Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

youtube.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 214 posts

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#61

Post by linguae »

gtowey wrote: post #34
linguae wrote: post #24

I enjoyed this talk, and I want to learn more about the concept of “learning loops” for interface design. Personally, I wish there were a champion of desktop usability like how Apple was in the 1980s and 1990s. I feel that Microsoft, Apple, and Google lost the plot in the 2010s due to two factors: (1) the rise of mobile and Web computing, and (2) the realization that software platforms are excellent platforms for mil…

It's because companies are no longer run by engineers. The MBAs and accountants are in charge and they could care less about making good products. At Microsoft, Satya Nadella has an engineering background, but it seems like he didn't spend much time as an engineer before getting an MBA and playing the management advancement game. Our industry isn't what it used to be and I'm not sure it ever could.

I feel a major shift happened in the 2010s. The tech industry became less about making the world a better place through technology, and more about how to best leverage power to make as much money as possible, making a world a better place be damned.

This also came at a time when tech went from being considered a nerdy obsession to tech being a prestigious career choice much like how law and medicine are viewed.

Tech went from being a sideshow to the main show. The problem is once tech became the main show, this attracts the money- and career-driven rather than the ones passionate about technology. It’s bad enough working with mercenary coworkers, but when mercenaries become managers and executives, they are now the boss, and if the passionate don’t meet their bosses’ expectations, they are fired.

I left the industry and I am now a tenure-track community college professor, though I do research during my winter and summer breaks. I think there are still niches where a deep love for computing without being overly concerned about “stock line go up” metrics can still lead to good products and sustainable, if small, businesses.

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#62

Post by mrob »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #14
LeFantome wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like toothbrush UX has improved quite a bit.

Toothbrush UX is the same today as it was when we were hunter gatherers: use an abrasive tool to ablate plaque from the teeth and gums without removing enamel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMuTG6fOMCg The variety of form factors offered are the only difference

As somebody who's tried using a miswak [0] teeth-cleaning twig out of curiosity, I can say with confidence it's not the same experience as using a modern toothbrush. It's capable of cleaning your teeth effectively, but it's slower and more difficult than a modern toothbrush. The angle of the bristles makes a huge difference. When the bristles face forward like with a teeth-cleaning twig your lips get in the the way a lot more. Sideways bristles are easier to use.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miswak

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#63

Post by AndrewKemendo »

immibis wrote: post #56
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #12

The computer form factor hasn’t changed since the mainframe: look into a screen for where to give input, select visual icons via a pointer, type text via keyboard into a text entry box, hit an action button, recieve result, repeat it’s just all gotten miniaturized Humans have outright rejected all other possible computer form factors presented to them to date including: Purely NLP with no screen head worn augmented r…

Phone UIs are still screen UIs, but they are not desktop UIs, and that's not because of the shape of the device.

Tell me how that’s not a phone and a desktop:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPtvpkSExfA/

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#65

Post by hollerith »

whatever1 wrote: post #53
hollerith wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>productivity is done on a single window browser anyway When I need to get productive, sometimes I disable the browser to stop myself from wasting time on the web.

And you likely open the browser that happens to be called VS Code, Figma etc

The point though is that my vscode window does not have an address bar I can use to visit Youtube or Pornhub at any time.

I guess the larger point is that you need a desktop to run vscode or Figma, so the desktop is not dead.

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#66

Post by ErroneousBosh »

ares623 wrote: post #9

Are we stuck with the same toothbrush UX forever?

I was going to say "are we stuck with the same bicycle UX forever".

Because we've been stuck with the same bicycle UX for like 150 years now.

Sometimes shit just works right, just about straight out of the gate.

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#67

Post by ErroneousBosh »

eek2121 wrote: post #45

For the same reason we don't reinvent the wheel. Or perhaps, the same reason we don't constantly change things like a vehicle. It works well, and introducing something new means a learning curve that 99% of folks won't want to deal with, so at that point, you are designing something new for the other 1% of folks willing to tackle it. Unless it's an amazing concept, it won't take off.

> Or perhaps, the same reason we don't constantly change things like a vehicle.

Are we stuck with the same brake pedal UX forever?

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#68

Post by RedNifre »

amelius wrote: post #16
thaumaturgy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because, something that a lot of tech-obsessed Trek fans never seem to really come to terms with, is that Trek didn't fetishize technology. In the Trek universe, LCARS wasn't getting continuous UI updates because they would have advanced, culturally, to a point where they recognized that continuous UI updates are frustrating for users. They would have invested the time and research effort required to better understan…

I still wonder why not everybody was lingering in the holodeck all the time. (equivalent of people being glued to their smartphones today) (Related) This is one explanation for the Fermi paradox: Alien species may isolate themselves in virtual worlds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox

The lack of capitalism meant that the holodeck program authors had no need to optimize their programs for user retention to show them more ads. So much fewer people suffer from holodeck addiction in Star Trek than are glued to their screens in our world.

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#69

Post by d3Xt3r »

amelius wrote: post #16
thaumaturgy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because, something that a lot of tech-obsessed Trek fans never seem to really come to terms with, is that Trek didn't fetishize technology. In the Trek universe, LCARS wasn't getting continuous UI updates because they would have advanced, culturally, to a point where they recognized that continuous UI updates are frustrating for users. They would have invested the time and research effort required to better understan…

I still wonder why not everybody was lingering in the holodeck all the time. (equivalent of people being glued to their smartphones today) (Related) This is one explanation for the Fermi paradox: Alien species may isolate themselves in virtual worlds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox

Most likely because this was a star ship (or space station) with a limited number of personnel, all of whom have fixed duties that need to be done. You simply can't afford to waste your time away in holodecks.

The people we saw on screen most of the time also held important positions on the ship (especially the bridge, or engineering) and you can't expect them to just waste significant chunks of time.

Also, don't forget that these people actually like their jobs. They got there because they sincerely wanted to, out of personal interest and drive, and not because of societal pressures like in our present world. They already figured out universal basic income and are living in an advanced self-sufficient society, so they don't even need a job to earn money or live a decent life - these people are doing their jobs because of their pure, raw passion for that field.

Re: Are we stuck with the same Desktop UX forever? [video]

#70

Post by GaryBluto »

xnx wrote: post #64

I felt rage baited when he crossed out Jakob Nielsen and promoted Ed Zitron ( https://youtu.be/1fZTOjd_bOQt=1852 ). Bad AI is not good UI, but objecting based on AI being "not ethically trained" and "burning the planet" aren't great reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fZTOjd_bOQ&t=1852s You're missing the ampersand.

It's really strange how he spins off on this mini-rant about AI ethics towards the end. I clicked on a video about UI design.

Post reply on HN