Hi folks (and some random thoughts)

[Brian Crescimanno <darksheer fotographix com>]

Hello friends.

To give you a quick rundown, since this is my first time posting to a
gnome mailing list, my name is Brian Crescimanno (Darksheer on IRC).
I've been focusing on usability issues in applications for several
companies here in the Atlanta area for a few years, and when I heard
that the Gnome Usability Project was starting to get on its feet, I
thought there might be some issues that I can address for the group.
So, I'll be around as often as I can....blah blah blah....hope to
contribute something to the team...blah blah blah....yeah..ok, you get
my point.

Moving on, I wanted to address some things that I think can be very
integral when discussing GNOME Usability.  I don't know really if
they've been discussed much here before (I haven't had a chance to catch
up on the archives yet), but I'll just toss a couple of things out
there.

One of the main points of lack of usability is the current "bolt-on"
feel of Nautilus and a browser.  Windows has seen success because the
file manager and browser were integrated into the desktop.  Not only
that, they were integrated with each other.  I think one of the main
goals of the usability project, and of the Nautilus project as well,
should be to really get Nautilus up to speed as an all purpose file
manager...integrating it fully with mozilla rather than providing
minimal support.

Also, the fuctionality of the file manager needs to extend down into all
file management realms of the Desktop.  For example, when you attempt to
open a file from an application, a window that looks like it's part of
the file management system should open.  This window should also have
basically the full functionality of the file manager (such as in windows
or a mac when you are presented a list of files to open, it is presented
in the "small icon" format with the ability to highlight and delete
files, select multiple files, etc.  All this, from a small window that
is basically just a small component of the file manager rather than a
separate style window.

Ximian has made progress towards this with their new "file-->open"
window interface that comes with Ximian Gnome (I'm not sure about plain
GNOME, I don't have a copy of it running right now).  

The Nautilus team has done some great work, and I think the file manager
is ready to become fully integrated with the desktop.

As far as the browser interface is concerned.  We should see if the
Galeon developers might be interested in sharing some of their
experience and knowledge to the Nautilus development team to help
Nautilus develop a full configuration interface for their Mozilla
widget.  Allowing the browser to be fully customizable will allow
Nautilus to be used as an all purpose file manager / web browser..and
the tight desktop integration will increase speed and application
familiarity for users.

~~~~

Another item we should consider addressing is creating a full definition
for commonly used keyboard shortcuts (for example, make sure that
ctrl-c, ctrl-v, etc) are available throughout all GNOME applications.
Also, ensure that they are available across all GNOME applications so
that you never have to worry about copying from one application to
another.

~~~~

With version 2.0 of gnome-control-center (and aren't those screenshots
beautiful, btw) on the way, it might be time to look at integrating core
application configuration into the control center.  For example, perhaps
an "office" tab that brings up configuration information and such for
Evolution, Abiword, Gnumeric, Gimp, and any other "Gnome Office"
Applications.  

~~~~

I think we need to have a look at Ximian's upcoming "Ximian Setup Tools"
and see what functionality they are providing.  A role we could possibly
play is submitting patches or additional modules for the set up tools
that allow for more configuration and system tweaking.

~~~~

Metatheme is also interesting technology.  We should have a look at
Metatheme, and then consider developing some themes that give GNOME2 a
more modern look than the current "standard grey" that we carry across
most of our applications on the GNOME1 platform.

~~~~

A quick thought, goes a bit in conjuntion with the keyboard shortcuts
idea....we might want to look at standardizing some menus across
applications (for example, to ensure that we don't have situations
arising where 1/2 of applications have a Tools->Options interface to
access configuration information where the other 1/2 have
Edit->Preferences.

~~~~

*phew*

~~~~

Well, that's all I have for now and the Super Nintendo is calling me
with good old Chrono Trigger.  :)

Let's talk about all this and other things....exciting times, I tell ya!
:)