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List:       kde-look
Subject:    Re: Improving Reality
From:       parvesh chhibber <chhibber () amazon ! co ! uk>
Date:       2002-07-04 17:43:39
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i think launchbar for the macosx is a great interface. it has changed the way i
use the computer. if it wasn't for launchbar then i would have completely gone
to linux .

it's easy to use and really useful. i hope someone from kde is trying to
implement this.

parv

Dave Leigh wrote:

> 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.

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