Comments on: Wheaties bookmarks for May 16th http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/05/16/wheaties-bookmarks-for-may-16th/ The Wesabe blog Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:37:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Aaron http://blog.wesabe.com/2007/05/16/wheaties-bookmarks-for-may-16th/#comment-4007 Aaron Thu, 17 May 2007 15:37:19 +0000 http://blog.wesabe.com/index.php/2007/05/16/wheaties-bookmarks-for-may-16th/#comment-4007 It's probably only because I started dating a woman who designs automated phone systems, but services like Bringo seem really odd to me. People seem to value low prices and fair labor practices in this country, and yet loathe a method that companies use to reduce their costs! The more phone reps required to maintain a service the higher the cost will be. The alternative is either paying agents less, offering fewer benefits, outsourcing the labor overseas or automating most of the simple transactions. On the other hand, most automated systems are atrociously designed, so it's not hard to see why they are hated. But that's just a design problem! Well-designed automated systems feel like having a conversation, make sense and are not painful to use. It’s probably only because I started dating a woman who designs automated phone systems, but services like Bringo seem really odd to me. People seem to value low prices and fair labor practices in this country, and yet loathe a method that companies use to reduce their costs! The more phone reps required to maintain a service the higher the cost will be. The alternative is either paying agents less, offering fewer benefits, outsourcing the labor overseas or automating most of the simple transactions.

On the other hand, most automated systems are atrociously designed, so it’s not hard to see why they are hated. But that’s just a design problem! Well-designed automated systems feel like having a conversation, make sense and are not painful to use.

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