61–70 of 73 posts
smartphones are good for stay connected but not for actual 'doing stuff'.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Shouldn't software (or anything else) be made optimal for the majority of people that will use it? With common apps like web-browsers, email, & chat, pushing everyone to become an advanced user is nonsense.
Somehow stoves, microwaves and machines live with complex interfaces and nobody complains. Cars are also a good example - it is expected of everyone to take a few dozen hours of driving lessons to familiarize themselves with the UI of the machine, and again, nobody complains. Creating the expectation that every program should be fully usable from the get-go is the problem, because the only way to achieve that is to r…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Somehow stoves, microwaves and machines live with complex interfaces and nobody complains. Cars are also a good example - it is expected of everyone to take a few dozen hours of driving lessons to familiarize themselves with the UI of the machine, and again, nobody complains. Creating the expectation that every program should be fully usable from the get-go is the problem, because the only way to achieve that is to r…
I agree with your sentiment (a modern PC is a very complex beast and it's not reasonable to expect to be able to operate it without learning about it first), but my stove's interface could not be simpler. One turny knob. Turn it to pick the heat setting, from "OFF" to "LOTS". I don't think I've ever used a stove more complex than that.
Sure, but your stoves interface could in theory be made a lot better if your stove was more complex. Instead of having to chose an arbitrary value between OFF and LOTS you could dial in 85 degrees and have your stove guarantee that the liquid in the pot on that hotplate will never go above 85 degrees.
While in one dimension it would make the implementation details of your stoves internals a lot more complex it would make the act of using your stove a lot more simple and save people from making some very common mistakes (ie choosing a slightly too high arbitrary number)
Related article I read not long ago (focusing on Apple, although it mentions Google unfavorably, too): http://www.fastcodesign.com/3053406/how-apple-is-giving-desi... Some interesting points: * http://b.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/inline/... * 'The headline of a Forbes article says it all: "Apple iOS 9 has 25 Great Secret Features." Secret features? If these are such great features, why are they secre…
I remember Windows 95 came with an interactive tutorial (with exercises) that explained how the mouse gestures worked and how to manipulate windows, files and folders and start up applications. I wish something like that was still bundled with Windows Seven/8.1/10, Ubuntu, Android, etc. That would save the regular folks I have to help some time and frustration when they want the device `to bloody work`. Anecdote: I m…
Simple: The goal used to be create simple things that just work. Now its create thigs that push your platform. As an example, to pick on MSFT: I thought hell froze over when I saw Word in the Android app store. Its a hugely wonderful word processor. I typed out a blog post and when to save, but... well I wasnt signed into sky drive. I managed to finagle my way around those prompts after 5 or so mins. Next time I open…
The worst example of this is ChromeOS. You can't even create a fucking local account with Google's permission.
As the on-site support of a group of older and disabled users (sight, hearing, motor, coordination, cognitive), the failures of Apple's traditionally highly accessible designs are quite familiar to me. I'd written my own rant a few months back after discovering (usability error) that Apple's online feedback form couldn't ingest the full thing: https://ello.co/dredmorbius/post/bs-wilowvb4-dvpfl_vruq
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I remember Windows 95 came with an interactive tutorial (with exercises) that explained how the mouse gestures worked and how to manipulate windows, files and folders and start up applications. I wish something like that was still bundled with Windows Seven/8.1/10, Ubuntu, Android, etc. That would save the regular folks I have to help some time and frustration when they want the device `to bloody work`. Anecdote: I m…
Not only that, it had Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGYcNcFhctc
Simple: The goal used to be create simple things that just work. Now its create thigs that push your platform. As an example, to pick on MSFT: I thought hell froze over when I saw Word in the Android app store. Its a hugely wonderful word processor. I typed out a blog post and when to save, but... well I wasnt signed into sky drive. I managed to finagle my way around those prompts after 5 or so mins. Next time I open…
Are they? Really? With awful languages like Java?!? They're at the bleeding edge of the overengineering, nowhere close to anything "simple". Edit: downvoters are incompetent retards who know nothing about simplicity.
If you don't want it to be banned, you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com.
As the on-site support of a group of older and disabled users (sight, hearing, motor, coordination, cognitive), the failures of Apple's traditionally highly accessible designs are quite familiar to me. I'd written my own rant a few months back after discovering (usability error) that Apple's online feedback form couldn't ingest the full thing: https://ello.co/dredmorbius/post/bs-wilowvb4-dvpfl_vruq
Thanks for sharing this, I've looked but haven't read enough on accessibility in real world use cases. Have you tried the iPad with anyone there? It may ratchet down the complexity some, and the accessibility features are very good.