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I agree, and I think that a big part of the problem is that most of the folder hierarchy that users have to deal with on normal computers, is dedicated to thing
by astine 16y ago
I agree, and I think that a big part of the problem is that most of the folder hierarchy that users have to deal with on normal computers, is dedicated to things that have nothing to do with their work. The user's photo collection, documents, and entire operating system all share the same directory tree. It's true that there are conventions to where certain files are placed, and operating systems often take steps to hide stuff that users shouldn't have to deal with, but these steps are inconsistent and the conventions aren't enforced. While my photo viewer might look in My Documents\Images for photos, my photo editor might look in My Documents\editor workspace. A scanner might use yet another directory entirely. All these programs will drop a user into it's directory of choice, and a user looking for a file that they used elsewhere, will not know that they are in a different directory. Someone not familiar with the file system could easily get disoriented by this.
- jodrellblank 16y agoI don't think this needs to be anymore of a problem than working in an office building which has rooms and companies that are nothing to do with your work. You don't continually go into the janitor's store room every time you need the toilet, just in case it might be there. You don't go to the toilet everyday cursing the existence of the nearby janitor's store room for making things complicated for you. You maybe go in there once, then realise it's not relevant, and put it out of your mind. You never even venture to the mail sorting office on the third floor or the canteen kitchens or the legal department if you have no reason to.
- astine 16y agoIt's not quite like that. If you worked in a large office building, and went to the same floor every day, you'd probably learn just enough of the building to get to work every day and no more. I one were to place you randomly in the build ing somewhere you would likely be lost until you found some kind of marker or floor map. Your average filesystem and computer user are like that: if images (or example) could be expected to always be in the same part of the filesystem, most users would have no trouble finding the one they want. But different applications use different default directories for the same things. This is like being forced to use a different entrance to a building depending on whether you plan to do paperwork or programming. To make matters worse, the floor plan and room numbers change periodically due to events of which you may or may not be aware.