Common Usability Terms: pt. V: Modes
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 11th Nov 2007 15:52 UTC
Graphics, User Interfaces This is the fifth article in a series on common usability and graphical user interface related terms [part I | part II | part III | part IV]. On the internet, and especially in forum discussions like we all have here on OSNews, it is almost certain that in any given discussion, someone will most likely bring up usability and GUI related terms - things like spatial memory, widgets, consistency, Fitts' Law, and more. The aim of this series is to explain these terms, learn something about their origins, and finally rate their importance in the field of usability and (graphical) user interface design. In part V, we focus on modes.
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Modes Good, Drag'n'Drop Bad
by zlynx on Sun 11th Nov 2007 19:18 UTC
zlynx
Member since:
2005-07-20

I have to say that if Drag and Drop is an example of a good mode-less interface, then I am against it. Drag and drop is the cause of countless errors. When an inexperienced computer user is doing file manipulation, I have seen files disappear into unknown folders, requiring a call to the Help Desk to get them back.

I myself have dropped files into the wrong folders, missed the Trash icon and dropped on the desktop, dropped them into the launcher instead of onto the program icon, etc, etc.

It is far, far easier to select your files, Cut or Copy, move to the correct window and Paste.

Of course, I also avoid Emacs and use Vim.

Reply Score: 7

Thom_Holwerda Member since:
2005-06-29

I have to say that if Drag and Drop is an example of a good mode-less interface, then I am against it. Drag and drop is the cause of countless errors. When an inexperienced computer user is doing file manipulation, I have seen files disappear into unknown folders, requiring a call to the Help Desk to get them back.


This is more a limitation of the mouse and the software that powers it than it is of the concept itself. The concept itself is fairly easy to understand, and adds a good amount of physical quality to object in a computer user interface.

And that physical thing is what you'll be hearing a lot about from me.

Reply Parent Score: 1

RE: Modes Good, Drag'n'Drop Bad
by Doc Pain on Sun 11th Nov 2007 20:21 in reply to "Modes Good, Drag'n'Drop Bad"
Doc Pain Member since:
2006-10-08

"It is far, far easier to select your files, Cut or Copy, move to the correct window and Paste. "

And it's lots more far easier to have a two column window (instead of two separated ones) for this kind of action: copying and moving are "source target actions". From my (admittedly very individual) point of view it's not a good idea to use the edit buffer (^C/^X, ^V) to manipulate things like files. Applications like the Midnight Commander with its clear design (source column, target column, selection not only with the mouse, also depending on pattern matches, action determined by function key) are more appealing to me. But as I said, that's a standpoint depending on experience and comfortability.

Reply Parent Score: 3

bassbeast Member since:
2007-11-11

If you like the old midnight commander, you should really try Xplorer2 Lite. Completely free,and nearly all of the old commander shortcuts work! I replaced Explorer with Xplorer2 Lite and Astonshell for Windows shell and managed to lower my desktop resources from 76Mb down to just 5Mb while getting a more functional system out of the deal.

Reply Parent Score: 1

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