obso1337.org

Although I didn’t get around to reviewing all of the KDE User Research Profiles this weekend, I did spend some time collecting and rewriting some notes I had for the KDE4 HIG and doing an expert review on KNetworkManager 0.7.

KNetworkManager had a few UI changes as well as some old usability problems. The expert review contains comments about these issues, how to fix them, some mockups of my recommendations and other UI changes I think will improve KNetworkManager. None of the recommendations involved a huge level of redesign, but I’m always unsure of what the coding level of effort is for things like this. Surprisingly I didn’t know what every option in the menu did, and so I made some assumptions while doing the review (noted in the document). Comments and questions are welcome.

Expert Review of KNetworkManager 0.7 (PDF 867KB), July 20 2008

seele :: Jul.20.2008 :: General, KDE/Kubuntu, Usability :: 37 Comments »

• First off, I need to catch up on my day job work so I can get back to KDE. I don’t know what I was thinking taking 4 weeks vacation this summer. I feel like as soon as I catch up, I’m gone again, only to come back and play catchup again.
• One of my goals for the next week (probably this weekend with the way things are going) is to review all of the KDE User Research Profiles and provide feedback to the projects. Afterwards, it will be back to recruiting!
• I need to begin moving some of the KDE4 HIG content the SoU interns have been writing to techbase. Most of their work has been documenting patterns for common UI elements such as list edits and rich information lists. Additionally, they’ve also been filling in guidelines for lower-level widgets such as radio buttons, or capitalization rules.
• More system setting modules need reviewed for guideline compliance and good UI practices. Most modules have only a few tweaks for HIG compliance because their UIs are good. Unfortunately there are a few modules that need more than just tweaking and will require some major redesign. The other problem is finding a developer to fix them.
• KGrubEditor is looking good and hopefully will be ready for a first release soon.
• There are a few other apps on my list to work on for Ibex, but I don’t think they are ready for review yet.
• KDE 4.1 RC1 is out. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to review between now and the release, but it’s on my list
• MD Loco usability testing has been postponed because we couldn’t secure a location for the date we were planning for and some other logistics. Hopefully we will be able to reschedule for August.
• Finally, I need to continue working on my presentation about the KDE Usability Project for Akademy. There is also some workshop planning to do as well.

seele :: Jul.16.2008 :: General, KDE/Kubuntu, Usability :: 5 Comments »

Yes! I get a free beer thanks to Kévin. I will be talking about the Past, Present, and Future of the KDE Usability Project at Akademy this year. (This reminds me to ping Ellen about the unfinished workshop proposal..)

seele :: Jun.27.2008 :: General, KDE/Kubuntu, Usability :: No Comments »

More examples for why we shouldn´t be looking towards Windows for examples of ¨good usability¨. It seems like on his way out of Microsoft, Bill Gates had a few things to say on Windows usability.

This is a pretty frequent scenario on how usability gets done in a company. Someone high up can´t find something, gets frustrated, and approves a huge pile of usability funding to fix his problem. Several of my recent clients have come to me because of a similar ¨event¨. I can´t really complain since they pay my bills, but it makes me feel good when there are open source projects out there actively trying to improve usability before users complain.

seele :: Jun.25.2008 :: General, Humor, Open Source, Usability :: 14 Comments »

I will be giving a talk about Usability and Kubuntu during the Kubuntu Tutorials Day on Sunday June 15, 2008 at 20:00UTC (16:00EST). I have to admit all the credit for the catchy talk title (Usability — is it just about removing options) goes to Jonathan.

seele :: Jun.13.2008 :: Asides, KDE/Kubuntu, Usability :: Comments Off