Re: [Usability] UI principles

[Jeff Waugh <jdub perkypants org>]

<quote who="nils">

> Simplicity: Don't compromise usability for function 
> Support: Place the user in control and provide proactive assistance
> Familiarity: Build on users' prior knowledge 
> Obviousness: Make objects and their controls visible and intuitive 
> Encouragement: Make actions predictable and reversible 
> Satisfaction: Create a feeling of progress and achievement 
> Availability: Make all objects available at all times 
> Safety: Keep the user out of trouble 
> Versatility: Support alternate interaction techniques 
> Personalization: Allow users to customize 
> Affinity: Bring objects to life through good visual design 

These are really very beautiful - I've been looking around for a list of
'tenets' as well, but didn't find this one. Great catch. :)

> There seems to be an implied priority in the ordering. For example:
> Simplicity would trump Personalization (and we all know what I 
> mean here :-)).

;)

> Principles 
> 
> Guidelines 
> 
> Extrapolating to GNOME in general
> 
> I think one of the reasons why we see the flame wars is that
> the respective participants have a differing set of principles
> (I guess you could call them goals as well) that they are using 
> to base their design decisions on. And even if they have the 
> same set of principles, people may well set different priorities 
> on each of those principles. Unless we agree on a common set 
> of principles/goals and their priorities then this type of 
> thing is not going to go away.

This is very important - it should be a major topic on our next meeting's
agenda.

- Jeff

-- 
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