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GUIs Get a Makeover

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the new-hotness dept.

jcatcw writes "From Xerox PARC to Apple to Microsoft, the GUI has been evolving over the years, and the increased complexity of current systems means it will continue to change. For example, Microsoft is switching from dropdown menus to contextual ribbons. Mobile computing creates new demands for efficient presentation while the desktop GUI doesn't scale to larger screens. Dual-mode user interfaces may show up first on PDA phones but then migrate to laptops and desktops. Which of today's innovations will become tomorrow's gaffs?"

1 of 540 comments (clear)

  1. Appendix vestigal? Think again... by quadra23 · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'd say gaining complexity is perhaps the definition of evolution, perhaps even including bloat and complexity (even biological systems aren't immune. Lots of complex animals have useless bits left over weighing them down. Appendix, etc).

    I agree with most of your other argument but you are flat wrong when you say the appendix is a "useless bit". By some very elementary research it can be seen that the human appendix, for example, is not vestigal and certainly seen to play a part in the immune system. In fact, the appendix can also be found useful for reconstructive surgery. If it has to be removed so be it, but do not classify it as useless just because some biology textbook says so, as research such as above has already been conducted to show that it is useful.

    I think the argument is better made that GUIs have evolved too much for their own good. I wonder what would happen if you launched NT 4's explorer.exe in WinXP.... I think i'm gonna go try it...

    Let us know the results you find and I hope you don't have anything vital that's not backuped on the machine before attempting your experiment.