Re: [Usability] Close buttons on instant-apply dialogs

[George <jirka 5z com>]

On Thu, Jan 03, 2002 at 04:17:01AM -0600, Gregory Merchan wrote:
> > Again we see that only those users who've read the CUA know that it's a
> > 'utility window'.  The rest of the world seems to be convinced that it's a
> > dialog.  Now whoa re we designing the interface for.  CUA readers, or users?
> 
> Are we going to stop using structures, enumerations, queues, hashes, sockets,
> CORBA, XML, and all the other things that we need to make the system because
> the users don't know about them?  We're talking about interface design here
> and there are some language and standards that are used in talking about that,
> just as there are the same in code development.

Huh?  We are talking about implementation detail vs. user mental model.  User
mental model that I (and i'd say quite a few others by the mails in this
thread) have is that an instant apply window is a dialog.  If you wish to
call it a 'utility window' that is your implementation detail.  What is
important is how the user treats it.

Example:
A user treats a database as a list of things that can be searched.  Why
should the user care that it is a bunch of hashes.  In fact internally
it could be implemented in a number of ways.  None of which should
really be exposed to the user.

You are saying the user must know that an instant apply window is a 'utility
window' and not a 'dialog'.  That is akin to making sure that the user knows
that your database is implemented as a linked list rather then as a hash, and
making the interface different to show this difference.

> The user may not be running a window manager at all, so should we add a
> complete frame to every window?
>
> The user's window manager may do many things to interfere with the operation
> of programs, so should we make all windows use override redirection and
> grab the server while focused to prevent the window manager from disabling
> the application by placing it in some inaccessible part of the screen or 
> stealing its keybindings?

You are using the slippery slope fallacy.  This does not support your claim
nor disprove mine.

George

-- 
George <jirka 5z com>
   Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.
                       -- Sir Winston Churchill