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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Some thoughts about "What's This Help redesing for KDE4" document
From:       Maciej Pilichowski <macias () mat ! uni ! torun ! pl>
Date:       2006-11-01 15:33:27
Message-ID: 200611011633.27763.macias () mat ! uni ! torun ! pl
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  * I really hope I post this mail to appropriate group ;-) *

http://www.userbrain.de/whatsthis/ideas_whatsthis_january06_v1.3.pdf

Hello,

  Btw. it is a good idea to include number for almost everything, this 
way it is easier to comment.
Bullets look nice but it is harder to refer to them.

2.1.a)

  I am not sure about the titlebar placement. All other widgets ok -- 
they are all about geometry, look
and placement. WT does not fit there.

2.2.1)

  Is WT indicator really helpful? Please, take a breath -- indicator 
alone, not clickable indicator, 
but just static info "WT is available". In my opinion -- no (if you 
don't have problem, you do not need
help, right, if you do, you need help, no information "help is 
available, period."). 
Only clickable indicator. See below.

2.2.1.a)

  In my opinion no-go. Consider Konqueror settings. I am investigating 
some widget in left, bottom corner
and I get some blicking icon in the right, top. Bad design -- it is a 
distraction for the user, not help.
  
2.2.1.b)

  My favourite (really nice looking).

2.2.1.b & c)

  Maybe there are major changes in tooltips in KDE4 but they seem 
useless -- once you move mouse
the tooltip will disappear. So those clickable indicators are not 
physically available.
  If the tooltip would not go away, and the indicator is clickable I 
liked this idea. Or maybe 
something between -- for (c). WT icon will always overlap a bit with 
the widget so it is possible
to move mouse, WT icon would not go away, and user could click it.

2.2.2.

  Too complex. WT should be quick and easy way to get just brief help 
about function/widget, not some
panel with settings, options, features, etc. Put yourself in position 
of the beginner. WT should help,
not distract. The moment you put WT floating dialog with all those 
options you need another 
help for WT dialog.
  KISS.

2.2.3 and 2.2.5

  I see some misdirection here. WT should really mean what it says -- 
what's _this_, but not 
"what all those buttons mean". I was never curious about all the stuff 
I saw and as a guide/help
I never saw somebody would like this either. Always it was question 
about _this_. So, let's continue...

  2.2.3 mockup screen looks great, but it is not very well integrated 
with menus. It does not solve 
problem with tighly packed widgets. Look at 2.2.5 screen and just 
imagine showing the menu now. 
Overkill. Compare it to Konqueror access keys -- it has only number 
but it is not such rare to see
overlapping tooltips and completely unvisible main page.
  My suggestion -- keep only number (access keys; default: turned off) 
without "more" with the 
same style but -- after user 
switch to WT mode (for example) fade out a bit dialog and menus, when 
user move mouse over WT-able
widget it become full color (as before) or maybe plus extra border in 
some contrast color (I hope
you have a picture of it already; if not -- I could make a fake 
screenshot). And... that's it.
  It will work ok for mouse and keyboard. No distraction, no need of 
extra information, toolbox, etc.
Another advantage -- it would change the appearence in minimal way. If 
configured so (for example
without access keys tooltips -- great omission for beginners) it would 
almost not change it at all.

  However it has drawback (I think of one for now) -- it is not very 
well suited for vision impaired
people (animated frame instead of colored would be some kind of 
solution, you know, moving dots).
Hmm, another solution -- make it bigger (the widget) something like 
with taskbar in Mac OS X.


  As far as I know and I can tell from my experience teaching other 
people -- the help is less needed
than simplicity. Once the dialog is well designed, it is simple, 
actions are obvious no one needs help
really. But if this a case, help should not bring more problems, user 
asking for help is probably
already confused enough.

my 2 cents, hope I helped a bit 
have a nice day, bye
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