And Lessons on Simplicity — Google Wave

Goodbye Google Wave. I hardly understood you.

So Google Wave is getting the ax (sort of). This may have been the most hyped Google release in ages, even though so few people knew what the heck it was they were clamoring for a coveted invite for.

Why did it fail? It was confusing. People didn’t instantly get it.

It’s a lesson web application developers need to learn. Over the years I’ve seen fresh applications come out that were simplistic versions of more robust solutions and do quite well since they were easier to use. Look at most apps on iPhone and Android — they need to be simple enough that people can use them the moment they pick them up.

I know this lesson since I’ve developed applications in the past that have failed since they were confusing. Too many features. Couldn’t grasp it easily.

This was a guiding principle when creating DNW Certified Stats — I wanted something that people could use in 60 seconds and understand instantly. Heck, there’s not even a users’ manual.

Of course the trick is to avoid adding on too many features to the point of complexity, too. That was one of Bido’s problems. It started as a good, simple solution that later became too bloated.