Awhuxlb.124
net.unix-wizards
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!harpo!whuxlb!ech
Tue Jan 12 23:32:13 1982
Reply to WHAT I WANT (Bartels)
- Give me a couple of days. I am not sure I am comfortable being classified
as an 'a', but I sure have no problems working with what you describe
as 'b's: you see, I COLLABORATE with the Human Factors folks in trying
to design, build, and document user-friendly operations systems for
the phone company. I will try to come up with a set of 'guidelines'
for you in what kind of experiments are possible in assessing user
interfaces.
- Please recognize that I am NOT an expert at measuring the effectiveness/
user-friendliness/etc. of user interfaces; that's why I am asking
for time.
- Please ask YOURSELF whether you really believe that there is anything
better (i.e. more quantitative, more rational) than your 'gut
feel' about an interface. I am not trying to bait you here, that
is a real question. If user interfaces are, in your estimation,
simply a matter of taste which defy objective measurement, then
let's agree that this is a religious argument and end it right here.
Otherwise, let's try to keep the flame burning lower on both sides
of the discussion.
- Sorry for what was (apparently) excessive sarcasm in my previous epistle.
To repeat my problem in less incendiary terms, I will again
stipulate that the UNIX interface is inhospitable to many people,
including me at times. The question is how to modify that inter-
face, or better yet provide an alternative, which better suits
another class of people. That is not easy, and moreover it is
likely to attract people who will criticize it without providing
an alternative. Again, I am not trying to bait you: just asking
you to recognize that NO interface will serve EVERYBODY well, and
those ill-served are likely to feel some hostility toward those
well-served. To that end, the first thing you have to do is
DEFINE the class of people that you wish to serve better, and then
propose some measures that allow you to measure your success at
serving them.
- Finally, that whatever its faults, UNIX provides tremendous flexibility
for tailoring an environment. It may be that you have to be a
type 'a' (whatever that is! context-dependent, you know!) to
utilize that flexibility, but please recognize that there are
plenty of type 'a's around who will be pleased as punch to assist
the effort to do better. A couple of good suggestions have already
appeared in this forum, and I would like to see (and will propose)
more. T
Keep the faith,
=Ned Horvath=
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