okay, the GUI. here goes: firstly, it's all well and good how we feel as proficient computer users. i think it's paramount to simplify Cliff's initial question of why it is hard for his mother to use a computer. think communication here people! written language, visual and audio seem to be our mediums. who makes a GUI? who as in, who are the people that actually create the interface to perform which tasks? i ask myself this far too often, especially when looking at a pc's navigation aspects.
perhaps it is not the entirely a programmer's job to interperet what visuals offer which obvious responses? imagine if microsoft had hired a team of specialists in the field of audio impared communciation. that would offer the most obvious, visual communication. not exactly sign language, but limiting communication to visual triggers. suppose such a team was not designed to create the parameters, but to create a facilitation resource for thousands of experts in this field to contribute concepts. would that not allow for an effective approach on visual communication? why has this approach not been considered? (this is to my knowledge) especially since internet and post secondary / technical training institutions have more and more common ground these days?
maybe we have a cart before the horse issue here? i mean if this means adding on, or recreating the logical course of computer use, why not? i could go on and on, but in my opinion, such a first step would be more effective. programmers could work along side with communication experts, and even psychologist to derive a consensus on functionality and effectiveness. isn't that somewhat a funcion of slashdot persay?
sure the designs to date are lacking, but the approach is to blame, not the result. personally i think facilitation is the problem, and not all the right people to accomidate this task are working together to create an even more expansive network to really understand an interface. adoption of past methodology will only work so well. purist attitute i guess is where i'm coming from. anyway, enough.
Slashdot Mirror
okay, the GUI. here goes: firstly, it's all well and good how we feel as proficient computer users. i think it's paramount to simplify Cliff's initial question of why it is hard for his mother to use a computer. think communication here people! written language, visual and audio seem to be our mediums. who makes a GUI? who as in, who are the people that actually create the interface to perform which tasks? i ask myself this far too often, especially when looking at a pc's navigation aspects.
perhaps it is not the entirely a programmer's job to interperet what visuals offer which obvious responses? imagine if microsoft had hired a team of specialists in the field of audio impared communciation. that would offer the most obvious, visual communication. not exactly sign language, but limiting communication to visual triggers. suppose such a team was not designed to create the parameters, but to create a facilitation resource for thousands of experts in this field to contribute concepts. would that not allow for an effective approach on visual communication? why has this approach not been considered? (this is to my knowledge) especially since internet and post secondary / technical training institutions have more and more common ground these days?
maybe we have a cart before the horse issue here? i mean if this means adding on, or recreating the logical course of computer use, why not? i could go on and on, but in my opinion, such a first step would be more effective. programmers could work along side with communication experts, and even psychologist to derive a consensus on functionality and effectiveness. isn't that somewhat a funcion of slashdot persay?
sure the designs to date are lacking, but the approach is to blame, not the result. personally i think facilitation is the problem, and not all the right people to accomidate this task are working together to create an even more expansive network to really understand an interface. adoption of past methodology will only work so well. purist attitute i guess is where i'm coming from. anyway, enough.