Ionrock Dot Org

I read on planet gnome this article on usability and GNOME 3.0. I will be totally honest. I did not actually read the whole thing. I skipped most the content because it begin with the stupidity that is the "spatial" metaphor. Research aside, I have a real problem with the concept of a "spatial" desktop because it suggests that we simply want to move our real lives onto our computers. The concept of tying real world actions to actions on a computer doesn't make the computer do any real work. Sure we have to consider the ramifications of handling different drag and drop signals, but past that, we are not able to affectively work with our information and data in more meaningful ways.

The other thing that bothers me about a "spatial" metaphor is that it suggests that there should be a lack of complexity in using computers. I have long been an advocate of promoting learning in interfaces because a user that wants to learn to use application will find it usable in the end. Usability revolves around someone taking the time to "use" the application, so it makes more sense to add the features and details that are the more beneficial to the user. Google for example has been able to promote its one text input primarily because it is an effective way to access the search features user's want. It is not intuitive or discoverable, but because it fills a need, it is a popular tool (to a limited extent of course).

Making smarter software and smarter interfaces is what makes applications more usable. It is one thing to analyze the pattern of how a user interacts with an application, although it is another thing to realize how to exceed user's expecations of an application. I for one want to make sure I make my computer work hard. A pretty interface is nice, but it is not going to change my world.