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4) Modern OS's do a terrible job at making folders understandable, because there are drive directories, often hidden, and then multiple user folders, and their
by pasbesoin 14y ago
4) Modern OS's do a terrible job at making folders understandable, because there are drive directories, often hidden, and then multiple user folders, and their Documents directories, and then things outside their Documents directories (like Desktop, Downloads, etc.), and fake folders that show the content of multiple other folders, etc.
This is a particularly salient point -- in further particular:
fake folders that show the content of multiple other folders
I'll add to that, widgets that are not intuitive and/or don't clearly express the hierarchy.
My parents understand organization just fine. But then they encounter this interface that keeps breaking the basic rules and UI of same. They stop trusting the machine and themselves to interpret what it is presenting and doing.
This is bad UI.
- ThomPete 14y agoThere is nothing that is intuitive unless it's learned.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- Retric 14y agoConsistency + Simplicity = Intuitive
- ThomPete 14y agoNot at all. Something can be very complex even abstract and still be intuitive. It's all about understanding the context.
- Retric 14y agoI never said abstract was an issue. But, do you have a counter example that is inconsistent and complex and still intuitive without training? Because, it sounds like what your describing is what happens after someone has learned a system and not how long it takes them to learn it.
- ThomPete 14y agoLet's make sure we are having the same discussion here. I am saying that just because you understand the concept of directories in the real world does not mean that you can use that understanding in the digital world. This is because the understanding the conceptual part is only a very very very small part of operating a computer. There are many other things such as operating a machine, understanding moving around with a mouse, which is really a pointer on the screen (talk about decoy for understanding) then understanding clicking, double clicking, applications, documents, file structure, expanding collapsing and so on. The list of skills you have to do to operate within the metaphor have absolutely nothing to do with you real life understanding of directories. This is the problem. The conceptual/intellectual understanding does not lead to actual intutition in this other field cause it has nothing to do with directories and folders in real life. It's like being dropped into the middle of the african savannah. Even though you conceptually understand the idea of lions, trees, the sun, earth, elephants etc. does not mean that you know how to get around or even how to survive. You have no experience in the environment and thus you can't use your understanding of getting around New York to get around here too.
- dredmorbius 14y agoThe only truly intuitive interface is the nipple. Everything else sucks.
- ThomPete 14y agoYeah but that is also hardwired into us and not part of some intellectual process. So that's kind of cheating :)