Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 15th May 2008 21:10 UTC, submitted by Eugenia
Read Write Web has an interesting article on the concept of the contextual user interface. A contextual user interface - as the name implies - is an interface which adapts to the current wishes of its users, the context. The interface will change according to the actions the user takes; present a set of minimal options, and show other options as the user goes along. While the article makes some good points, it also contains some generalisations that I find rather debatable.
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Member since:
2006-04-09
It's clear to me this guy doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. Microsoft has been trying to move their UI to a fully contextual (or task-based approach far longer than OS X has been around). The task areas to the left of the folder/file view in 2000/XP is one approach Microsoft has unleashed to the mainstream UI. The ribbon in Office 2007 (which I like a lot) is another. Vista changed the task approach they started in XP, likely due to user feedback given the amount of real estate it used, and have converted the toolbar in Explorer to a task-based contextual toolbar. Select a removable drive and eject, autoplay, burn to disc (amongst others) will appear as options. Select a folder and share, burn and open will appear. I don't think this one will last long either since it's too subtle but to say Microsoft doesn't do contextual UIs is ignorant at best.
To think OS X does things perfectly is ignorant as well. Sure, Microsoft offers dialog boxes such as the folder view depicted in the article but that's because Microsoft offers users the ability to customize their experience as much as possible while Apple tells the user you get this and will like it. Before you call me a fanboi, I have two Vista boxes and a Leopard box, plus I use Tiger at work (graphic designer). One example that's bothered me ever since I got my Leopard box was a change in Mail Apple made between v2 and v3 I believe. You used to be able to set Mail to a three column view (like Outlook). For some odd reason Apple removed this feature and you're left with the top/bottom split view only. On larger widescreen boxes the three column view makes much better sense. Why eliminate an option such as this? Note also the lack of options available to the user. Apple sets the UI and you'll like what they give you or else. I'd like to set Safari to open most new windows an a new tab instead of a new window altogether. Safari give me VERY basic tab controls (do you want to use them or not) and not much else. Sure, I like the look of OS X's UI and I like that they offer configurability in other areas but let's not confuse this with superiority.