Other ways of doing user interface design

Don't click it

Published on July 10, 2005 By Istari In WinCustomize News

Article Link

Here's a site that has its own view on how computer UI might be done. Check it out.

Comments (Page 2)

The MenZa

on Jul 11, 2005

Clicking the mousebutton is a wonderful thing to do, because it gives you control over what you want to see.

I 2nd that

Kevin_C

on Jul 11, 2005

I agree with everyone else, but I feel the need to add that this wasn't about new and unique ways to design interfaces for people to interact with. It was simply an attempt to change the way people interact with an existing interface (i.e. mouse gestures). As such, it fails and were it to be implemented it would fail just as badly if not more so as the existing windows UI. Why you ask, because the techniques discussed require as much if not more motor skills and coordination to use as clicking. The study of interface design and human interaction design go far beyond things as simple as how do you activate a button, or select new content.

These are some of the reasons that the MAC (as much as I hate it) get such rave reviews. For people who aren't accustomed to having a program menu attached to the programs main window, the idea of accessing the programs menu by simply *flinging* their mouse to the top of the screen is very easy to pick up and to use. So, here's the question (I'll come back later this afternoon to post the correct answer):

A right-handed user is known to be within 10 pixels of the exact center of a large, 1600 X 1200 screen. You will place a single-pixel target on the screen that the user must point to exactly. List the five pixel locations on the screen that the user can access fastest. For extra credit, list them in order from fastest to slowest access.

BtEO

on Jul 11, 2005

The menus are actually one of my more major issues with the Mac OS. Most programs have a menu, it makes no sense to only have one menu bar shared between them.
You wouldn't stick every single programs toolbar in one place would you? Hey! Every program has a title bar, we'll make it so there's only one of those too.
Then there's little point in having non-maximised windows anymore, and we're back to Windows 1.0.

Sometimes it's better to make a user learn something rather than to over-simplify.

PlumbDrumb

on Jul 11, 2005

uuuh, no.
That was a horrible experience.

GhoS

on Jul 11, 2005

It was interesting and I got the hang of it pretty quickly, but I would never want something like that in my OS. Too many times it was a chore to get to the listing I actually wanted. And as someone else mentinoed, the page of the book kept getting smaller because I inadvertantly moved my mouse.
Its not hard not to click for me, its just not practical.

BlackHat Inc.

on Jul 11, 2005

It's too bad that my turretts is getting worse... couldn't keep on the same page for 5 seconds without windows sliding all over the place. :7(

BoXXi

on Jul 11, 2005

I am suprised this made a feature on this site that ussually simplifies my life

we didn't feature this..... it's a news item. Anyone can post a news item......even you.

Tarkus

on Jul 11, 2005

If you're frustrated by that site, maybe this will help.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

thomassen

on Jul 12, 2005

A right-handed user is known to be within 10 pixels of the exact center of a large, 1600 X 1200 screen. You will place a single-pixel target on the screen that the user must point to exactly. List the five pixel locations on the screen that the user can access fastest. For extra credit, list them in order from fastest to slowest access.

I know this one.

I'll let others guess.

I found this ot be an interesting experiment. I got acustomed to the non-click feature quite quick. All thought, clicking was the first thing I did because it said "Don't click".

I'll be watching the site to see what conclutions they get out of it.

Kevin_C

on Jul 12, 2005

OK, since I don't have any takers here's the answer.

1) The pixel immediately at the current cursor location: Click the mouse and you're done.

1) The bottom-right corner.
2) The top-left corner.
3) The top-right corner.
4) The bottom-left corner.

Gollums

on Jul 12, 2005

I can see some practical uses for a "click-less" interface, more of a vertical market type thing (To use a catch-phrase). Presentation based software might be a good example. Have you ever tried to add different paths, each link requiring a click, while using one of those annoying wire-less trigger mice? I can't seem to get the hang of it no matter how many times I use one. A clickless interface might be usefull there. I can also see possibly coding a second interface for users who might find it difficult to use a standard mouse due to limited dexterity or other physical issues.

As for my personal opinion - it's neat, but not terribly useable. I wouldn't use it except for the aforementioned examples.

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