comprehend to the level of an average person's understanding. Whenever you hear a person mention "in simpler terms" or "in lay man's term basis" or the likes, chances are they feel you're below their level and trying to tone down to accommodate that lower level of yours or vice versa.
So then, if someone does go to your assumed level of your understanding, how does it feel and what to do to show your level or standard without offending them back? In many a manual the directions for use are in a language that even a primary school going child can understand. What this says is that it's important to simplify your communication by conveying information that is easy to grasp.
Today we live in a world where simplicity isn't the opposite of complexity but rather spoon feeding. Everybody wants to be given everything on a silver platter. Availability of information via a myriad of today's platforms and channels makes it easier to churn out information as long as it's easy to eye and ear. But then again, to what extent should things be simpler?
The danger of too much spoon feeding is that most of vital information about many subjects gets left out for the sake of sounding and appearing simple. Again, this robs people the process of learning as they know they can always find anything they want to know online at any given time. This is done in the name of accessibility of information. What must be passed to the public should be that the easy pick information they receive is a glimpse guide of what is left for them to seek further knowledge of.
The other danger of that is also the throttling of culture of learning. This doesn't say I'm opposed to anything made simple, but just not happy with how it shapes the thinking and behavior of our society. In order for society to grow, naturally they must be challenged and not be put in the comfort zone all the time. The norm should be to go out and seek help and knowledge, thus they be empowered.
One positive benefit of simplified communication is clear and effective message conveyance. With end-user experience it makes sense and making life easier when using appliances, devices and all other products. Anything you use needs to be simple to understand in order for it to be practical.
In conclusion: foolproof doesn't mean you don't have to be witty to be a user, but rather very easy to use, hence user-friendly. The only thing to be aggressively against is the notion that everything has to then be easy. We need to understand that easy to understand doesn't build quick thinking. We aren't wired same and as such we can't be treated same, and so should be the case with information and usability of things. Simply put, let's think about it...
[1] by Kgele Leso
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