Barriers to Use

I want to use this post to solicit feedback on your concerns about the use of technology in the field. A lot of great software has been developed, but when it comes to everyday usage, it doesn’t take hold. There are a couple of reasons for this.

1. Start-up time – If it takes too much time to learn how to use the software, the user becomes discouraged.
2. User time – If the user begins to use the software, but finds that it is more time consuming that simply jotting down results on a form it may not get used.
3. Technology aversion – many people don’t like technology, or don’t want to change methods they have used for years or decades. Some people have had bad experiences in the past.
4. Spy on worker – This can be a tough issue to overcome. Since the iPhone can log the workers location and time of day, they may feel the owner doesn’t trust them.

If the software is developed and proven useful, how can we deploy it in the field? What barriers or attitudes need to be overcome? Please use the comment feature to post your ideas and experiences with these issues.