[Date Prev] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Date Next] -- [Date Index] | [Thread Index] | [List Home]
Subject: RE: [docbook-apps] oXygen 9 beta with WYSIWYG-like editing supportforDocBook
Sorry Elliotte, I did mean to distort your argument. I did think that was your idea but, obviously, I misunderstood you. On the other hand, there are many kind of commands: those that perform a direct action, those that need arguments, ... For those that produce a direct action it seems clear to me that keying "CTRL+V" is much-much faster than: raising the hand from your key board; grasping the mouse; moving the pointer to the right place (without failing in case you are in a hurry. How many nasty mistakes due to this cause, mainly on e-mails!! ;-), and clicking. I cannot address you to any scientific survey on the topic, but the practical experience of some organizations. In addition to this, you could ask about their preferences to EMACS or VI users (if you dare ;-). Anyway, I think this is an off-topic and I do agree with you (I presume) that having too many icons could be dazzling. A curiosity: Have you notice how difficult is to find an icon (even if it's very common to you) if the GUI layout changes from where you are used to find it? Pedro -----Mensaje original----- De: Elliotte Harold [mailto:elharo@metalab.unc.edu] Enviado el: miércoles, 03 de octubre de 2007 13:33 Para: Pedro Pastor CC: 'DocBook Apps Mailing List' Asunto: Re: [docbook-apps] oXygen 9 beta with WYSIWYG-like editing supportforDocBook Pedro Pastor wrote: > Hi, > > My previous message was sent in parallel with some other responses and I'd > like to make two points to some of them. > > Making clear that my opinions come from my real live experiences: > > 1) I agree with Elliotte that "too many icons spoil the soup" ;-). It's been > proved that keying commands is faster (and more productive) than moving the > mouse, no matter if it's for selecting a menu option or clicking an icon. > I'm afraid I now have to disagree with you agreeing with me. :-) I never said and certainly don't believe that keying commands is faster (and more productive) than moving the mouse, no matter if it's for selecting a menu option or clicking an icon. In fact, I believe very much the opposite and would be curious to see the proof you believe exists. On my side I would refer you to Tog On Interface, Addison-Wesley Professional, 1992 as a good starting reference to the relevant research. What I believe is that for most actions a *non-keyed* textual description is more comprehensible than an iconic representation. For instance, a button that says "Emphasize" is better than a button that ha some stange little picture on it. However it is usually faster to click the button with the mouse than to key in an emphasize command, and it is definitely faster to select the Emphasize command from a properly designed menu structure than to key it in or click the button. There are two factors at work here: 1. It is faster to see and choose than remember and type. 2. Fitt's Law, Actually #2 only applies on the Mac because other platforms put the menu bar in the wrong place. But number 1 alone is enough to explain why remember and type interfaces have gone the way of the Dodo (or at least the Whooping Crane). -- Elliotte Rusty Harold elharo@metalab.unc.edu Java I/O 2nd Edition Just Published! http://www.cafeaulait.org/books/javaio2/ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0596527500/ref=nosim/cafeaulaitA/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: docbook-apps-unsubscribe@lists.oasis-open.org For additional commands, e-mail: docbook-apps-help@lists.oasis-open.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.39/1045 - Release Date: 02/10/2007 18:43 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.39/1045 - Release Date: 02/10/2007 18:43
[Date Prev] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Date Next] -- [Date Index] | [Thread Index] | [List Home]