8 Aug
2011
8 Aug
'11
5:49 p.m.
2011/8/7 Fons Adriaensen <fons(a)linuxaudio.org>rg>:
On Sun, Aug 07, 2011 at 06:09:16PM +0800, Simon Wise
wrote:
Hm.
Depending on existing knowledge, the amount of
time required to understand an application can largely vary.
I wouldn't call an un-experienced unmotivated.
Usability (better: user-friendlyness ) is about supporting the learning process.
About 12 years ago, I've been someone who did a hardware-reset,
in order to quit vi (text-editor).
That tool didn't give a hint how to use, nor how to quit it.
Changing that would have been simple and had had no influence on functionality.
I think this applies to many applications:
You can do 2/ but still support a new user getting there,
without too much hassle.
--
E.R.
1/ Allow someone opening up an application for
the first time to click
around and discover what it might be able to do before they start looking
at any manuals.
2/ Allow someone who uses it everyday to do the things they do frequently
as quickly and ergonomically as possible, assuming they have already
spent some time learning the system.
The first helps sales, and without it many people won't look further
Indeed. But so what ? If a potential user doesn't look further then
(s)he is probably just browsing to kill time and boredom, and doesn't
need the application at all. What can I, as a developer, expect from
such a 'user' ? Why should I even spend a second of my time to please
anyone who is not motivated at all ?