OS Attack » Interface Design

What do you want in your shell? KDE Brainstorm is listening!

Paul Foty — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:38:10 +0000

What is the best way to design an interface and make sure it is what your customers want? You could always follow the Apple or Microsoft method and just force feed it to consumers, but why not just ask consumers what they want?

KDE is doing just that and has started KDE Brainstorm, a forum where users can give input on things they would like to see implemented or changed. Using user feedback to improve an operating system is not new but users frequently do not know why their request was never implemented. With a more transparent format such as forums it allows all those involved to really understand the reasoning’s behind decisions.

KDE Brainstorm was just releasesd March 20th and has been very succesful at engaging users. Over 200 ideas have been submitted so far and as the news gets out about it the rate of feedback is increasing.

Check It Out> KDE Brainstorm via OSTATIC, Download Kubuntu

History of operating system interface design

Paul Foty — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:40:41 +0000

The history of operating systems is a pretty amazing one especially when you can see many of them together and compare them. Webdesigner Depot has an excellent article on the history of OS interface design showing the various GUI based operating systems.

One thing that is extremely evident when looking at the various designs is that IRIX 3 was way ahead of it’s time. The closest OS in regards to interface is Windows 95 which was released 9 years after IRIX 3. The other operating systems that were released both before and after for several years are really lacking in graphical appeal and look like they were drawn on an etch-a-sketch.

IRIX 3 was based on Unix with BSD extensions and was designed for their workstations and servers. Looking at later versions it appears as if the design stayed the same. It’s too bad that the OS didn’t keep progressing and get released to a larger user base.

Make sure you check out Webdesigner Depot’s full post so you can appreciate where we have come from.

Check It Out> Webdesigner Depot’s full post via CrunchGear

The logic behind the honeycomb is good

Paul Foty — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:45:53 +0000

I have to admit that I am not a fan of Windows Mobile and I really dislike the honeycomb interface. Today however Long Zheng has an excellent post explaining why it is actually a very efficient interface and an intelligent design. Microsoft does spend a lot of money on research to try and find the best way to do things but somehow they just can’t appease the critics.

The round-ish design of the Honeycomb menu does make sense as it allows them to display 10 menu items instead of 9 even if 2 of them are only partially shown. Peoples fingers are round (last I checked) and it is likely that it makes it easier for the user to select a button. It still doesn’t help when the overall device is sluggish and the devices are not easy to use.

Check It Out> istartedsomething via wmpoweruser