Computers don’t have feelings, but humans that operate them do. Sometimes we pretend as if we don’t have feelings, but that’s just a show. In reality, feelings are everywhere. Even in our work.
How do you feel when you get an alert that a system backup failed?
Or, when you find out a month later that you didn’t get these alerts?
Written by Mr. Mordechai Danielov.
We can even have feelings associated with software. Our clients are not shy to share with us how the AimBetter console makes them feel. Here are some thoughts that they shared with us (not exact quotes).
As a professional DBA, I am responsible for about 30 production servers around the world. I work in a rotation with three other DBAs. We have many scripts, and alerts, and of course – AimBetter. But nothing gives me the peace of mind like the AimBetter console. It feels like rollerblading. Just click and go. No need to look for things. If there are problems they pop out right in front of you. If we need to track down a slow query, it’s right there. Troubleshoot a deadlock – we get a simple, yet informative screen that reveals all participants right away. If I had to summarize my feelings in one word, I’d say – liberating. Yeah, that’s how I feel – free to do my actual job instead of wasting time on things like searching through drill-downs to locate a simple problem.
I’m what you’d call an “accidental” DBA. Didn’t really plan to be responsible for the production database. Not complaining, it is what it is. To be honest, at times it can be overwhelming. Especially considering how important this server is to our business. That’s why I go for AimBetter therapy every morning. Seriously. Each morning, I get my cup of coffee, settle into my cubicle (well, nowadays into my living room armchair, but that’s a different story), I open the console and I feel in control. Everything is at my fingertips. Backups – check, deadlocks – check, alerts – check. In just a few minutes I have accomplished so much. No need for daily affirmations any more.
I am usually pulled in a dozen directions at the same time, so thinking is a luxury. Yet decisions have to be made. This can create a great amount of anxiety, but when I open the AimBetter console I am calm because I know that I will find whatever I need to know right away. No wasting time, no frustration.
You may be thinking that I’m getting mushy with all these feelings here, but there is a method to my madness. Ultimately UX has to take feelings into consideration. After all the “X” stands for “experience”.
At Aimbetter we’re not only aware of this, but we’re actively responding to and developing in accordance with our user experiences. We want you to have the best experience possible.
If you’re already using AimBetter, please tell us about your experience with it in comments below. If you have not used our system yet, please tell us what your dream Performance Control Management console would look like.
