User:Laurier Rochon/readingnotes/antimacinterface
The Anti-Mac Interface > Don Gentner and Jakob Nielson
This text's aim is not to directly criticize the Mac's GUI, but rather act as a starting point for the future generations of interfaces required for more experienced users.
A few key points :
- The Mac was designed under a set a constraints :
- Must be easy to understand for new users
- Targeted at a narrow range of applications
- Low computational resources
- Supported by low interaction from user <-> computer
- Standalone machine, not networked
- How do these restraints limit HCI?
- The text proposes we should stop trying to imitate existing metaphors, since they are limiting us in their functionality.
- Present challenges
- Direct manipulation (can be better with scripts)
- Consistency (things should look similar, but not the same)
- WYSIWYG (vs WYSIATI)
- User control (can be better if we delegate some to the computer)
- Feedback and dialog (can be better with trust)
- Forgiveness (can be better with extended memory)
- Perceived stability (can be better with diversity)
- Aesthetic integrity (can be better with complexity in design)
- Modelessness (users should be able to do anything at any time)
- Upgrades from the Anti-Mac interface
- Central role of language
- Richer internal representation of objects
- More expressive interface
- Expert users
- Shared control
"The Anti-Mac principles outlined here are optimized for the category of users and data that we believe will be dominant in he future: people with extensive computer experience who want to manipulate huge numbers of complex information objects while being connected to a network shared by immense numbers of other users and computers."
Good call!