Tackling a Technology problem

During the recent D5 conference where Bill Gates and Steve Job were interviewed, this came up.

I think in terms of intuitive taste, both for people and products, you know, we sat in Mac product reviews where there were questions about software choices, how things would be done that I viewed as an engineering question, you know, and that’s just how my mind works. And I’d see Steve make the decision based on a sense of people and product that, you know, is even hard for me to explain. The way he does things is just different and, you know, I think it’s magical. And in that case, wow.

- Bill Gates

This reminded me of a Ted Talk by David Pogue I had seen some time back. As I am working late tonight using office 2007, it struck me how Microsoft has tackled technology problems once again. Anyone using the office 2007 will be familiar with the Ribbon toolbar.

It is seriously an amazing engineering feat and attempt to manage complexity.... Is this the best possible solution? Technology problems is always best solved with a people aspect in it, after all technology is created for people and technology problems are caused by them too. And as per the title's of David's Talk, "Simplicity Sells". Guess he forgot to mention the punchline, "except to engineers".....