7 Sep
2007
7 Sep
'07
8:11 p.m.
On Friday 07 September 2007 14:44, Mr Ian Primus wrote:
--- Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Indeed. Seems to me I remember Ted Nelson talking about this very issue, way
back in 1974!
On 7 Sep 2007 at 12:22, Tim Shoppa wrote:
Agreed. In fact, I'm pretty sure that most people (people here, especially)
will agree that user interfaces on devices of all kinds has gone downhill. I think older calculators actually do a better
job
than many modern calculators.
Same goes for a lot of things nowadays. Auto radios--while a
passenger in a friend's new car, I asked how I would tune to a
certain local FM station. His answer? "I don't know--I haven't
figured out how to work the thing yet".
I liked the old auto radios--two knobs; one for volume, the other for
tuning and a bunch of preset buttons in the middle. Pull to set, push
to switch. Clearly labeled and obvious buttons and controls are a
thing of the past.
Everything now needs to be an aesthetic design element. Cars, calculators,
hi-fi equipment, it's all turned to this mess.
Worse yet, in those cases where the user interface is entirely done in
software ("skins") it's difficult to find something without all that crap
and
that gives a basic user interface!
I wonder just what happened. All-encompassing function
knobs, menus
for Bass and Treble, confusing symbols, unlabeled indicator lamps - it's a
mess. Gone is the simplicity of a switch labeled "HEADLIGHTS", replaced with
a confusing array of symbols on a knob.
I am getting SO tired of symbols on stuff -- just tell me WTF that does!
While they were at it, designers decided that it would
be a good idea for
power indicators to light up when something is off, and go out when it's on.
Or how about a stereo with an animated "attract mode" when off?
Ick.
I could go on and on, but I'm sure everyone gets
the point. There was a time
when you could walk up to any radio/hi-fi/television/car and instantly be
able to operate it. Not anymore. But - remember - all these craptacular
interfaces are cheaper to build, think of that. Yay.
Indeed they are. And things like quality switches and pots are getting ever
harder to find.
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin