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What defines UI / UX design? I am not a KDE user (currently). Well I use it once in a while, but compared to Windows, Mac OS (old and new), Android and iOS, whi

by tete 11y ago

What defines UI / UX design? I am not a KDE user (currently). Well I use it once in a while, but compared to Windows, Mac OS (old and new), Android and iOS, which I all have used the only two things I've seen working well, as in being easy to understand and still efficient to use are KDE and XFCE. Oh and Squeak/Pharo. Both Android and iOS are horrible when it comes to easy of use and know what you are doing in my opinion. Everyone using those systems ends up just using a bunch of patterns of clicking and swiping that they repeat every time, because they don't know which of the things they just did actually causes the effect they wanted. In my opinion UI/UX are huge research fields, which you can see when you look at how the paradigms and "dogmas" from two years ago are now known to be the exact opposite of what you want. I think the only reasons things appear easier these days is that people have been exposed to technical interfaces way longer and more intensely. I am not saying that things don't get better, but I think there are a lot of misunderstandings. Users just get used to certain systems after time. They adapt. They adapt to their CLI-based interface, their Macbook (they need too, else they'd have spent thousands of USD for nothing), to new versions of Windows and do KDE/Plasma. Show a completely new computer user (maybe generation 70+) various interfaces and they will learn each of them efficiently after a while. (yeah, I have done that with older people) I think the main thing stopping people from using KDE and having troubles with it is that it's not the common thing that one usually starts out with. It used to be and people were happy until KDE4, which was something new to learn again. This sounds way more defensive of KDE than I intend to. I am not a fan. I use it when I have to choose between Gnome/Unity or KDE (but would probably choose another option, if there is one), just because it feels way more intuitive and easier to use. I never managed to get along with Gnome, but I think that's all based on what I said above. If you are exposed to one thing you will probably stick to it. However, I am happy about every alternative coming up, because it means there is a chance for them improving status quo.

macspoofing 11y ago
>Both Android and iOS are horrible when it comes to easy of use and know what you are doing in my opinion. I'm going to disagree with you there. I've seen toddlers use the iPad. My 60 year old aunt who never 'got' Windows (even simple things like managing application windows, or figuring out where files go after being downloaded), figured out iPad in about a day.
- vezzy-fnord 11y ago
  I've seen toddlers use standard WIMP desktops, as well (I used to be one). It's not like they will be familiar with much else at that age, anyway. They'll learn whatever they have access to. Same goes for elderly people with no previous computer experience. They have no prior familiarity, so they'll learn whatever is given. Of course they'll have natural preferences for one UI style over another, but many of them use WIMP just fine. It's all a matter of preference and the user's threshold for degree of control. For a person like me, Android is a UX disaster and a regression. It took me half an hour to figure out how to delete a photo from the Gallery as I ended up finally descending into the proper File Manager directory, holding on the filename and selecting the Trash icon. A convoluted and awkward workflow by all means. I agree with the parent poster that Android usage is a cargo cult ritual of swiping and touching, both from my experience with it and observing how other people use it.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    I do wonder if you were using stock Android. I haven't enjoyed using any manufacturer's Android customisations, but I have found the stock Android experience to be far far better.
RivieraKid 11y ago
> Both Android and iOS are horrible when it comes to easy of use and know what you are doing in my opinion. Can you give some examples?
- tete 11y ago
  An example would be multiple gestures for the same widget, which can be confusing, like a checkbox, switch or slider, etc. that brings you into a sub menu when you long-press it. That's what you see in Android's configuration. You look for a setting, but then you have to google for it only to find out how to get to the menu that offers your option. I think the main reason that smartphones still work is that that most people use them in a really reduced way. One could argue for feature hiding, which is a good thing. However hiding I think means "moving it out of the way" and not "make sure nobody finds it". I am not saying that Android and iOS are bad, but more that there is room for improvement. It's good to see new projects doing things a bit different. I always found it weird when people complained about copying. I don't think that's bad, but right now there doesn't seem to be a lot of progress. I like how KDE at least tries to do things a bit different instead of copying without understanding why someone designed their UX a certain way. Not every design works for every project/product. I've also heard a lot good about Windows Phones, even though this caused fewer apps that really integrated. It's great when Microsoft tries new stuff, like in Windows 8. Yeah, it didn't work out, but the UX designes that sometimes are called innovative don't seem to be on par with the amount of research going into other fields of the big OSs. It may also be due to the market settling, but there is still room for improvements, so I hope it's not stagnating. It would be great to see other players. I know different styles make thins harder for people doing cross-platform applications. Sticking to status quo makes things easier, but it also leads to stagnation and it feels like KDE4 and Windows 8 made a lot of people scared of trying out new stuff.

by tete 11y ago

macspoofing 11y ago

>Both Android and iOS are horrible when it comes to easy of use and know what you are doing in my opinion. I'm going to disagree with you there. I've seen toddlers use the iPad. My 60 year old aunt who never 'got' Windows (even simple things like managing application windows, or figuring out where files go after being downloaded), figured out iPad in about a day.

vezzy-fnord 11y ago
I've seen toddlers use standard WIMP desktops, as well (I used to be one). It's not like they will be familiar with much else at that age, anyway. They'll learn whatever they have access to. Same goes for elderly people with no previous computer experience. They have no prior familiarity, so they'll learn whatever is given. Of course they'll have natural preferences for one UI style over another, but many of them use WIMP just fine. It's all a matter of preference and the user's threshold for degree of control. For a person like me, Android is a UX disaster and a regression. It took me half an hour to figure out how to delete a photo from the Gallery as I ended up finally descending into the proper File Manager directory, holding on the filename and selecting the Trash icon. A convoluted and awkward workflow by all means. I agree with the parent poster that Android usage is a cargo cult ritual of swiping and touching, both from my experience with it and observing how other people use it.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  I do wonder if you were using stock Android. I haven't enjoyed using any manufacturer's Android customisations, but I have found the stock Android experience to be far far better.

RivieraKid 11y ago

> Both Android and iOS are horrible when it comes to easy of use and know what you are doing in my opinion. Can you give some examples?

tete 11y ago
An example would be multiple gestures for the same widget, which can be confusing, like a checkbox, switch or slider, etc. that brings you into a sub menu when you long-press it. That's what you see in Android's configuration. You look for a setting, but then you have to google for it only to find out how to get to the menu that offers your option. I think the main reason that smartphones still work is that that most people use them in a really reduced way. One could argue for feature hiding, which is a good thing. However hiding I think means "moving it out of the way" and not "make sure nobody finds it". I am not saying that Android and iOS are bad, but more that there is room for improvement. It's good to see new projects doing things a bit different. I always found it weird when people complained about copying. I don't think that's bad, but right now there doesn't seem to be a lot of progress. I like how KDE at least tries to do things a bit different instead of copying without understanding why someone designed their UX a certain way. Not every design works for every project/product. I've also heard a lot good about Windows Phones, even though this caused fewer apps that really integrated. It's great when Microsoft tries new stuff, like in Windows 8. Yeah, it didn't work out, but the UX designes that sometimes are called innovative don't seem to be on par with the amount of research going into other fields of the big OSs. It may also be due to the market settling, but there is still room for improvements, so I hope it's not stagnating. It would be great to see other players. I know different styles make thins harder for people doing cross-platform applications. Sticking to status quo makes things easier, but it also leads to stagnation and it feels like KDE4 and Windows 8 made a lot of people scared of trying out new stuff.