linuxaudio.org

2011/8/7 Fons Adriaensen :

quoted text
> On Sun, Aug 07, 2011 at 06:09:16PM +0800, Simon Wise wrote:

>

>> 1/ Allow someone opening up an application for the first time to click

>> around and discover what it might be able to do before they start looking

>> at any manuals.

>>

>> 2/ Allow someone who uses it everyday to do the things they do frequently

>> as quickly and ergonomically as possible, assuming they have already

>> spent some time learning the system.

>>

>>

>> The first helps sales, and without it many people won't look further

>

> Indeed. But so what ? If a potential user doesn't look further then

> (s)he is probably just browsing to kill time and boredom, and doesn't

> need the application at all. What can I, as a developer, expect from

> such a 'user' ? Why should I even spend a second of my time to please

> anyone who is not motivated at all ?

>

Hm.
Depending on existing knowledge, the amount of

time required to understand an application can largely vary.

I wouldn't call an un-experienced unmotivated.
Usability (better: user-friendlyness ) is about supporting the learning process.
About 12 years ago, I've been someone who did a hardware-reset,

in order to quit vi (text-editor).

That tool didn't give a hint how to use, nor how to quit it.

Changing that would have been simple and had had no influence on functionality.
I think this applies to many applications:

You can do 2/ but still support a new user getting there,

without too much hassle.
--

E.R.

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