Perhaps it would be worth creating an extension like firebug designed specifically for exhibits, that lets "developers" do stuff regular users won't want to---grabbing data in certain ways; grabbing a particular lens out of an exhibit, overriding a given lens with your own lens...
Florian Fangohr wrote: >> From: David Huynh <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[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 > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://simile.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/general > _______________________________________________ General mailing list [email protected] http://simile.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/general
