[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-look
Subject:    Improving Reality
From:       Dave Leigh <dave.leigh () cratchit ! org>
Date:       2002-07-04 17:04:25
[Download RAW message or body]

On Thursday 04 July 2002 07:54, Steven D'Aprano wrote:

> (2) Ease-of-learning is only one factor among many that makes an
> interface great. Ease-of-use is another. They are not the same thing.
>
> And at all time, the most important factor must be: usefulness. It
> doesn't matter how great your UI is, if the program doesn't do anything
> useful, then no-one will use it. If the real world gives you barriers
> and difficulties, why implement them in software? That is why text
> editors don't duplicate type-writers *exactly*. If you make a mistake,
> you don't have to throw away the entire page and re-type the lot from
> scratch.

Amen to that! That's why my friend's art gallery (really a shopping mall) 
sucked. Why should I have to laboriously walk from exhibit to exhibit (or 
store to store) when I can teleport between them with hyperlinks? 

Last week I had the opportunity of explaining how I design an end-user system 
to a client. Basically it boils down to this: 
1. Thoroughly understand what the customer does.
2. Role play: put yourself in the customer's place and imagine doing his job. 
Fantasize how you could do it effortlessly using the computer. 
("Effortlessly" means you concentrate on ONLY the primary responsibilities of 
your job, the computer does anything not involving a major decision, and 
otherwise it stays out of your face.) Write the fantasies down.
3. Come back to Earth and determine which of these fantasies are workable 
(feasible and affordable).

At this point there's a bit of drudgework involving estimation of time and 
prioritization, integration and integration etc., but that's not important 
right now. The important thing is that you concentrate on OPTIMIZING THE 
WORKFLOW, and MINIMIZING SURPRISE, ("Surprise" is anything that gets in your 
face. Surprises are things like unrequested dialog boxes. Surprises interrupt 
your workflow, distract you, jar your nerves, and each one adds frustration. 
Surprises are bad.) Concentrate on smooth workflow and no surprises and 
everything else comes along for the ride.

In this sense a well-designed system should be like the world's best 
secretary or butler or waitress. Unfortunately there are brainless dicks that 
take this to mean that you should have an VIRTUAL secretary, or butler, or 
cartoon character right there on the screen interrupting you at every point 
and scratching his ass when idle. They COMPLETELY miss the point! The very 
best waitress is prompt, efficient and instantly available, yes; but most of 
all she's unobtrusive. She's the one that keeps your glass filled without 
interrupting your conversation to do it. 

Top 5 great interfaces (IMHO, and in no particular order): 
1. PalmOS
2. LyX
3. Harrison Ford's computer (image processor) in "Blade Runner"
4. HAL 9000
5. Damn. Couldn't think of a fifth. And two of THESE are fictional! What do 
YOU guys like? 

-- 
Dave Leigh, Consulting Systems Analyst
Cratchit.org
  http://www.cratchit.org
  864-427-7008 (direct)
  AIM or Yahoo!: leighdf
  MSN: leighdf29379@hotmail.com
  ICQ: 37839381

The person who can smile when something goes wrong has thought of
someone to blame it on.

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]