norman@d.cs.okstate.edu (Graham Norman Perc) (06/01/90)
From article <9541@tank.uchicago.edu>, by gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu: > In article <15006@dime.cs.umass.edu>, roskill@cs.umass.edu writes... > [...] >> >>I know a lot of mac companies are very interested in porting to Windows >>3.0 because of the tremendous installed base. I understand that Microsoft >>already has Word (almost identical to the mac) up and running. > > Microsoft. Microsoft. Hmmm, where have I heard that name before? > > Seriously, not the best example of a Mac company going over to Windows. Yea. Word/Mac seems to already be feeling the effects of Windows. Have you ever wondered where Microsoft got the funky Pop-Up menus you see in Word? Take a look at Windows. Honestly, I wish Microsoft would tow the Mac interface line when designing Mac applications; I don't care what their Windows apps look like. Now for a related question: Does Microsoft employ human factors engineers? I'm not flaming--just curious. We all know that Apple spends a _lot_ of money on controlled experiments to test various human interface (HI) ideas with real users of various degrees of experience; so when their HI guide- lines specify a behaviour for a particular HI element, I'm inclined to take note. However, with Microsoft I get the impression that much of their HI is specified by programmers/software engineers who have no human factors experience. This kind of situation can result in feature-laden products that are awkward and inconsistent (for example, Word on the Mac). Would anyone in the know care to comment on Microsoft product design? -- Norman Graham Oklahoma State University Internet: norman@a.cs.okstate.edu Computing and Information Sciences BangPath: 219 Mathematical Sciences Building {cbosgd,rutgers}!okstate!norman Stillwater, OK USA 74078-0599
minich@d.cs.okstate.edu (Robert Minich) (06/01/90)
by norman@d.cs.okstate.edu (Graham Norman Perc): > Now for a related question: Does Microsoft employ human factors engineers? > I'm not flaming--just curious. We all know that Apple spends a _lot_ of > money on controlled experiments to test various human interface (HI) ideas > with real users of various degrees of experience; so when their HI guide- > lines specify a behaviour for a particular HI element, I'm inclined to > take note. However, with Microsoft I get the impression that much of > their HI is specified by programmers/software engineers who have no human > factors experience. This kind of situation can result in feature-laden > products that are awkward and inconsistent (for example, Word on the Mac). Hi norm! My little mickey-soft comment for the day/week: I read about Windows 3.0 in the current issue of an industry rag, (infoworld, I think, with a pull out section dedicated to the subject) and I could not believe the incredible sense of deja vu I had. In particular, I refer to an article on "the making of... the development team" [fanfare sounds deleted for brevity]. The kept on saying things like how they sat down and studied how people work and found that this thingy was more efficient and how recall is harder than recognition ergo Windows is gawd. They said they _did- have a gaggle of HI people, but I guess they don't help out with Word. :-) More now than ever, I get this funny tingling when i look at the windows stuff that MS is working real hard to copy look and feel from Apple. The current Apple court case is aimed at Windows 2.x, but I think we'll see another round real soon now, with Windows trying to claim "triumph of technology" which the pooh poohed Apple for since `84. In fact, Spencer (F. ??) Katt mentioned this very thing! disclaimer; 1. My 8*56834*%^*%$^&#$ right shift key is dying, so forgive capitalization errors. (Anyone know a good way to fix a classic mac keyboard?) 2. I haven't had a chance to mess with Windows yet. I -do_ ///// _do_ plan on checking out a beta I have access to, tho, ASAP. -- | _ /| | Robert Minich | | \'o.O' | Oklahoma State University | | =(___)= | minich@a.cs.okstate.edu | | U | - Bill sez "Ackphtth" |