A Notion of "Better"

A notion of better

Faster, cheaper, better.How do we determine when a method/procedure/solution is "better"?
It is relatively easy to measure faster, cheaper but it's harder to measure better.

This is not simple idle thinking but it does lead to some life changing behaviours.

Less is better

Two concrete examples of better: Everything and Launchy (use version 1.25)
Everything is a tool that locates files and folders by name. It is an essential tool for me, yet a close friend of mine does not use it.
Launchy is another tool I use - as a calculator and a launcher. I probably use it 100 times a day, yet my close friend does not use it - even after I've demonstrated what it does.

I conclude that everyone has a different notion of better.

By using launchy, I've replaced the need to use the mouse to click the Start > Program > Folder > Shortcut with some quick key presses. A task that took 5 seconds now takes 0.5 seconds - an order of magnitude improvement. That's better.
But to get to that, it required some initial investment - setting up the launchy, understanding how it works and what it does and how to get the most out of it. But it is worth it.

Condensed is better

Proverbs and wise sayings are condensed wisdom of the ages. A few carefully selected words are better than a length essay.
There is value is condensing an entire topic into a few words. It may be that we need to first read the entire topic but the condensed words will quickly remind us of what is important.

Two quotes are relevant here:

He is the most useful teacher who condenses the most knowledge into short sentences, that are easily remembered and applied ~Samuel Johnson

The writer helps us the most who gives us the most knowledge, and takes from us the least time ~Sidney Smith

Visual is better

In a lecture on Nash Equilibrium, a textual description of the procedure to find the Nash Equilibrium was presented. Later in the discussion forum, two students described visual versions of the procedure which many of us found simpler and more intuitive.

Another takeaway from this will be simple is better and comprehensible is better.

The big idea

Minimal, condensed visuals are better.