Common Usability Terms: pt. VI: the Dock
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 18th Nov 2007 15:46 UTC
Graphics, User Interfaces This is the sixth article in a series on common usability and graphical user interface related terms [part I | part II | part III | part IV | part V]. 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 VI, we focus on the dock.
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PowerMacX
Member since:
2005-11-06

"The task-bar on Windows 95 and on Windows 98 had the same basic function as the OSX dock, and both Windows OSs were used by millions."

Not at all! You are missing the entire point. There are:
1. Launchers
2. Task bars
2. Docks

And they are all different concepts. In windows you have a "quick launch" in addition to the taskbar and that allows you to launch things, but the task bar itself only allows switching between apps. Also, the quick launch bar in Windows behaves in a completely different way than a Dock, in that clicking an icon launches an app but clicking it again launches another instance of the same app, whereas on a dock it *switches* to that app if there is an already running instance.

So:
- In a launcher, clicking an app icon opens an instance
- In a task bar, only running apps appear and clicking on a button switches to the selected app
- In a Dock, clicking an app icon switches to the selected app OR launches it if it isn't already running.

Reply Parent Score: 2

phoenix Member since:
2005-07-11

Where would you put Kicker, in that it has a quick launch area, a taskbar area, can hold icons for programs, has a systray area, has a clock, has a trash can, and can take a hold shwack of other plugins including things like a desktop switcher. ;)

Reply Parent Score: 2