Comments on: Front Ends & Portal Plasticity: glue to putty, SAP to Adobe http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/ An industry analyst blog looking at software ecosystems and convergence Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:35:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: UI, API and Enterprise http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-544456 UI, API and Enterprise Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:47:06 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-544456 [...] Front Ends & Portal Plasticity: glue to putty, SAP to Adobe [...] [...] Front Ends & Portal Plasticity: glue to putty, SAP to Adobe [...]

]]> By: People Over Process » Enterprise Lipstick – James Governor at Adobe MAX 2009 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-543219 People Over Process » Enterprise Lipstick – James Governor at Adobe MAX 2009 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:26:29 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-543219 [...] Making portals prettier [...] [...] Making portals prettier [...]

]]> By: The Web May Not Equal the Cloud But Does Anyone Care? | CloudAve http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-542894 The Web May Not Equal the Cloud But Does Anyone Care? | CloudAve Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:05:28 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-542894 [...] bought up recently when he contended that “the best UI is no UI”. Vinnie was riffing on a post by James Governor who was discussing the major portal re-skinning projects taken on by some of the [...] [...] bought up recently when he contended that “the best UI is no UI”. Vinnie was riffing on a post by James Governor who was discussing the major portal re-skinning projects taken on by some of the [...]

]]> By: mspecht http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541750 mspecht Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:31:23 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541750 <p>It is about the users not the developers or solution providers <a href="http://bit.ly/NBans" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/NBans</a></p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://twitter.com/mspecht/statuses/4004355411" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></i></p> It is about the users not the developers or solution providers http://bit.ly/NBans

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

]]> By: Fays http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541703 Fays Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:32:12 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541703 I'm glad to see this discussion re-showing up. Every once in a while, the UI topic comes back onto the table, as it is a constant issue to deal with, especially in the world of business applications. I have written a piece about this just a few days ago on SCN, just about why Business Apps needed RIA. I am currently working on a project where the UI is a main focus, built entirely in Flex. From this point, we had to re-think the way of building a UI. It had to be done by a design thinker who spends time with key users, collecting data about how the screens should be designed, what were their usual requirements down to the personalization features. I see the main problem with the introduction of portals within the Enterprise world, is that the portal was seen as the UI instead of a tool to deliver an UI. Just as quoted, it was used mainly for technical purposes and the user-centric aspect was completely forgotten in the transition. The tooling has matured and is able to deliver industrialized, easily maintenable UIs, that will provide an enhanced interactive experience to the users, with a double centricity: - User-centric from the usability perspective (screen design) - Process-centric from the logic perspective (screen flow) Thorough the building process, designers and developers should keep in mind the whole picture rather than just the component focus, constantly matching the global design with the collected data from the users and process owners. This becomes even more true when it comes to the integration with the back-end systems. I’m glad to see this discussion re-showing up. Every once in a while, the UI topic comes back onto the table, as it is a constant issue to deal with, especially in the world of business applications.

I have written a piece about this just a few days ago on SCN, just about why Business Apps needed RIA.

I am currently working on a project where the UI is a main focus, built entirely in Flex. From this point, we had to re-think the way of building a UI. It had to be done by a design thinker who spends time with key users, collecting data about how the screens should be designed, what were their usual requirements down to the personalization features.

I see the main problem with the introduction of portals within the Enterprise world, is that the portal was seen as the UI instead of a tool to deliver an UI. Just as quoted, it was used mainly for technical purposes and the user-centric aspect was completely forgotten in the transition.

The tooling has matured and is able to deliver industrialized, easily maintenable UIs, that will provide an enhanced interactive experience to the users, with a double centricity:

- User-centric from the usability perspective (screen design)
- Process-centric from the logic perspective (screen flow)

Thorough the building process, designers and developers should keep in mind the whole picture rather than just the component focus, constantly matching the global design with the collected data from the users and process owners. This becomes even more true when it comes to the integration with the back-end systems.

]]> By: People Over Process » Tech language changes, get over it http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541557 People Over Process » Tech language changes, get over it Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:39:54 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541557 [...] summarized the problem with the technology and, therefore, the word “portal”: That’s right- less painful for users. Products like IBM WebSphere Portal and SAP Netweaver [...] [...] summarized the problem with the technology and, therefore, the word “portal”: That’s right- less painful for users. Products like IBM WebSphere Portal and SAP Netweaver [...]

