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List:       kde-usability
Subject:    Re: Usability Bugs and.....?
From:       "Aaron J. Seigo" <aseigo () mountlinux ! com>
Date:       2001-09-04 13:06:44
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hi...

> User-centered design requires a lot of working with developers early on.
> There are task analyses and prototypes to be done, before anybody ever sits
> down to write code.  One of the hardest parts of UCD is convincing people

if you see this as The Goal, then be prepared to:

 o run a CVS version of KDE
 o get familiar with some of the basic tools (e.g. Qt Designer would be a 
good app to become familiar with as more KDE developers start using it)
 o subscribe to the devel list for the application you are tracking (if one 
exists)
 o thoroughly think through what you suggest before suggesting it: 
usability/look people seem to be great at brainstorming ideas, and 
programmers seem to be good at discounting ideas when they occur quickly and 
without much visible substance
 o remember to point out the good parts as well as the not-so-good (OSS dev 
runs on a lot of unpaid egos, so encouragement is important)
 o be prepared to take "no" for an answer from time to time =P

i think it would be GREAT if usability people tracked along with the various 
projects, especially the bigger and more visible ones (e.g. kicker, 
konqueror).

i for one am not a big fan of (nor very good at) creating user interfaces, so 
i like it whenever i can point at someone else as being the person to blame 
for the UI =P

-- 
Aaron Seigo
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