Re: [Usability]Controls, widgets, and UI learning.

[Sunnanvind Fenderson <sunnanvind fenderson com>]

Daniel F Moisset <dmoisset arnet com ar> writes:
> If the choice is made to teach the user about it: If it's something to
> mention lightly, in one or two places in the documentation when it's
> clear from context and from figures what are you talking about,
> "controlls" is right. If not (i.e., you have to talk a lot about it, and
> in the UI where you cannot afford to have figures and explanations), I
> believe "widget" is better,

The same word should be used throughout, though. (Maybe you meant that.)

> because: a) you will explain it in several
> places anyway b) the user will have to learn it anyway. In that case, a
> precise term beats a vague term any day.

Change the word "will" to "may" and I agree completely.

> The only point there for
> controls, is that Windows users (and Mac?) already know what a "control"
> is.

My dad's used OS/2, Win 3.11 and win 9x, but I don't think he know's
what "control" is. He just hasn't ventured that far into the OS'es.

Only some of the users will need a word for widgets, but there is a
need for the word.