Embedded objects in fields

Charles Hartman charles.hartman at conncoll.edu
Tue Jul 5 07:46:31 EDT 2005


Yes, but couldn't it be argued that in this sense a tutorial app --  
in effect, just a slicker & thinner alternative to a textbook -- has  
requirements-on-the-user's-attention different from a normal,  
"productive" app? Even *opposite* requirements? Slow 'em down! Block  
that skimming! OK, I know it isn't as simple (or as complicated?) as  
that . . . I just keep remembering Einstein, Things should be as  
simple as possible, and no simpler. But I didn't mean to start a UI  
or HIG thread.

Charles Hartman


On Jul 5, 2005, at 7:31 AM, Thomas McGrath III wrote:

> 2 cents:
>
> I agree. It is not good moving buttons in fields or groups. It  
> makes it too hard for users to develop a motor plan for those  
> buttons. A motor plan is what happens during touch typing or even  
> during walking where our muscles develop a plan to those activities  
> without having to think about it.
>
> In fact having to think about it is what slows us down. Try to  
> think about the muscles in your legs moving while walking down the  
> stairs - careful because you might actually fall down. Using motor  
> plans is the 'only' way to become truly proficient at using  
> professional software. This is true for menus as well - constantly  
> moving menus around make a user stop and then have to search for  
> the menu and item visually.
>
> There have been hundreds of papers and years of research done on  
> this. It is part of what I do for a living.
>
> I think that games might be the exception to this where movement is  
> a part of the fun of the game.
>
> Tom
>
> On Jul 4, 2005, at 5:18 PM, Dan Shafer wrote:
>
>
>> Just my two cents -- and it's a holiday here so my brain may be  
>> otherwise engaged -- I think putting buttons into scrolling fields  
>> is a terrible UI idea. By definition, it puts certain  
>> functionality out of the reach of the user until and unless s/he  
>> scrolls the field. Lotus NOtes allowed this and every time I saw  
>> an app designed to take advantage of it, users got confused.
>>
>> I suspect I feel the same way about buttons in scrolling GROUPS.  
>> Interactive functionality needs to be where users  
>> can...well...interact with it, no?
>>
>> Dan (who fears he's probably started another one of those "up your  
>> opinion" threads that are so much fun)
>>
>>
>> On Jul 4, 2005, at 8:14 AM, Charles Hartman wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 1, 2005, at 1:04 PM, Mathewson wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> I have just downloaded the SuperCard 4.5 demo and found
>>>> they have a new feature:
>>>>
>>>> allowObjects
>>>>
>>>> this lets the user embed object (images and so on) inside
>>>> FIELDS:
>>>>
>>>> WOW - I would love scrolling text fields with pictures!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- and buttons! (At the moment I'm doing this is a non-scrolling  
>>> field inside a scrolling group, but aside from being tedious that  
>>> has other disadvantages, such as the scroll-wheel not working  
>>> right.)
>>>
>>> Charles Hartman
>>>
>>>
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>
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