So I want to check the outages to see what's up. I google "unb helpdesk" before realizing that won't work. I try UNB's homepage, but there's nothing there and I don't see a link to ITS' page. Frustrating.
So I go to the wireless setup page, since I know it's address from memory. I then use the breadcrumb navigation to get to their main page, where I find this:
In the midst of an unending Internet outage, I find within myself an unspeakable rage. Rather than put at the top of the main ITS page "HEY! Can't get online? Don't worry! We're working on it!", they add this as a regular outage, no where visible when you first get to the page. Scrolling down, we see:
Fantastic. It's not at the top of the list, it's not bolded, and it's not descriptive. It's mixed in with resolved outages. It's an outage notification design for a helpdesk staff, not for a UNB employee.
What we have here is a failure to communicate. Now, dozens of frustrated UNB staff and students are going to be calling the helpdesk demanding to know why they can't get to facebook. I feel bad for my former colleagues at the helpdesk.
The outage should say "Internet not working" and elaborate what that means in the details. It should be the most obvious thing in the "outages" div, and the most obvious thing on the entire page. Further, it should be easily accessible by a typical UNB denizen.
All of this assumes that the outage notifications are designed for everyday people and not ITS employees. However, if that's not the case, I ask why on Earth aren't we notified some other way, like email or a posting to the main UNB page?
I feel like I'm kicking them while they're down, since the issue is ongoing. However, it's only by the grace of my iPhone's data tethering I can get online at all. Since access to external resources is probably the most important reason we keep ITS around, I'd say a reasonable notification of what's going on isn't too much to ask for.
EDIT: Additionally, none of them will be able to read this post until after they fix the issue, so we're cool for now.
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Did a simple internet outage require you to rant for an entire page? Looks more like you just need stuff to write about.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThis is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine. If you don't like what I read, then don't read it! There's no need for petty insults.
Hey Ash how much money do you make with your apps do you only have the too?
ReplyDeleteI honestly just enjoy making apps, but a make a few dollars here and there. I'd rather not give out specifics.
ReplyDeleteI've got two paid apps on the app store right now, and a few free ones. You can check out my store here.
Sorry that first sentence is a grammatical clustermess. I meant I honestly enjoy making apps for the sake of making them, and a few bucks helps out my bills and stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm not a real big fan of the new page Im gonna hafta call this one user fail. Take a real good look at that image you posted ;)
ReplyDeleteHrm ... I don't know if I'm satisfied by a singular yellow exclamation point :P
ReplyDeleteI like the simple notification, I think they should be bigger, those new buttons for service are hideous and huge.
ReplyDeleteIts surprising too how many people start calls with "I checked the webpage and X is up ..." now.
There is certainly room for improvement, but it's way better than the old site
^^ Room for improvement especially considering postings can't be updated when some internal services are having issues yet we are still able to access external. There should be broader communicative fail safes than a web page that is not timely or descriptively updated.
ReplyDelete