Re: [Usability] (no subject)

[Seth Nickell <snickell stanford edu>]

> What I don't understand is How I can help:
> 
> * When I make a comment on the list, how does 
> that affect the software?

It probably doesn't, at least not very much. If you can convince other
people that a problem is serious and enough racket is caused and/or the
issue is escalated developers will often make the changes. Or somebody
with more influence with developers will be convinced that there is a
serious problem and will convince developers to make the change for you.

> * When I submit a bug report on Bugzilla, how
> does that affect the software?

Bugzilla reports are generally more potent. A bugzilla report informs
the developer directly that somebody found a problem (or thinks they
did). Usability bug reports should have the "Usability" keyword set. If
you can convince them that something is a usability problem, they are
likely to change it.

> * Which GNOME version will my suggestions affect?

Depends on when the changes are implemented. Probably not GNOME 2.0 at
this point since it is UI & string frozen.

> Some more general dumb questions:
> 
> * How does the GNOME UI Team relate to GUP?

There is no GNOME UI team that I know of.

> * What's the GNOME UI Guidelines Doc you 
> referred to?  

That's probably HIG.

>   How does it relate to GUP and HIG?  
>   Where can I find its current version?

http://usability.gnome.org/hig/draft_hig

> * What's special about Seth Nickell's role --
> what are the powers and responsibilities of a
> project leader?

Responsibility: Make GNOME suck less
Powers: I make the final decision on recommendations/positions of the
usability project including, but not limited to, what goes into the HIG,
and the website.

Since the GUP currently has no power per se, what I do is make sure that
we have a cohesive voice when making recommendations to maximize their
potency, and filter out crack so usability gets taken seriously. It is
possible that in the future some level of HIG compliance will become a
requirement for inclusion in GNOME, but that remains to be discussed.

Right now GNOME2 is drawing a lot of energy that used to be going into
the HIG and other GUP things, but this is gradually becoming less of a
drain as we have hit UI freeze and the amount of UI work is decreasing.

> * I think all this info should be put on the web.
> Whom do I contact?

Me. Is what you want a short HOWTO on the best way to help improve GNOME
usability or something to that effect?

-Seth