Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity • Hacker News Board

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#131

Post by tlow » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:43 PM UTC

This is still hacker news, right? So hypothetically we're talking silicon valley startups. How many of these kinds of places are heavily reliant upon outside companies like those mentioned by @GuiA to build prototypes of their designs?

I have seen plenty of consultants hired, but nearly every startup I've seen or been at/around (~20) prototyped their designs in house. As an example bu.mp hired an industrial design firm to help them make physical prototypes of a POS competitor to NFC technology (which ultimately failed), but had their own engineers and designers actually create and test the working prototypes.

Shortcomings notwithstanding, I think this is an example of excellent work and a creative way to find an internship. Given the opportunity, I'd most certainly offer this guy an internship if I could.

Nice job. Ich wünsche dir viel Glück.

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#132

Post by dopamean » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:44 PM UTC

GuiA wrote: post #73

dangrossman wrote: post #47

It seems like a lot of people skimmed without reading the top or bottom of this site: It's not a company. It's not a product. You're not being asked to buy it or buy into it, just to discuss the concept if you'd like. This website is a portfolio piece for a 21-year-old university student hoping to find an internship. In my opinion, it's an impressive demonstration of his design and technical skills. It certainly says…

I work at a company where we hire people for exactly that kind of gig, with a heavy focus on building prototypes of your designs that are actually usable because that's the only viable way to design interfaces. Here's feedback as to why I'm not sending this website to my studio lead to schedule a phone screen with the designer: 1) reused assets from other companies (big no no, even for just a mockup) that are inconsi…

> the candidate is not a strong graphic designer, not a strong prototyper, nor a strong researcher.

The candidate is 21 years old and looking for an internship. Would you really expect them to be strong at any of those. It seems he/she does have some strengths doesn't it? Would it not be useful to focus on those and see how the others could be developed?

Your reply really doesn't come off as an attempt to be constructive. It comes off as someone with a bit of knowledge about the field wanting to demonstrate that for strangers on the internet by tearing someone's work down.

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#133

Post by snickmy » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:44 PM UTC

There are some good thoughtful points. On overall a well done presentation.

I wonder how natural touch on a touchpad is for a productivity flow in a desktop context. I personally never managed to get it integrated in my workflow (neither with magic mouse or trackpads). I also would be interested in understanding the impact of a mixed input experience. Not sure if our brain can switch context so fast. On the other hand, I see the synergy in having eye sight + voice control.

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#134

Post by rsync » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:47 PM UTC

GuiA wrote: post #73

dangrossman wrote: post #47

It seems like a lot of people skimmed without reading the top or bottom of this site: It's not a company. It's not a product. You're not being asked to buy it or buy into it, just to discuss the concept if you'd like. This website is a portfolio piece for a 21-year-old university student hoping to find an internship. In my opinion, it's an impressive demonstration of his design and technical skills. It certainly says…

I work at a company where we hire people for exactly that kind of gig, with a heavy focus on building prototypes of your designs that are actually usable because that's the only viable way to design interfaces. Here's feedback as to why I'm not sending this website to my studio lead to schedule a phone screen with the designer: 1) reused assets from other companies (big no no, even for just a mockup) that are inconsi…

"Here's feedback as to why I'm not sending this website to my studio lead to schedule a phone screen with the designer:"

Just curious ... how many of the folks that you have sent to your studio lead have had their project at the #1 spot on the front page of HN with 100+ comments ?

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#135

Post by snickmy » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:48 PM UTC

GuiA wrote: post #73

dangrossman wrote: post #47

It seems like a lot of people skimmed without reading the top or bottom of this site: It's not a company. It's not a product. You're not being asked to buy it or buy into it, just to discuss the concept if you'd like. This website is a portfolio piece for a 21-year-old university student hoping to find an internship. In my opinion, it's an impressive demonstration of his design and technical skills. It certainly says…

I work at a company where we hire people for exactly that kind of gig, with a heavy focus on building prototypes of your designs that are actually usable because that's the only viable way to design interfaces. Here's feedback as to why I'm not sending this website to my studio lead to schedule a phone screen with the designer: 1) reused assets from other companies (big no no, even for just a mockup) that are inconsi…

I'd love to know for who you are working for.

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#136

Post by jdietrich » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:50 PM UTC

RussianCow wrote: post #87

wang_li wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't. It seems like a very Apple style of interaction, which emphasizes that you are interacting with an Apple UI. By which I mean to say, using a Mac or an iPhone is at least 50% about using a Mac or an iPhone, and maybe 50% about doing whatever it is you are trying to do. In an ideal world, you shouldn't be thinking about the tool.

> By which I mean to say, using a Mac or an iPhone is at least 50% about using a Mac or an iPhone, and maybe 50% about doing whatever it is you are trying to do. Could you elaborate on this? I don't feel that way at all when using any modern OS/device, but maybe I just haven't thought about it in the same way.

Apple's focus on minimalist aesthetics have come at the cost of discoverability. Interactions are concealed by gestural input and incomprehensible icons without text labels. This issue is getting worse rather than better, e.g. force touch on the new Macbooks.

Using Apple devices requires a great deal of memorisation. For power users this is a relatively minor burden, but it is a serious issue for inexperienced users, or those with problems in cognition or memory.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3053406/how-apple-is-giving-desi...

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#137

Post by unicornporn » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:51 PM UTC

tomc1985 wrote: post #12

The problem with the tablet analogy is nobody seems to know how to design complex, professional-level (like Photoshop, or Blender) applications in that paradigm. Tablet apps are overwhelmingly consumption-oriented, and those that aren't all seem to be oriented around popular (and populist) appeal. Why is everyone out for the blood of the desktop/windows paradigm? Why can't the simplified-tablet market and the desktop…

What do you think generates the most money for Apple and Google... You being reduced to a consumer that buys movies, music and apps in their stores — or you fiddling around in Logic or Photoshop?

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#138

Post by ctstover » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:52 PM UTC

elliotec wrote: post #128

orliesaurus wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 I thought it was quite impressive until reading that comment from someone who works in the design field!

Don't believe that guy, it's still impressive.

Of course design people* don't like good concept art for a tiling wm. It's not "modern", emphasizes work instead pointless high rez stock photos, and acknowledges the desktop.

*not all design people, just a certain flavor

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#139

Post by everyone » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:52 PM UTC

"We now use smartphones and tablets most of the time, since they are much easier to use."

I completely disagree with that. If you gave two people (one on a pc, the other on a tablet or phone) some task, ie. move a file from here to here, assuming they were both equally conversant in their chosen system, the pc user would be able to do it in a fraction of the time of the tablet or phone user.

Re: Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for productivity

#140

Post by TrevorJ » Tue, Jan 19, 2016, 8:53 PM UTC

The biggest thing I find lacking in desktop UI is the ability to save and switch between states. We need the idea of project 'sessions' where I can open up the software I need to use, pull up the files I need, set my favorite folders, etc and then hit 'save' and be able to restore back to that setup at the click of a button.

Right now, switching between projects means setting all that up every single time.