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

List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: New panel layout
From:       Uno Engborg <uno () webworks ! se>
Date:       2005-08-30 14:17:29
Message-ID: 43146A79.6060003 () webworks ! se
[Download RAW message or body]

Aaron J. Seigo wrote:

>On Monday 29 August 2005 08:29, Uno Engborg wrote:
>  
>
>>Now we need to find a place for the things removed. The obvious solution
>>would be to do like Gnome and add a panel at the top of the screen as
>>well, 
>>    
>>
>
>Ximian introduced this, and i've heard that those same people are in the 
>process of removing it. why? usability studies with real world people showed 
>it doesn't work out so well for average users.
>  
>
Sounds interesting. You don't happen to have any links or references?

BTW, I think that we are going to see a lot of usability studies showing 
that
shows that the less something looks like Microsoft the less usable it 
will be.
And of course familiarity is one aspect of usability and as most people have
some exposure to Windows  there would be some sort of truth in it

Just like people have become accustomed to that a car have a steering wheal
brake, clutch, accelerator and stick in certain positions.  they  have been
accustomed to the look and feel of windows and if it deviates from that
it is hard to use even if the difference would be beneficial to them in
the long run.

E.g. every racing driver would prefer paddles to a stick but average Joe
would never buy a car with such configuration. In the same way only
people aware of Fits law will give the Ximian top bottom menu a chance
others will not see the benefit, and don't bother to unlearn old behaviors,
and perhaps they shouldn't. After all the purpose of most systems is to
get work done and not to learn new genial ways to do it.

So, whats left for us would be to make some kind of windows GUI  clone
and only make whatever adjustments needed to fit it onto Unix and make
them as usable as possible, just like a car designer would need to make 
some changes
in the user interface if he decided to exchange his Otto engine for a 
gas turbine.

Sad isn't it.

Regards
Uno Engborg




_______________________________________________
kde-usability mailing list
kde-usability@kde.org
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability

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