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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: powerful tooltips,
From:       Charles de Miramon <cmiramon () kde-france ! org>
Date:       2003-11-14 18:19:58
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Le Vendredi 14 Novembre 2003 12:50, solo turn a écrit :
>
> 2. display buttons, menu entries depending on users behaviour
> ----------
> microsoft uses this strategy to simplify menus. menus have to modes:
> "standard" and "extended/full". clicking on a menu opens the standard menu
> with a minimal set of entries, and an arrow icon. staying with the mouse on
> the arrow, or clicking the arrow opens the full menu. choosing a menu entry
> includes it in the standard display the next time. not choosing it for a
> long time removes it again from the standard display.
>
> it would be great if kde could do this for menu entries, and toolbar
> buttons.

I hate this behaviour in Windows and I think it is a mistake to implement it 
in KDE because a GUI shouldn't be "smart" and move the way options are 
spatially disposed on the screen. Humans (and animals) have a great visual 
memory and the computer should not interfere with by shifting places. There 
was a good article on arstechnica explaining that lately, but I can't find it 
(BTW their website is a usability nightmare).

>
>
> 3. making gui control elements clearer (buttons, texts), not bigger
> -----------
> to make something clearer, it is not necessary or not always necessary to
> make it bigger (bigger icon, longer text). i think a more precise icon
> (simpler?), a more precise text, and a good tooltip are very helpful.
>

The problem with toolbar buttons is that graphical signs don't << translate >> 
well. I'll give you one example. At one point, Ximian used a button figuring 
a rocket to indicate launching applications. In English you launch an 
application and a rocket but in French you can't use the same verb to fire an 
application and a rocket so the rocket symbol is totally unintuitive for 
French users. Now multiply this problem buy the 60 languages KDE is 
translated in.

So we should use toolbars with moderation. On this aspect KDE is much better 
than it was some years ago...

Cheers,
Charles
-- 
cmiramon@kde-france.org
http://www.kde-france.org

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