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Could you explain that? Software that tries to interpret what users are doing and then tries to adapt to itself is on a slippery slope. The first steps in that
by funcDropShadow 5y ago
Could you explain that? Software that tries to interpret what users are doing and then tries to adapt to itself is on a slippery slope. The first steps in that direction, like a history of visited sites, or recently edited files menu are uncontroversial. But when it moves menu entries around to optimize for assumed workflow of the user, that user gets infuriated very fast.
Software that I cannot adapt to my needs is like an interactive tv. Ultimately I have no control over what is happening. Software that I can adapt to my needs puts the personal in Personal Computer.
- paulryanrogers 5y agoDo you mean "like [non-] interactive TV"?
- funcDropShadow 5y agoyes
- larsrc 5y agoSimple example: I used to be the maintainer of Dia, a diagramming program. It remembers what colours, line width, dash style etc you've last used, so you don't have to keep setting that. This can drastically reduce the number of steps needed per desired action, and reduces frustration, but it would not be great in a separate generic settings windows. Thinking of my users (including myself) as goldfish is useful: if you've just done a thing, it's likely you'll do it again.
- funcDropShadow 5y agoAgreed. That is similar to my example regarding a history of visited sites. And features like that a very helpful in my opinion.