From: David Huynh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Exhibit 2.0 scissors (Flip: scissors. Flip: no scissors.)
Dave,
I haven't actually thought of that... Thanks for the idea! Generally
"modal" interfaces are considered bad,
I would say generalisations are generally bad. ;)
but in this case, it might be acceptable.
(Pending a definition of modal) modal interfaces are great when used
with the right balanced or filtered set of features. They are many
text editors for instance that fade everything out and let you
concentrate on your words, which really makes a difference to the
quality of the work, if compared to something like word where
everything is cluttered and happens at the same time, and dogs start
talking to you.
When well balanced, I have learned that modal interfaces can let you
concentrate on the task at hand and make users more efficient and
satisfied, than when having everything always accessible.
In exhibit's case, it would make a lot of sense to have one call out
to the mechanism to get 'behind the curtain' at the bottom of the
page for instance. To get there one user group clearly demonstrated
that they were interested enough to scroll all the way down (or the
opposite, they didn't find what they were looking for, but that group
of users is likely to leave the page anyway and if your labels are
clear they won't click). So I would assume that at the bottom of the
page you are speaking to the right people.
Right now I leave the scissors on
the big collection views but I've removed them from the individual
item
lenses.
I would also argue that the scissors don't work well as icons:
First time users: Will I cut that data out? Will it be gone? Why do I
cut? I don't know but it must be important it popped up when I
rolled over this.
Repeat users will get surely get used to it and stop thinking about
it. You are one of them ;)
I would go with a clearly labelled button that makes the page life,
and let's people get at the data.
Options: [ Use this data ] or [ Extract Data ]. Maybe somebody else
has a more fitting words.
Perhaps discoverability can be traded off for less annoyance, to
both users and authors, and then the general population
can be made aware by other means... Maybe that's enough to get some
reaction at this time.
First time I saw the scissors, I had no idea what they were, 'copy
all' was a little better but not much. I roll over the content, the
scissors pop up, which make them very prominent, you definitely
peaked my interest and distracted from the content of the page. There
was no way I couldn't click on it. So I do click, to the majority of
the people you will continue this mysterious trail, you pop open a
little menu with no label but mysterious items. Let's see where this
leads… Ah! Another mysterious window pops up with mysterious text,
but absolutely no explanation or hints along the way. At least it's
easy to close the window.
And the scissors can show up on individual item lenses if the Shift
key is held
down, or something like that.
The shift key would need a line of copy somewhere, but why not give
the people that want to work with the data a interface that makes
that easy?
Don't get me wrong, I think the work you are doing is fantastic, but
I feel like you dug yourself a hole.
I would suggest to show exhibit to five people that have never heard
of it and see what they do.
I am pretty sure it will cast a whole new light on the interface.
Sorry to nag.
Florian
-
honest communications
for a better tomorroh
http://fangohr.com
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