Former Xerox PARC Researcher: Windows 8 Is a Cognitive Burden

New submitter LiroXIV writes "You know you've messed up big time when someone related to the development of one of the first graphical interfaces for computers thinks you've messed up. Usability expert Raluca Budiu has shared the common conclusion for many about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8; it's definitely not as user-friendly as past versions. Quoting: 'The advantage of the overlaid menu is that it preserves context. Cognitively, there’s more of a burden when you have to switch context twice (desktop->start screen; start screen -> desktop). There are reasons to force users to switch contexts, especially in the tablet or phone environment, where screen real-estate is a lot more expensive and a menu is forced to use only part of the (already-small) screen. In that situation, a separate page makes better use of the small screen space. There are fewer reasons for a separate page on a desktop – the start menu is a cheaper interaction than the start page.'"

Comments

Metro != Usability

[onyxruby]

Using Metro aka Modern instead of the traditional desktop was never about usability. It was entirely about transitioning users to tablet interfaces and away from the traditional interface that people have used for years. Microsoft knows damn well that people will never voluntarily never make the change which is why they removed the ability to boot directly into the desktop.

By forcing you into "Modern" they are forcing you to use the new interface which /is/ usable - but only if your on a tablet. Obviously Microsoft thinks the future of computing is tablets and smartphones and not desktops. Witness the upcoming "Surface" computers and Windows Phone 8 platforms. Microsoft is afraid that the market is going to abandon the traditional desktop and is trying to position Windows as being an Operating System of choice for the tablets and smart phones. People simply don't think of Microsoft when they think of smart phones or tablets and that is what Microsoft is trying to change, public perception.

Windows 8 is a sacrificial operating system that is being produced entirely for this reason and we will see Windows 9 come in a very short time frame behind this.

Re:Metro != Usability

[lilfields]

I disagree, I think Microsoft is pushing "Metro" on the desktop for numerous reasons, and one of them is the shared core between all their major platforms (something no one else has.) They put Windows 8 running Metro on laptops and desktops and they instantly have just as many eyeballs as iPhone and iPad. This gives their touch products a HUGE boost in the app world. Microsoft has demoed where you can literally change one line of code and put your app on Windows 8 from a Windows Phone app, and vice versa. I think Metro will be scaled back over time on the desktop. This Windows 8 is ALL about capturing developers on their touch devices. I am quite excited for Windows 9, but I wouldn't expect it to be rushed out the door like you are suggesting.

Re:To paraphrase...

[Brandano]

What is odd is that it seems Microsoft is following after Canonical in this case. First it was Aero vs Compiz, now this silly "PC OS as tablet OS" thing. Looks like all it takes to give Microsoft the final death blow is to create a popular distribution and then do something incredibly stupid with it, waiting for them to spend enormous resources in copying it.

Re:Same Problem as Unity

[codepigeon]

Agreed. I was a previous linux/bsd desktop user up to a few years ago. Recently I thought it would be cool to run this new "Ubuntu" I keep hearing about.

The interface was so dumbed down (and blown up) that I nearly lost my mind. I had to boot into my windows partition to google how to open a damn terminal window in Ubuntu.

Maybe it was too obvious for me and i'm too old.