[LAU] State of the art GUI

[Thorsten Wilms]

On 01/29/2011 01:19 PM, fons at kokkinizita.net wrote:

> Not if you *know* you don't have to aim for it. And then any time
> you don't will strengthen that habit.

Knowing isn't enough, as this is behavior that either is, or becomes 
automatic/sub-conscious due to training.

Blender has drag-from-everywhere sliders with knobs. I found myself 
aiming at the knobs and the same was reported by other users. Anecdotal, 
yes, but this has to weight more than just claiming it doesn't happen.


>> 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).
>
> You need some margin anyway.

One or 2 pixels if you draw a frame around the widget, vs half a 
knob-length.


>> Oh, and try a middle-click, sometime ;)
>> (Middle-drag doesn't quite do what it should, ideally, though)
>> Also: Ctrl-left-drag.
>
> And how are these suggested by the layout and not 'a lie' ?

They are no suggested at all. Extra functionality that doesn't indicate 
its presence, but is nice to have, you just have to know about this. I 
deem this acceptable in cases of non-critical functionality, where the 
alternative would be to simply don't have it.
Brought this up as a side-note only, though.


> As for Ardour2's one, I can't count the number of times I've
> been fooled into thinking that the meter scale applies to the
> fader as well. And that mistake apparently won't go away with
> time and use.

This supports what I said about knowing it not being enough ;p

But should the faders have their own scales, somehow made to match the 
existing scale, or what would you suggest?


-- 
Thorsten Wilms

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