Comments on: I’m Not a Doctor http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/ Driving Innovation Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:34:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-9028 Jake Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:37:21 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-9028 I think of this dude when you say Colonel Doctor: <a href="http://scrubs.wikia.com/wiki/Coleman_Slawski" rel="nofollow">http://scrubs.wikia.com/wiki/Coleman_Slawski</a> I think of this dude when you say Colonel Doctor: http://scrubs.wikia.com/wiki/Coleman_Slawski

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-9022 chet Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:35:07 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-9022 We could even go for the <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/image/361400/index.html?cat=74" rel="nofollow">Colonel Doctor</a>.<br><br>I swear to all that is holy in this world, I sat next to a woman last year (a fellow Oracle Developer no-less), who upon cutting her hair, resembled the good Doctor Colonel, or is it Colonel Doctor? To boot, she was Ukrainian/Russian, just like the character. My wife bought her an action figure...she didn't like me much. ;) We could even go for the Colonel Doctor.

I swear to all that is holy in this world, I sat next to a woman last year (a fellow Oracle Developer no-less), who upon cutting her hair, resembled the good Doctor Colonel, or is it Colonel Doctor? To boot, she was Ukrainian/Russian, just like the character. My wife bought her an action figure…she didn't like me much. ;)

]]> By: tardate http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-9021 tardate Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:30:59 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-9021 Well, I think of tikibar;-)<br><br>Lala (Lalaly) : Aye Aye, Doctor Captain!<br>Doctor (wistfully): That's a name I've not heard in a long time ... a long time ... a long time ... because it's not my name. Well, I think of tikibar;-)

Lala (Lalaly) : Aye Aye, Doctor Captain!
Doctor (wistfully): That's a name I've not heard in a long time … a long time … a long time … because it's not my name.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8999 Jake Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:48:26 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8999 What? Fletch is great. 6' 6" with the afro. What? Fletch is great. 6' 6″ with the afro.

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8991 chet Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:42:51 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8991 never did like Fletch all that much, thouse there are some great lines out of it. never did like Fletch all that much, thouse there are some great lines out of it.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8986 Jake Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:28:24 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8986 I don't think Bones ever said "just" a doctor :)<br><br>You forgot Fletch, erm Dr. Rosenrosen. I don't think Bones ever said “just” a doctor :)

You forgot Fletch, erm Dr. Rosenrosen.

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8985 chet Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:28:40 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8985 Second other thing...<br><br>Anytime I hear the word "doctor" I immediately think of 2 things:<br>1. Star Trek: "Dammit Jim, I'm just a Doctor" (or whatever he said)<br>2. Spies Like Us:<br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>"Doctor"<br><br>I wish I had become a Doctor just to do that all the time... Second other thing…

Anytime I hear the word “doctor” I immediately think of 2 things:
1. Star Trek: “Dammit Jim, I'm just a Doctor” (or whatever he said)
2. Spies Like Us:
“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

“Doctor”

I wish I had become a Doctor just to do that all the time…

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8983 Jake Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:56:32 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8983 This gets a bit dicey with design, since software design (interface, specifically) is fraught with opinion and more art than science. Interface paradigms are frequently based on learned behavior and not on best design, e.g. do it the way x product does it. <br><br>Following learned behavior treats a symptom, i.e. making it a known entity, but this also makes it difficult to find out if a new design pattern works better. This gets a bit dicey with design, since software design (interface, specifically) is fraught with opinion and more art than science. Interface paradigms are frequently based on learned behavior and not on best design, e.g. do it the way x product does it.

Following learned behavior treats a symptom, i.e. making it a known entity, but this also makes it difficult to find out if a new design pattern works better.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8982 Jake Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:50:41 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8982 Interesting point about problem-solving, since I sometimes say I solve problems with software. It sounds way more important than it is, which is kinda the problem with this analogy in general.<br><br>No way to equate life/death w/software.<br><br>I did fight the urge to use quotation marks around enhancements though :) Interesting point about problem-solving, since I sometimes say I solve problems with software. It sounds way more important than it is, which is kinda the problem with this analogy in general.

No way to equate life/death w/software.

I did fight the urge to use quotation marks around enhancements though :)

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8981 Jake Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:48:55 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8981 It applies to a lot of technical disciplines. I see the PM as the doctor overseeing the overall health of the product. It applies to a lot of technical disciplines. I see the PM as the doctor overseeing the overall health of the product.

]]> By: mpbennett http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8980 mpbennett Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:38:59 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8980 That is an interesting analogy and works pretty well. Regarding your point about the difference vis-a-vis product vs. diagnosis for the individual, there is real concern that at times doctors don't treat the patient but instead just focus too much on just the disease and symptoms that present, leading to incomplete results. It makes one wonder if this issue couldn't be addressed more effectively in product design as well. That is an interesting analogy and works pretty well. Regarding your point about the difference vis-a-vis product vs. diagnosis for the individual, there is real concern that at times doctors don't treat the patient but instead just focus too much on just the disease and symptoms that present, leading to incomplete results. It makes one wonder if this issue couldn't be addressed more effectively in product design as well.

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8979 chet Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:33:15 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8979 One more thing...<br><br>When Kate was crashing/coding, the Doctor was asking my wife questions about her history. He wasn't consulting with other Doctors...but my wife. She speaks their language (i'm medically stoopid).<br><br>It was a bit of an out-of-body experience watching them work, trying to find the root cause of Kate's failing body. I can't seem to remember them ever having an "Aha!" moment...Kate just kicked Death in the...<br><br>Point being, I think your analogy holds true to software specifically and problem solving in general. One more thing…

When Kate was crashing/coding, the Doctor was asking my wife questions about her history. He wasn't consulting with other Doctors…but my wife. She speaks their language (i'm medically stoopid).

It was a bit of an out-of-body experience watching them work, trying to find the root cause of Kate's failing body. I can't seem to remember them ever having an “Aha!” moment…Kate just kicked Death in the…

Point being, I think your analogy holds true to software specifically and problem solving in general.

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/08/20/im-not-a-doctor/comment-page-1/#comment-8978 chet Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:28:00 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3324#comment-8978 I think we have ESPN or something.<br><br>I was thinking along these lines just the other day. Actually, I've used the Doctor analogy for a couple of years.<br><br>I don't equate it to product management though, I equate it to code analysis/debugging/whatever you want to call it. Isn't that was medicine is (crudely)? Debugging a human being? The major difference is the whole life and death thing. Also, they have infinitely more variables to take into account. <br><br>I'm sure you could apply it to support people as well. There are almost an infinite number of combinations of applications out there. Which OS? Which OS Version? Which apps are installed? What version of each app?<br><br>Fun thought experiment though. I think we have ESPN or something.

I was thinking along these lines just the other day. Actually, I've used the Doctor analogy for a couple of years.

I don't equate it to product management though, I equate it to code analysis/debugging/whatever you want to call it. Isn't that was medicine is (crudely)? Debugging a human being? The major difference is the whole life and death thing. Also, they have infinitely more variables to take into account.

I'm sure you could apply it to support people as well. There are almost an infinite number of combinations of applications out there. Which OS? Which OS Version? Which apps are installed? What version of each app?

Fun thought experiment though.

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