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

List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: KDE 4.2 Toolbars
From:       James Richard Tyrer <tyrerj () acm ! org>
Date:       2008-11-17 4:44:21
Message-ID: 4920F6A5.1050203 () acm ! org
[Download RAW message or body]

Benno Dielmann wrote:
> 
> On Friday 14 November 2008 14:47:08 Mike Arthur wrote:
> | On Friday 14 November 2008 12:45:13 Benno Dielmann wrote:
> | > The ability to mark actions as "not requiring text" (as Aaron proposed)
> | > introduces a lot of necessary usability considerations: On which ground
> | > do we decide whether an action requires text? When it's icon isn't
> | > self-explanatory enough ;-)? Then we'd better improve the icon...
> |
> | Just to jump in on a random point, I've found in my (admittedly basic)
> | usability testing with my parents, girlfriend and other non-power computer
> | users that they really struggle to associate things with icons under about
> | 32x32. I'd perhaps even go as far as to say that for a lot of these type of
> | users they more often than not have _no_ benefit from icons for discovering
> | initial actions.
> |
> | They may late learn to recognise the pictures but if we are thinking these
> | should be to help users who haven't used an application before then I think
> | its perhaps worth bearing that in mind.
> |
> | Just my  £0.02!
> |
> | /me hides from imminent flaming ;)
> 
> Why? I think no one will get out her/his flame thrower on this ;-). There seems 
> to be a consensus that icons alone aren't sufficient. That's why we are 
> discussing how to best add explanatory text to them :-). 
> 
We seem to be having a reasonable discussion so there should be no need 
for Asbestos clothing.

I will simply state my opinion which is that I think that icons only are 
preferable as long as we have the tooltips to remind users what they are 
for.  I see this as a learning process with the tooltips as a learning 
aid.  It is best to design an interface so that it has a learning curve 
-- so it becomes easier and faster to use with learning.  This has 
always been a major criticism of the Mac interface -- that it doesn't 
work this way; making an interface the easiest for newbies is not always 
the best design.  With a lot of icons and icons only on the toolbars, 
you learn where they are and will access them quickly.

I also note that icons only is the only practical way to have a vertical 
toolbar.

-- 
JRT
_______________________________________________
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]