> > I can't say I agree with this one. Toolbars not only serve as access to the > tools, but may provide status as well. For example, when I'm working in > Photoshop, I have my cursor set to the cross hair for perfect accuracy. The > only way for me to check which tool I have selected, then, is to look at the > toolbar or use it to see what happens. Furthermore, even as an expert user, > there are some tools and tool features that I use less often. A toolbar > provides discoverability, reminding me of the presence of such tools. If you > rely on contextual menus for all functionality, it is completely hidden. > There is much to be said for the phrase "a place for everything and > everything in its place". >
I agree that toolbars that provide state are useful in some interfaces, but even the photoshop scenarion could potential be solved without a toolbar or palette. If you could just right click, chose tools from the context menu (probably would have to be a submenu, but at the top of the menu) and pick the tool. The more tools the less attractive that solution gets however. You could show "tool-mode" either by changing the cursor, or if in your case you really want a cross-hair a symbol could however in the vicinity of the cursor. As for discoverability I'm not so sure, if you only get context-relevant options all the time, you will be reminded of other options in that context. Maybe that might be even better since it wont be hidden in a cluttered toolbar or deep within a menu. Mousewheels can be horribly inefficient in long documents, zoomed-in views, > and large work areas. > But what's the scenario? If you need to scroll with the mousewheel to the end of the document it might be inefficient but you could combine it with a "goto page" context-menu All in all I agree that a "context-driven" interface might provide a more difficult threshold for new users in that paradigm, but once you learn that everything is available as context (except state and indicators which should of course be shown) might it not be easier? I doubt that completely new computer users found toolbars and menubars to be totally self-evident :) The current interface paradigms are deeply ingrained in most of us but I'm not so sure there arent better alternatives best regards -- Mattias Konradsson ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
