[Usability] Re: New way of accessing software (WAS: Re: Big Panel menus (32x32))

["David Adam Bordoley" <bordoley msu edu>]

Daniel Borgmann writes: 


> Sure, and I'm not against using the desktop at all. What I'm against is
> forcing the user to have _all_ his files available on the desktop.
> Because then the user is forced to either do the "micromanaging" or
> simply place large folders on the desktop where he stuffs in everything.
> And in this case, I'm wondering what the point is? If we reach a state
> where a user doesn't have to care anymore WHERE he put some data but
> only how to find it, why should we force him to have them all visible
> from the desktop. Won't this lead to problems?

The point is to make any all files easily accessible from a user visible 
start point. The most obvious point is the desktop. By allowing access to 
all files from the desktop we are not forcing the user to micromanage their 
files. Users could always throw every file into a single folder on the 
desktop and use the hypothetical search folders feature to better categorize 
their files. (We could even include some default ones, like Music). 

> We can try to make dealing with clutter and lack of space more pleasant
> (through indexing, quick access, etc) but it will not go away. 
> The real advantage of computers IMO is, that it can do work for you.
> Imagine you had a butler which you could ask to bring you all your CDs
> from Fugazi or all your favorite CDs. It would be the job of this butler
> to care about your stuff as long as he can understand your wishes and
> deliver. You in turn can keep your workspace completely clutter free
> because you can ask the butler whenever you need something special (and
> just throw it behind you after you are done with it). 

What you are doing is essentially moving the mess from a visual mess to a 
mental mess. If a user can visually find anything from a common start point 
(the desktop) it is much easier to manage and clean up. Its a lot harder 
when the user needs to do the mental work to access other folders. Compare 
the original macintosh with windows. The original mac provided access to all 
system and user files from a single start point (the desktop) and most mac 
users tend to have a better understanding of how to deal with the underlying 
system than the equivalent windows users where everything is hidden. 

> My opinion is that we should build on THIS metaphor and provide the user
> a clean workspace with all important things (like the butler/Nautilus)
> reachable from the panel. I even think that things like start-here/My
> Computer or Trash belong on the panel, NOT on the desktop. Maybe put a
> "welcome" document there instead, similar to how mail clients usually
> contain a welcome mail at first. The user can read this, learn a bit
> about the desktop and then delete and forget it.

So you want to move lots of useful stuff from a large empty space onto a 
crowded small panel? 

> Instead of forcing the user to work in an organized way, I suggest that
> we focus on how the computer can serve the user. How the computer can
> keep the files organized and let the user worry about the things he
> wants to worry about. And think about how we can make the user
> communicate his wishes easily to the computer. Rhythmbox already goes a
> long way with regards to music files, why should the user have to put
> the Music folder on his desktop? He doesn't have to keep them organized.

But not far enough a user should be able to open any folder that has music 
files and view those files in sane way (ie a rb like ui). There is no need 
for an application here. The music folder on the desktop that I described 
could be a "search folder" that automagically contains all music files. 
Taking this further into the star trek future, users could do a search for 
"all music by whoever" that presents the results in a rb like way. 

> He can stuff them all together and Sir Rhythmbox will help him find
> exactly what he wants in this chaos. It should work in a similar way for
> all other things IMO, keeping the workspace of the user clean and
> allowing him to use all the available space for things he currently
> works on. If he wants to place something on the desktop, he could still

Once again moving the clutter from a visual to mental state is not a good 
idea and actually makes managing stuff harder. This is also why I favor 
something like a nautilus tree folder view over using urls to denote 
hierarchy. The tree shows you visually whats going on, the url makes you 
think more and requires you to know what "/" means (ok that was a little off 
topic but I think its ok in the context of this discussion). 


>  
>
> > The alternative is something akin to the apple dock for folders. The biggest 
> > issue with this is that it takes up lots of screen realestate (sic?). 
>
> Is this different from just moving folders on the panel? 

Not really but there are problems. For one I think our windows like window 
list is much better than the Mac Dock. So we are limited for space, and the 
top panel isn't really an appropriate place either. Another issue is that 
panel objects don't have labels (adding labels would require panels to take 
up more screen space which is unacceptable as well imo.). 

dave