There has been an interesting posting on Ok-Cancel…about the “end of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)??”…also you will find ‘Usability Gurus’ talking about this amazing idea used in ‘Outlook 12’...
“Ok…so?? This is same as ‘Previews’ we used to see…” so what the whole fuss about??? I have been using softwares like ‘Photoshop CS’ and ‘3D Studio Max’ and I’m not excited about this ‘WYGIWYS’ (what you get is what you see) because these software are doing this for quite some time…
The question is how far can this paradigm go…its easy to show commands like “Bold”, “italics” or (filters as in Photoshop)…what about “Save”, how about “Send Message”, how about “Inserting an Image”…command like “Break”…how to show a process??? It can show the end result??? How to use it when VISUALLY nothing changes – Export, Save, Print, Zoom…how will we show DELETE in preview??? So can we say WYSIWYG is OUT???? I don’t think so…
But a mix of BOTH…well I must admit…‘very interesting’… TO put it metaphorically design is like a game of ‘Quake’…there are lots of ‘guns’…where every gun has its own specialty…so when an enemy comes…one has to decide what gun is effective to tackle that enemy…it’s the same in UI…every design issue has a gun…you have to decide the right gun and shoot the problem…but saying a ‘Rocket launcher’ is better than a ‘Shot gun’ is not fair…as both solve different issues… :)
To add the great “Ribbon” tool bar…why can I have commands on my work space??? Why do I have to go on top header to click a tool…why can’t I have the tool bar a Right Click (right next to the place in am typing or working???)
You may find my ideas foolish or childish….but that’s ok… :)
Have a good day…
2 comments:
well, my question is, Y DO U NEED A PREVIEW WHEN NOTHING CHANGES VISUALLY?
the whole idea of PREVIEW, as it applies to any software app right now, is
only to see how ur document will "appear" after u do those changes.Because even
the previous paradigm of WYSIWYG also applies only to such situations where a
user visually manipulates his document. the ques to be asked is whether the
paradigm applies to all situations whr IT MATTERS. what sense does it make to
"preview' "save" or "send message"? the older paradigm also did not as such apply
to these commands....so it would be unfruitful to look at the newer one in the light of
them either..
further, the issue of Ribbon...
i dont think the idea of a toolbar at right click is a suitable one. Because it would put
an unnecessary cognitive load on the user to 'remember' what all he can do with his
document or graphic etc... the fact that the toolbar is always visually present in
front of me means that i know (without having to remember) what all options i have of
manipulating my document. of course, the idea tht the ribbon remains near my work space
is a good one (just like movable toolbars of photoshop), but i m not 100% sure whether
the ribbon has this capability or not....and if it does not have it..then i think it
would be a good idea to incorporate it.
The blog does not question the useful lness of the WYGIWYS...but it says that its not a new Interaction... it has been used in the past... and 'used where it mattered'...Its just an intellegent use not a NEW PARADIGM...
As far as commands in right click is concerned...this is very effectively used by 3D Studio Max...and its very useful...
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