[LAU] State of the art GUI

[Thorsten Wilms]

On 01/29/2011 12:20 AM, fons at kokkinizita.net wrote:

> In the case of a GUI fader looking like a real one, is it really
> so hard to find out that you can drag it starting from anywhere and
> not just on the knob ? And if you can, is that really 'in opposition
> to the graphics' ?

A knob suggests a different target area, with the rest of the fader 
being one or 2 other ones. Because of this, it would be a lie if 
combined with the current behavior.

The knob stands out as an object of interest and makes it very likely 
that you aim at it, if you want to manipulate the fader, rendering the 
benefit of a larger, unified target area void. Every time you go for the 
knob instead of the easier target of the whole fader, you strengthen a 
habit to do so.


Furthermore, the most important aspect right after offering an area for 
manipulating a parameter at all, is indicating what the value is. This 
can be accomplished with a single contrast of color, between the areas 
that represent the "filled" and "empty", and/or a single mark. If you 
want to draw a knob, you need additional changes and levels of contrast, 
thereby blurring the picture.

Finally, a knob requires "dead" space at the start and end of the fader 
(assuming the mark is in the middle of the knob), thereby reducing the 
length the value range can be mapped to (though it does not affect the 
total target area).


> Considering the other case, Ardour2's faders, is it really obvious
> you can do this ? Or can you be sure only after you have tried it ?
> For the same money, clicking it at some point could make it jump to
> that position (and luckily it doesn't).

You can always only be sure after trying.

Oh, and try a middle-click, sometime ;)
(Middle-drag doesn't quite do what it should, ideally, though)
Also: Ctrl-left-drag.


-- 
Thorsten Wilms

thorwil's design for free software:
http://thorwil.wordpress.com/