My take on this is the following: Given that the K3 has a non-scalable user interface with it's fixed LCD panel and silk-screened knob and button labels, providing "convenience" features through the addition of "side-effects" to existing control functions is probably a bad idea. We may be seeing the limits of the UI on the front panel with knobs that you can turn, tap, press and hold for one second, press and hold for one second then turn, press and hold for three seconds then turn. (There really is a knob like that!).
The goals should be "minimize surprises" and "do no harm" from pushing a button or turning a knob. That can probably never be attained, but it should be the goal. For example, if I set the output power to 10 watts and then switch bands to 80 meters and I'm suddenly running 100 watts, I personally would be surprised - especially if the first indication of the higher power is a sizzling sound. It is becoming blazingly clear that the processing power and extentensive set of control points in the radio provide far more flexibility than can be easily and intuitively expressed through the front panel. More customized behavior should be handled through the computer control interface, either with a PC or a purpose-built controller, or through an obvious, logical, but perhaps lengthy, sequence of front panel control actuations. As the user base becomes larger and more experienced, changes to the behavior of front panel controls should be selectable through the menu system - with the default being the "old" behavior - lest we constantly need to retrain ourselves. Just my opinion. Balancing efficiency against intuitive behavior, especially with a user interface that is reaching its limits, is a very hard problem. 73 and have fun! Rick AI1V K3 #728 -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/-K3--Built-in-features-and-side-effects-tp17762047p17762047.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
