I’ve worked in different IT departments over some years now, and Mr. Sueoka @ The Mobile Majority hits the nail on the head with his short article: “Don’t design what the user wants.”
The user describes what he/she wants based on the context they’re in. For some users, an e-mail for every notification could sound like a good idea. As IT professionals, we should feel obligated to figure ut exactly what the user needs, and then show the possibilities.
Oh, and while it is true that you shouldn’t design what the user initially tell you they want, I believe you shouldn’t tell the user what they need either. Give them a couple of alternatives and let them decide what fits their use best. After all, they are the ones who are going to use it on a day to day base.
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