As I read this title, I realize that this could be the start of a book, not a short article. Ultimately, every bit of software written is for somebody (even just for the programmer who wrote it). So this means that end user (or customer) has the final say as to whether the program is useful – often, voting with their wallet. It’s odd that software companies rarely give customers the focus they deserve. Perhaps the problem lays with the … Continue reading
Category Archives: User Interface
Icons – An Easier Way to Work?
You know them – the dreaded icon. Derived from the Russian Icon, a religious picture, they have been adopted with religious fervor among computer programmers everywhere. These little picture shortcuts in programs are designed to make it easy to find commands and functions, since we all know we are visually oriented beasties. Right off let me say that icons are bad. This is not just my opinion, but also that of human interface designers everywhere. I read quite a few … Continue reading
The Matter With Modes
What are modes? Simply put, it’s different ways of dealing with the same action. In a program, modes are often the same command (or keystroke) that does two different things, depending on the ‘mode’ you are in. As an example, run your favorite word processor, and type some text. Now press the ALT key, and type the same text again. Or don’t – there’s a chance you can make a real mess! The ALT key places your program in another … Continue reading
Ease Of Use: The Palm Computer
For those who remember the Newton handheld, the Palm’s popularity may be somewhat of a surprise. Small, underpowered, without easy handwriting recognition, yet it is one of the big successes of the late 90s, and created a resurgence in handheld devices. How? While there may be any number of reasons for its success, if you actually use one, you’ll get an idea of what I think is its key feature: ease of use. It’s designed to be used by non-tech … Continue reading
