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> provide all the information a power user could use > not overwhelm beginners/new users This isn’t the right distinction, IMO. I’m decisively a “power user”,

> provide all the information a power user could use > not overwhelm beginners/new users This isn’t the right distinction, IMO. I’m decisively a “power user”, but I hate high-density UI for the same reason I don’t leave all my belongings out in the open: it’s cluttered. Clutter can be stressful and tiring.

diggan 3y ago
Yeah, maybe it's not perfect, nor am I saying there aren't exceptions. I guess a good example is Bloomberg Terminal vs whatever investments interface your bank gives you. The latter typically follows the modern design standards of lots of spacing everywhere, using easier to understand terminology and such, while the Bloomberg Terminal is almost straight opposite, cram as much information in as possible, everything available via keyboard shortcuts, industry terms everywhere, favoring quick action and assuming the user mostly knows what they're doing. Both products are built with two different users in mind. I guess the point I was trying to make in the parent comment is that trouble comes when you don't explicitly aim for one of them. Also, clutter/high-density UI isn't the only distinction between the two extremes, also the amount of power the user gets, how many safety features there are, how easy things can be found, how things are explained and more, is also impacted by this.
- Yizahi 3y ago
  One important thing to remember - there are power user tools which those user prefer to use and like, and there are power user tools which are simply the only option which is available. A good test may be - can you take a power user tool, slightly but meaningfully improve it and then claim a market share with it? In the case of a Bloomberg terminal- you probably can't, because the value proposition is not the UI or keybinds or actions, but the content and the corporate sources and support behind it.
- anon373839 3y ago
  Yeah, I neglected to mention that there are necessary compromises, and Bloomberg Terminal is a great example. I’m not sure that product could serve its users’ needs without being dense and cluttered.

diggan 3y ago

Yeah, maybe it's not perfect, nor am I saying there aren't exceptions. I guess a good example is Bloomberg Terminal vs whatever investments interface your bank gives you. The latter typically follows the modern design standards of lots of spacing everywhere, using easier to understand terminology and such, while the Bloomberg Terminal is almost straight opposite, cram as much information in as possible, everything available via keyboard shortcuts, industry terms everywhere, favoring quick action and assuming the user mostly knows what they're doing. Both products are built with two different users in mind. I guess the point I was trying to make in the parent comment is that trouble comes when you don't explicitly aim for one of them. Also, clutter/high-density UI isn't the only distinction between the two extremes, also the amount of power the user gets, how many safety features there are, how easy things can be found, how things are explained and more, is also impacted by this.

Yizahi 3y ago
One important thing to remember - there are power user tools which those user prefer to use and like, and there are power user tools which are simply the only option which is available. A good test may be - can you take a power user tool, slightly but meaningfully improve it and then claim a market share with it? In the case of a Bloomberg terminal- you probably can't, because the value proposition is not the UI or keybinds or actions, but the content and the corporate sources and support behind it.
anon373839 3y ago
Yeah, I neglected to mention that there are necessary compromises, and Bloomberg Terminal is a great example. I’m not sure that product could serve its users’ needs without being dense and cluttered.