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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: What exactly is "Task-Oriented"?
From:       Neil Stevens <neil () qualityassistant ! com>
Date:       2002-06-10 6:27:55
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On Sunday June 09, 2002 12:17, Irwin wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm wondering if someone can either find or write down the formal
> definition of a task-oriented menu, so that everyone who's reading the
> mailing list, or learning about KDE usability is on common ground as to
> what "task-oriented" means.
>
> I believe I have a decent idea of what a Task-Oriented Menu is, but I'm
> not 100% sure.  It would be great if it was clear for everyone.

The way I understand it, task-oriented is one of those nice buzzwords for 
anything that isn't the typical hierarchial organization.  You organize 
the UI to help direct the user to the common tasks you expect will be 
needed.  Think of KPersonalizer.  For the narrow part it serves, 
KPersonalizer could be considered a task-oriented alternative to KControl.

What KDE could benefit from is a task-oriented alternative to the K menu.  
I feel the K menu has stay the hierarchial system it is for ease of user 
support, but I'm also confident that those who have a hard time finding 
things in the K menu could benefit from some other application browser.

Think of toolbars and menubars.  A menubar is a hierarchial organization of 
every action in the application.  A toolbar groups the common actions 
together to help the user accomplish the basic task or tasks of the 
application.

So, figure out what the common tasks in KDE are, and group the common KDE 
apps together in it, and you have a good alternative to the K menu.

- -- 
Neil Stevens - neil@qualityassistant.com
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding
because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they
have not a single political argument left." - Margaret Thatcher
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