Talk with Tom
Get the dispatches from the new world of work
Cool Friend: Jason Fried
Jason Fried is founder and president of 37signals, a Web interface design and usability consultancy, whose philosophy can be summed up in this quote:
The thing is that we're really big into realizing that there are people on the other end. We're all using computers to do things, but there are still people on the other end. It's really inhumane to treat people with such disrespect when something goes wrong that they get a cryptic error message that sounds like a computer is talking to them.
37signals has designed websites/products/tools such as: Basecamp, Ta-Da List, and Backpack. Read more in the interview here.
ARCHIVES
Before blogging became all the rage, Tom was posting book reviews and Observations (essentially early blog posts) to this site. You can find the archives below.
What Tom's Reading Archives
OBSERVATIONS ARCHIVES
right now
What we're talking about
on the front page.
Comments
Humanizing technology? I like it.
I think there´s a big problem with technology. We can use it to avoid having a personal relationship with customers. It´s like saying, we´ve got our website and there you can find the information of a form to make questions. And that´s a big danger.
Technology has to make possible personal relationships and the rest is secondary.
Posted by felixgerena at July 5, 2005 5:52 PM
Absolutley, Felix! :-)
Posted by Mark Juane at July 5, 2005 9:29 PM
Great post Cathy
In business those who rely on technology alone to thrive will not thrive. Technology will always be the cart before the horse if you rely on it too much.
Having said that, I think the new technology is wonderful. It is through this medium I have 'virtually' met people all over the world who I now consider friends. I have learned something of their culture and look upon the technology as part of my continuing education in life.
I am old enough to remember all this stuff being talked of as science fiction.
When I was younger my older work colleagues said these computers were for eccentrics only and it was all a fad that would pass – How about that as understatement of the last 100 years?
There will never be anything as unique and special as personal relationships whether that is in our personal or professional life.
I do all that I can to promote the use of technology in making communication more effective.
Must dash … have to check my inbox and my regular Blogs :-)
Posted by Trevor Gay at July 6, 2005 2:16 AM
This looks excellent - helpful, friendly and a breeze to use. Really like the design and layout. I've signed up for Backpack. Took five seconds and no money. I think they've got a winner.
Posted by Noel Guinane at July 6, 2005 3:31 AM
12.34 pm Wednesday in England - nervously awaiting the 2012 Olympic Decision - fingers crossed for London!!!
Posted by Trevor Gay at July 6, 2005 6:34 AM
YES YES YES - BRILLIANT!!!
Posted by Trevor Gay at July 6, 2005 6:48 AM
Congratulations, Trevor!
Posted by felix gerena at July 6, 2005 7:05 AM
NYC may be out of the running - Paris is the favorite. I saw the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that may be it for me!
Fried seems pretty cool.
Posted by Sean at July 6, 2005 7:43 AM
Excellent! I am very glad that Ms. Mosca brings this question in here.
Have we thought then wheter we are making a good use of the machines or would it be the machines doing a "good" use of us?
The key word I'd say is usability: machines are for using them, people is to appreciate, love, serve, among other things. Machines = no soul,they receive a software, that are created by the programmers, following the plan of who, what was the intention of it?Was it good? Was is great?
It could be based on the level of awareness we are having at a given moment for making the distinction between a behaviour based on the "usability" concept - when interacting with machines - and a higher one based on the concept of establishing a relationship and acting guided by a good intention when relating to a people.
When I visit those offices where people is like in cages stucked to their PCs, staticly, it comes to my mind precisely this question we are commenting about technology efficiency. Is it really efficient or is taking us energy for the real worthy stuff?
I can notice here once more that marvelous legacy of Mr. B. Clarke, I am sure this is only the beginning of it. Thank You.
Posted by Omara at July 6, 2005 10:58 AM
This is way cool stuff! My primary research interest in graduate school was virtual teams. Despite the technology involved, it all really does comes down to human interaction. Sounds like Fried is plugged in. I'm signing up, too. Thanks for the post, Cathy.
Posted by walterwhite at July 6, 2005 11:33 AM
Somebody add that omitted "to" to my post! :)
Posted by walterwhite at July 6, 2005 11:34 AM
Ha! Glad to see the 37signals crew up there -- I started following them in 2000 and have learned quite a bit about the internet through their eyes.
Posted by Joe Murphy at July 6, 2005 12:56 PM
I'm thrilled you all like the interview! I was knocked out by that quote, and I just knew it would draw some attention. Erik Hansen is the one who should get the credit, however. He's the anonymous "tompeters.com asks" of the interviews.
As Erik said, we've been using basecamp, and though I had a long adjustment, now I am perfectly happy with it. So much that I'm looking forward to getting started with backpack. Every time I'm away from the office, I realize I've forgotten some remote access instructions. That problem will soon be solved!
(And Walter, I did your copyedit.)
Posted by cathy at July 6, 2005 5:10 PM
yes, I reember doing some culls on 37signals. Jason was pretty prompt and upfront with his responses .. I also have ta-do list upto.. its a great toy !!
Posted by /pd at July 7, 2005 3:37 PM
Just signed up for Backpack - cool though not sure how it fits in with the PDA world since I don't always have access to the Net. Would be interested in others' opinions on that.
Also, signed up for MSN Spaces - looks amazingly similar! Did 37signals design it for Microsoft??
Posted by Katherina at July 7, 2005 4:54 PM
I've had a look at Basecamp, and next project I do, I'm going to use it. It's much easier than mailing things around. Guys can remotely update things. Everyone at any time can just see what's happening. Web based applications are so much the future.
37 signals also did the equivalent of a bus company building their own buses. They didn't like the web application frameworks out there, so they built their own, called Ruby on Rails, which right now is one of the hottest things around.
Oh, and there's 4 of them, I think. Amazing.
Posted by Tim Almond at July 8, 2005 1:02 PM
EVERYONE (yes, I'm "shouting") who creates customer service e-mail responses(or manages such a department)should remember that there is indeed a human at the other end. I sent in an email request for help to an online business card printing company. OVER A MONTH LATER, I got an email from them, telling me to CALL them, referencing "item blah blah blah". When I called the number they gave me, the person I talked with couldn't even tell me what the reference number "referenced" since she was telephone support and my initial contact was via email. I just wrote them a long response, and told them I was going to mention their "helpful customer no-service" on Tom Peters' web site. But my guess is that this company's employees will just say "Tom who?". or.."what band does he play in?"...maybe not..maybe they will hire 37signals to kick their customer service attitutes.
I am so glad that companies like 37signals are out there, on "their end". It helps keep me sane when I wonder if I'm crazy and over compulsive when I insist that my company's services reflect the time I took to make them usable and readable.
Posted by Patricia Myler at July 15, 2005 7:38 PM