[OSX-Users] Re: what we've been missing !

[Philip Boulain]

Steve Harris wrote:
> On 26 Sep 2009, at 15:18, Philip Boulain wrote:
>> Steve Harris wrote:
>>> I think that's exactly it, MS execs can't tell the difference between 
>>> that youtube train wreck, and the Reality Distortion Field, and I 
>>> honestly believe that they think Windows 7's UI is as good as OS X.
>> Surely that makes the questionable assumption that user interface 
>> "goodness" is a subjective and artistic attribute, rather than 
>> something which can be objectively measured via usability studies?
> Not really. I didn't use the word "usable". It just implies that not all 
> individuals can make widely believed judgements about "goodness".

The difference, though, is that while car aesthetics may have nothing 
better than individual judgements to go upon (that's the claim 
presented, anyway), user interfaces can actually be evaluated 
experimentally.

> To turn it around, are you try to say that the artistic merit of UI 
> design can be quantitatively measured?

No; I'd go on to say it's pretty much irrelevant beyond initial 
impressions (which can have an affect, admittedly). Vim could never be 
accused of being pretty, but it's extremely usable. (I'm sure Emacs 
advocates would say much the same.)

Conversely, "artistic" effort tends to work against usability. The new 
special folder icons in 10.5 and their minor distinguishing marks were 
terrible, as was the reduced drop area in the Finder side panel. This 
very list saw plenty of complaints about the readability of the newly 
translucent/blurred menu. "Artists" are not being forced to obey HIG.

(e.g.
http://web.archive.org/web/20080507112334/http://www.indiehig.com/blog/2007/09/09/fix-the-leopard-folders/
from
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/4
)

-- 
| Philip Boulain   PhD student | Do not reject these teaching as false |
| IAM, ECS, Uni of Southampton | because I am crazy. The reason that I |
| http://zepler.net/~lionsphil | am crazy is because they are true.-M2 |