Simples! It ain't as simples as it seems...

Simples! Isn't it?
I always look forward to a new Avinash blog post. The title of Avinash's blog is Occam's razor - the simplest explanation is usually the best one (entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem as I always say!...)

Unfortunately the simplest and best solution, it seems, is seldom chosen. Why is this? What problems does this cause and why did I choose to waffle about this today?

Why so serious?
So why choose to over complicate? What is the motivation to choose complexity where simple answers with fewer moving parts, lower risk and lower cost are available and more appropriate? Brand fixation? Misplaced loyalty? Vendor favouritism? Ignorance? Cognitive miserness - too stingy to think beyond...oh, whatever! Perhaps it's too hard to choose? Perhaps...just perhaps it's the case that a chosen solution is perceived to be better due to the presentation of the solution? Appearing to be simpler or better or requiring less effort (at least in the short term - cognitive miserliness?) is a strong decision making trigger.

Why is this common occurrence a matter for discussion and exploration? As with ANYTHING in life - if the barrier to entry [for a solution] is too high then the level of average quality [of the solution] will be low(er). Take the state of the economy in the UK as an example. Pubic spending has been 'out of control' for years...well, it's been massively wasteful and inefficient due to massive complexity - this much is clear. Is the new government seeking to simplify and add efficiency to resolve the situation? I bloody hope so but this is not a political blather...I want to contextualise on tech..soon.

So, you see what happens when over complex or JPW (Just Plain Wrong) solutions happen? Badness - simple. The fix? Adjust the perception of the actual simple solution compared to that of the complex solution in order to trigger the right choice.

If the simple solution becomes the mean choice this will, in general, lower the bar to entry and the inverse (dis)proportional relationship with quality will yield many more smiles per gallon. Simples, right?

Appear effortless
Well, not quite...The oxymoronic art of presenting a simpler yet better solution still requires a whole bucket of clever!

My TV set has one button - On/Off. Modern aircraft are designed to be simpler to fly through fewer levers and buttons in the cockpit. Automatic gear boxes in cars simplify the job of driving. Heck, I can even use a washing machine (and do!!). These real life examples of 'simpler is better' still contain some mega-clever action under the hood. We don't see (or care) about it though. We see the simple and subconsciously blank out the clever. Our perception of these solutions for life problems is that they are simple. They are presented in a way such that the 'simple' is IN-YOUR-FACE. You can't miss the simple. The solution appears effortless whilst in actuality they are 110% smart. Tricky but so worth the effort.

Get to the point already
Yes - where is this going? So - the crux...I can't tell you the full details yet. The solution will be an Open Source product for the measurement and control of website performance. It is clear that the majority of Web Analytics solutions whilst appearing smart and good are actually harming rather than helping. There is a better way and it will be delivered democratically, for free and doable with apparent effortlessness. Think 'one liner' solution that does all the things you need with little or no thought.

Interested?

Here is a promise - simples will be better and unavoidable.