[linux-audio-dev] mouse wheel behavior and RFC: human interface guidelines

[Lee Revell]

On Sat, 2004-08-21 at 16:36, John Check wrote:
> On Saturday 21 August 2004 04:24 pm, Lee Revell wrote:
> > On Sat, 2004-08-21 at 16:14, John Check wrote:
> > > On Saturday 21 August 2004 02:10 pm, Pete Bessman wrote:
> > > > I guarantee you that the last thing on 99.8% of users' minds when
> > > > they're adjusting a horizontal volume slider is "This is kind of like
> > > > reading a book, which goes left to right and top to bottom; and if we
> > > > assume an association between beginnings and ends, then it follows
> > > > that left and up are vaguely synonymous.  Therefore, to decrease the
> > > > volume with my mousewheel, I MUST spin up."
> > >
> > > Nope, they try one way, then the other, then make a mental note if it
> > > doesn't fit the expectation.
> >
> > Which is why is HAS to work the same way in every app.  You can't expect
> > users to make mental notes of differences like this from app to app.
> >
> 
> I agree, but I think "should" is a more realistic position than "has to".
> 

Sorry, I disagree.  This kind of thing is MADDENING for users and makes
Linux look fly-by-night.

Of course, you can't force people to follow human interface guidelines
in the free software world.  All we can do is carefully develop them
based on what users want, then if you choose not to comply you are
explicitly stating that you are hubristically choosing to ignore the
users need for a consistent experience.

Lee