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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    kcontrol redux, ad infinitum
From:       Aaron Seigo <aseigo () kde ! org>
Date:       2004-01-07 17:17:18
Message-ID: 200401071017.18505.aseigo () kde ! org
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hi all...

i've stayed pretty much completely out of the kcontrol discussion that's been 
ongoing because i'm tired of discussing it for the Nth time. =)

i and others have been around this tree many times already. most of the 
discussions can be found in the archives for this list, but here's a synopsis 
of my personal conclusions to date:

the key is the navigation and feedback interface not the panels, the names of 
the panels, the hierarchy they are in, the order of tabs on the left or any 
other part of kcontrol. those items are all things that can and should be 
addressed only after the main interface has been properly refitted. some 
details:

 o using separate windows is a compromise position. most users don't deal with 
multiple windows well and there are few if any panels that require other 
panels open at the same time to be useful, so this should be avoided if at 
all possible.

 o simple file browser like icon interfaces suck: you can't tell where you 
need to go if you organize things into "folders", and if you don't organize 
them into a hierarchy you end up with a morass of panels.

 o only so many panels can be eliminated, and for better or worse there's no 
way to stop 3rd parties from adding to the panels.

 o there are some clear and simple distinctions between large groups of the 
panels: hardware, administration tasks and everything else

 o the relationships between panels are multidimensional. no amount of 
hierarchy reshuffling or renaming will make that any different. the interface 
to the panels should therefore reflect this reality as opposed to try and 
work around it.

 o the search should be integrated into the top level of the kcontrol 
interface and should be able to display results in the same place that the 
panels usually appear. think google search in your web browser meets 
kcontrol. the search index parameters need to be extended as well to include 
keyword ranking and relationships to other panels.

 o a metadata view should probably be provided alongside each panel that shows 
at a minimum short help (50 words or less), links to extended help and 
related panels, and perhaps a shorthand system for simple navigation

 o the MacOS X control panel with top level groups and panels provides some 
interesting lessons we can learn from

 o metapanels are an interesting avenue to explore. the new theme manager 
metapanel being worked on is a good example of this.

- -- 
Aaron J. Seigo
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