On Fri, 2007-01-05 at 19:14 +0000, Anne Wilson wrote: > On Friday 05 January 2007 18:32, Scott van Looy wrote: > > > > This is how software *should* be developed. Programmers all too frequently > > forget that they are servicing the user, not telling them what to do. > > > Absolutely true. But let's not forget that if you were the first tester and I > was the second they would probably see entirely different actions and > reactions. Human differences can't be ignored, and to expect any programmer > to know what is perfect for every user is beyond all sense and reason. There's also the difference between the first-time testing experience and your acquired tastes after familiarity sets in. These are much like the differences you want in tutorials vs. reference manuals. After you have been through a tutorial you probably never want to see it again. Software is often designed to be attractive to first-time users and perhaps has to be, but once you have learned it's tricks and it has learned your preferences it should adapt to stay more out of the way. -- Les Mikesell lesmikesell@xxxxxxxxx
