NONE: re Net and Web Use...
re Net and Web Use...
John Carlton-Foss (carlfoss_at_world.std.com)
Tue, 23 Jul 1996 10:51:24 -0400
I attended the MIT symposium, and thought I would put in my two cents worth
here. My comments are based solely in response to Donna Hoffman's note, and
do not reflect a direct reading of xerxes' full-context note.
It was very jarring to be at MIT and to learn that a rift had occurred
between Hoffman and Nielsen. The senior vice president of Nielsen sat right
behind me in the audience and it was clear that Nielsen was jarred and
embarrassed by the rift when he spoke. What was not clear at the time was
who was right, but Nielsen commanded enough respect in that group and their
study was otherwise so massive and innovative (whether one agrees or
disagrees with the validity of the assumptions and techniques used) that it
was not resolved whether their inflated number might be correct. At issue
was that it found significantly higher numbers than those of any other study
presented at the symposium.
My own resolution, and I think that of more than a few others, was that if
you look at the various results of various studies, and factor in the
biases, limitations and delimitations of those studies, there were actually
about 18M internet users. Roughly 9M were individuals and about 9M were
corporate personnel. Note that these are very approximate numbers. Plus or
minus a million would be almost expected for error brackets. For my
business purposes, and for the purposes of many others, such error is also
entirely acceptable in such a dynamic and uncertain user environment.
Hoffman has made a valuable contribution, however, because it contributes to
clearer thinking and techniques, and because it brings the Nielsen results
closer to the consensus. It is important that there be good reasons for
major deviations between the various studies. Nielsen's results are
valuable, even if overestimated, partly because of the assumptions and
techniques used in their work, and partly because the results make us think
a little more clearly about what is going on in this revolutionary phenomenon.
More comments in the context of Hoffman's note below.........
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 12:48:46 -0500 (CDT)
From: Donna Hoffman <hoffman_at_colette.ogsm.Vanderbilt.Edu>
Subject: Net and Web Use...
>Wow -I'm not exactly sure why (xerxes) is so hostile, but let me just clear
>up the inaccuracies so we can get on with the substance of the debate...
>
>(and btw, who *is* (xerxes) exactly?)
>
>
> >The CommerceNet study, funded by an industry trade group, as Ms Hoffman
> >knows, received rather through review at the MIT survey methodology
> >symposia last January 29-30 (see cite below).
>
>Nielsen did indeed present their results, but these results were never
>reviewed, thoroughly or otherwise.
THIS IS A CORRECT STATEMENT BY HOFFMAN.
>In contrast, we have written three
>papers about the Net and Web demos, and have posted them on our Web site for
>review and comment. Additionally, we submitted one of the papers to CACM
>(Communications of the ACM), and it was peer reviewed and accepted for
>publication.
>
>And although Nielsen has criticized us for preparing these written
>criticism, they have yet to criticize our FINDINGS on substantive grounds.
>
>You may review the history of this debate at www2000.ogsm.vanderbilt.edu,
>click on DEBATE and follow the links.
> >I also recall hearing that its numerous sponsors were somewhat miffed with
> >the good Professor's >approach to criticism....perhaps they found it
> >"incomprehensible".
I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT SPONSORS BEING MIFFED AT THE MIT SYMPOSIUM
*************************************************************
John Carlton-Foss, S.M., Ph.D. carlfoss_at_world.std.com
Human-Technical Systems Inc.
Box 263, Wayland MA 01778
508-358-2630/fax: 508-358-2690/altbus: 617-891-8050
Management of Science and Technology, Human-Factors and Ergonomics,
Many Languages, Internet, Relational Database Management Systems and
Client-Server, Graphical User Interfaces,
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