[NCLUG] common tasks

[Chad Perrin]

On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 02:45:52PM -0600, Bill Tucker wrote:
> 
> * what about find a file?
> * open mouse settings

Interesting choices.


> 
> * how can you do 'the set' of tasks using only the mouse?
> * how can you do 'the set' of tasks using only the keyboard?

I'm not sure these are exactly appropriate for a shootout.  How heavily
one can use either mouse or keyboard when accomplishing particular tasks
is affected by the GUI environment software one uses, of course, but one
often chooses GUI environment software to a significant extent because of
how heavily one might wish to use keyboard or mouse.  It's a bit like
asking for a comparison of sandals and galoshes for general use, then
asking for comparison criteria to include which is more likely to be more
comfortable on a warm day, and which is more likely to keep rain off your
feet.

I think, instead, it's probably a good idea to assume that mouse or
keyboard usage is inherent in the GUI environment selection, and test for
tasks that people are likely to want to accomplish in all relevant types
of GUI environments, rather than testing for (as an intentionally extreme
example) whether Android's default interface is the best option for a
computer that comes with no mouse or touchscreen.


> 
> * how can you hide current window;  hide current app?

As long as the test in question is assumed to conform to the usage
paradigm of the GUI environment in question, I say go for it, though I'm
not sure that will provide any particular sense of one of them being
better or worse than another -- and thus, I'm not sure it is exactly part
of "shootout" criteria.

-- 
Chad Perrin [ original content licensed OWL: http://owl.apotheon.org ]
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 196 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.nclug.org/pipermail/nclug/attachments/20110526/99203f2b/attachment.pgp>