Hi Mike,
I certainly can validate most of what you've said on reflection upon my
own life experience. However, ratings are just one of those things that
people cant help but take seriously because they want to save time and
make a quick judgment so that they can go on to something more
valuable. Let's face it: it's a piece of data which can influence
people to spend more time looking at something or not. If it is not
valuable to rate apps, than remove the ratings. Even last night,
however, I got an email from someone enquiring into my Power Mixer
Enhance app and they concluded that the low rating was due to my
charging a fee for the app. Of course, I had mentioned on all the lists
that the developer of the Power Mixer program, which my app, Power Mixer
Enhance, improves the accessiblility for, is offering a discount off the
price of his program. But, you see how easily misinformation and
assumptions run wild? The app ratings, I feel, influence the choices WE
users make when installing apps. People can't help but look to
authority figures for help in making decisions. Ratings have authority,
and they imply authority figures have something to do with them, and I
would say this is especially true when they are seen on a website for a
screen reader which helps the blind, especially when GW Micro is
partnered with Microsoft, yet one more authority in our society. These
are my opinions.
All the best,
Rod
On 2/17/14 10:39 AM, Mike Pietruk wrote:
Rod
While the rating concept is theoretically good, in practice, it often
proves meaningless.
For one thing, the process is easily riggable; for another, a rating is
only valuable, particcularly when few votes are cast, if we know something
about who cast the vote.
For one person, an ap may be valuable; for another is ok. To me, as an
example, a "5" is only warranted is something is truly outstanding; a good
ap should probably get a 4.
That illustrates the whole problem with the system as about the only
vbalue most of these rating approaches have is to provide ego rubs for the
ap creators if they draw high numbers which you can help insure by telling
folks you trust or your "friends" to vote for it.
And, you would have never complained if the single vote was a 5 (or
perhaps even a 4) as that is what you wanted to see.
I am not an ap creator -- I couldn't create one if my life depended on it
-- but if I drew low numbers -- especially from a good number of people --
I'd try to figure out where the complaint lies.
What might seem flawless and perfect to you or me might not be that for
someone else.
Some rating systems -- such as Amazon, Newegg and bay -- seem to function
better given larger user bases and what is at stake.
The way I look at a free ap is I get what I pay for it. Hopefully, it
will do for me what I hope it can do; but, on the other hand,
the developer probably, in most instances, created it for what they wanted
to do and if it benefits me, so be it.
And, oh yes, an ap or programm fails for me not because there is something
wrong with it but the problem is on my end.
I will not trust in riches but in him who richly provides.
Andy Stanley, pastor, from his new book "How to Be Rich: It' Not
What You Have. It's What You Do With What You Have."
