Re: Examples of good UI

Bo <bo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in news:1188482077.006924.131630
@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com:

When we drive, we can actually get into an aware but hypnotic sort of
state, because of the sameness of driving the same route everyday.
That sometimes causes problems, but it happens to a lot of people, if
not everyone. I think it may happen to me in some forms of
constructions in SolidWorks, though I can't prove it. If it happens
as I think, the interface and my repetitive tasks are well linked to
allow these simple things to proceed without as much effort or thought
in just "cruising" through routine items.

I get that all the time. When I'm in the groove with a design, I rarely
think at all about the tools. Everything just flows. However, I used to
do this with AutoCAD and MDT, mostly using the CLI. So, I think we can
conclude that an experienced user can get in the zone with any reasonably
consistent interface, regardless of perceived efficiency. (Perceived
efficiency: I sometimes miss the command line.)

Given that when we are doing sketches, we are not needing menus or
toolbars much, is it possible or desirable to minimize the tool bars
to give more room to sketch? Then when a key is hit or cursor heads
toward a screen edge the toolbar can expand to usable width as opposed
to hogging real estate ALL THE TIME.

I like this idea of menus that automatically expand. Some of the new pop-
ups in 2008 are behaving something like this. This would be a great way
to maximize graphics area.

One of the utilities I use is called MouseImp. It enhances scrolling
behavior, but what important to this discussion is that it can
automatically roll a window into "window shade mode" when the pointer is
not over the window. So, to use the window, move the pointer over the
window and it expands. This used to work on floating toolbaars too.
(something broke this several releases ago.) I used to stack rolled up
toolbars, then mouse over them until the correct toolbar was unrolled. In
concept, this wasn't much different from the command manager, except you
activated the desired toolbar by rolling over it. It was a quick way to
access command buttons, and very compact on screen. And it didn't waste
horizontal space like the command manager.

I just tried this again for the first time in years, and it's working
again! Time to go crush my toolbars...
.

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