]]> By: Friday Morning Report » Blog Archive » UI, API and Enterprise http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541548 Friday Morning Report » Blog Archive » UI, API and Enterprise Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:31:32 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541548 [...] Front Ends & Portal Plasticity: glue to putty, SAP to Adobe [...] [...] Front Ends & Portal Plasticity: glue to putty, SAP to Adobe [...]

]]> By: Sandeep http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541522 Sandeep Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:13:15 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541522 <p>Good article. Most of the enterprise application user experience is terrible. UX voices are unheard and users suffer. (for us it is peoplesoft instead of SAP).</p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/2009/09/08/the-state-of-enterprise-ui/#comment-35538" rel="nofollow" title="“The state of Enterprise UIs : “It’s a design thinking problem”” (http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)">Rags to Riches</a></i></p> Good article. Most of the enterprise application user experience is terrible. UX voices are unheard and users suffer. (for us it is peoplesoft instead of SAP).

This comment was originally posted on http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)”>Rags to Riches

]]> By: Mrinal Wadhwa http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541439 Mrinal Wadhwa Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:26:31 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541439 <p>That is a very good point Markus,</p> <p>Moving from server side controlled rendering to a thicker client approach can be pretty challenging implementation wise.</p> <p>Although, the focus on UX is independent of that technology choice, there are many examples of great experiences built with older UI technologies and at the same time many horrible experience built using newer so call RIA technologies. </p> <p>I think, its more related to how teams that produce software think … and weather on not there is a driving force in the team that consistently directs the team to good UX choices. Ideally this person should have an authoritative role in the process .. because at times he/she will point you to seemingly disruptive directions .. but that’s what’s needed.</p> <p>Mrinal</p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/2009/09/08/the-state-of-enterprise-ui/#comment-35535" rel="nofollow" title="“The state of Enterprise UIs : “It’s a design thinking problem”” (http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)">Rags to Riches</a></i></p> That is a very good point Markus,

Moving from server side controlled rendering to a thicker client approach can be pretty challenging implementation wise.

Although, the focus on UX is independent of that technology choice, there are many examples of great experiences built with older UI technologies and at the same time many horrible experience built using newer so call RIA technologies.

I think, its more related to how teams that produce software think … and weather on not there is a driving force in the team that consistently directs the team to good UX choices. Ideally this person should have an authoritative role in the process .. because at times he/she will point you to seemingly disruptive directions .. but that’s what’s needed.

Mrinal

This comment was originally posted on http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)”>Rags to Riches

]]> By: Markus Kohler http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/2009/09/04/front-ends-portal-plasticity-glue-to-putty-sap-to-adobe-2/comment-page-1/#comment-541438 Markus Kohler Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:01:46 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/?p=2198#comment-541438 <p>You say<br /> “Its not about rounded corners or gradients or “flashy” animations ”</p> <p>I fully agree. The flashy stuff comes on top. IMHO often a good interaction design and good *performance* is all users need.<br /> Is GMail, or even google.com “flashy”? not really, but I suppose google has done some interaction design and performance is usually just very good. </p> <p>The problem is that building a new high performance UI on some existing application can be very difficult or maybe even impossible.<br /> For example if the original UI was build on a server side rendering technology, it might be very hard to build a new UI that is based on a client side rendering technology such as Flex.</p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/2009/09/08/the-state-of-enterprise-ui/#comment-35534" rel="nofollow" title="“The state of Enterprise UIs : “It’s a design thinking problem”” (http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)">Rags to Riches</a></i></p> You say
“Its not about rounded corners or gradients or “flashy” animations ”

I fully agree. The flashy stuff comes on top. IMHO often a good interaction design and good *performance* is all users need.
Is GMail, or even google.com “flashy”? not really, but I suppose google has done some interaction design and performance is usually just very good.

The problem is that building a new high performance UI on some existing application can be very difficult or maybe even impossible.
For example if the original UI was build on a server side rendering technology, it might be very hard to build a new UI that is based on a client side rendering technology such as Flex.

This comment was originally posted on http://weblog.mrinalwadhwa.com/)”>Rags to Riches

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