Re: [Usability] Gnome usability question regarding preference dialog

[Matthew Nuzum <newz bearfruit org>]

On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 5:04 AM, Andreas Nilsson <nisses mail home se> wrote:
> Hi Anirudh!
> I'm not sure how a Apply-button would help you more than instant-apply in
> that situation.
> With instant apply:
> 1. Click a checkbox.
> 2. See the change happen.
> 3. Figure out that "oh, wait, I don't want that".
> 4. Click the checkbox again to unselect the option.
> 5. Close the window.
>
> Without instant apply:
> 1, Click a checkbox.
> 2. Press the apply button.
> 3. See the change happen.
> 4. Figure out that "oh, wait, I don't want that".
> 5. Click the checkbox again to unselect the option.
> 6. Press the apply button.
> 7. Close the window.

How about a slider where you may not have observed the precise value
before? How about a select menu where the user is not familiar with
the options in the menu and just wants to experiment, or a list full
of fonts, many with similar names? How about a password field where
you can't see the value (like the wifi encryption key)?

Have you ever clicked something on accident? I have. For example,
while moving the mouse have my hand slip and accidentally click or
drag. It's especially easy on trackpads that have a "tap to click"
option. "... oops, what did I just click?"

What if you want to compare a set of new changes to the old way? For
example something takes 4 preference changes to try out. You can then
just hit cancel to instantly go back to the way it was before to get a
before/after effect.

Can you imagine if your word processor or graphics program had no undo
button? Those are just documents but if you're changing configuration
settings you could drastically alter the way your computer behaves.

This was discussed on the list prior. See here:
http://www.mail-archive.com/usability gnome org/msg04080.html

I agree with Anirudh. It's my opinion that the HID needs to be updated
and bugs filed against programs that don't adhere to the new standard.
Too many of the existing examples people use as references do it
wrong, don 't do it or do it inconsistently.

-- 
Matthew Nuzum
newz2000 on freenode, skype, linkedin, identi.ca and twitter