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I wonder how something as utilitarian as a volume control or battery status icon could disturb or distract someone. Sure for a minimal aesthetic it could be con
by andrewtj 17y ago
I wonder how something as utilitarian as a volume control or battery status icon could disturb or distract someone. Sure for a minimal aesthetic it could be considered superfluous, but a distraction? Seems a bit neurotic to me.
- gwern 17y agoIt's something for the eye to focus on and the mind to be aware of, something to think about, remember, and compare to previous memories, to examine for changes. Imagine how distracting the shell would be if every command finished with a bell and 'Command completed!', or if there were a menu bar listing every possible command (or even just a subset), or if your room was wallpapered in lorem ipsum. Unless the volume actually changes, or you specifically want to mess with it, it being there at all is an issue.
- andrewtj 17y agoNot sure I follow — are you suggesting it's distracting at a subconscious level? I find it a stretch to say any of the examples you mention are analogous to small static monotone icons in the corner of a screen; they no more distract me than the 'Eject' key on the keyboard does.
- aaronblohowiak 17y agohttp://www.scribd.com/doc/13038258/Auditory-visual-and-physical-distractions-in-the-workplace http://www.scribd.com/doc/13038258/Auditory-visual-and-physi...
- abefortas 17y agoI agree. I get rid of that stuff, but only to conserve screen real estate.