Re: [Usability] Reaching Users

[kerberos piestar net]

Quoting Allan Caeg <allancaeg gmail com>:

> How about http://www.ubuntu.com/community ? See the "Contribute"
> section.
>
> Also, Ubuntu has Ayatana. We talk about UX and usability things at
> Ayatana Discussions ( https://launchpad.net/~ayatana ), which is open
> for public. There's also an Ubuntu UX group
> ( https://launchpad.net/~canonical-ux ), which is for the very few
> Canonical UXers.

I tried to contribute to the Ubuntu theme project back in the  
pre-Hardy? days.  I remember seeing a call to arms and thought I'd  
give it a shot and joined the mailing list etc, developed some ideas -  
see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Artwork/Incoming/Hardy/Alternate/Kerberos

The problem was there appeared to be absolutely nobody from Canonical  
who had any form of authority or position on the list.  Ideas were  
posted (lots much better than mine) and commented on, then disappeared  
into the ether.  There was a lot of talent there that could have been  
marshalled and run like a project, but it just turned into the  
traditional idea pit.

After much asking the official line was 'create a working theme, put  
it on gnome-look and it may be considered', which was pretty  
ridiculous considering the original call was for 'designers, artists  
and other non programmers'.

If I was working, or bidding, for a normal client I'd make a design,  
submit it and then be told yes, no or maybe (with reasons why).  I can  
take it.  If my idea had no chance at becoming an official theme  
that's fine - but I want to know why so I could either refine it or  
try something else.  The fact that the best anyone recieved in terms  
of official feedback on a project they were invited to join was  
silence was incredibly disappointing.

I'd feel reluctant to join any further Ubuntu projects as although  
they are started with the best intentions the heart and commitment to  
them doesn't really seem to be there.