Usuability [was Re: [gnome-love] New Membership ...]

[Alan Horkan <horkana tcd ie>]

I dont see how this mail relates to the mail you responded to but
anyway...

the usabilty list is where the usuability stuff seems to happen
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/usability/

a lot of stuff seems to happen on the deskto-devel-list
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/desktop-devel-list/
they seem to be people who are getting things done and regularly need to
consider usability issues.

but in my opinion if you want to make a useful contribution to usuability
you should read the HIG (Human Inteface Guidelines), read about usuability
in general (search google for the Inteface hall of shame, it is a must
see) maybe join the usability list but definately join a project that you
like and try as best you can to make actual usability imporvements.

submitting well thought out clearly explained requests in bugzilla
actually works (you just have to justify you opinions and by able to
explain exactly how and why they are better and try not to point out how
much the existing stuff sucks ;).

There are plenty of places where polish can be added it just takes time.
bringing projects them in line with the guidelines (where it makes sense),
consistant layout, sensible naming conventions, good default settings,
lots of sample files and templates, avoiding very deeply nested menu
items, lots of other various bits and peices.  There are lots of little
things that improve usability (i gues i am just talking about consistancey
issues here).

You dont have to be a usability expert to know that it makes sense for
programs to be consistant with the software already out there unless there
is a good reason to do things differently.  (i am definatley not
advocating blindley copying existing programs).

Anyway good luck, remember you cannot please all of the people all of the
people all of the time.  All these are just my opinions, it is great to
see that more and more gnome developers care about usability and listen to
their users.

Sincerely
Alan Horkan

On Wed, 7 Aug 2002, Beno?t Rouits wrote:

> Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 10:44:59 +0200
> From: Beno?t Rouits <brouits free fr>
> To: gnome-love gnome org
> Subject: Re: [gnome-love] New Membership Commitee Members Required
>
> Sorry to appear without true knowledge of the Gnome Fund, but..
> Who in Gnome defines the usability recommendations, the need
> for crucial gnome utilities or else the end-user desktop
> structure ? just for my curiousity..