Re: [NTLK] Human Interface Guidelines

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, James.
On 16/6/09, James Fraser wrote:
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>a fine line between handheld device *assisting* taking part in the
>world and *preventing* you from effectively doing so
>easy to end up using devices like iPhones and Newtons as shields

Since Newt is at best a cripple multimedia device compared to iPhone
and its headphones, I've only observed people using the latter to
screen/distract themselves from their surroundings.

Also, given where I've mostly seen people using such devices
distractively, in cityscapes and buildings relatively devoid of
living things other than harried to intimidating humans, I have some
compassion for desiring something more entertaining, pleasing and/or
nourishing for ones senses.

Seems Newts are mostly used as a substitute for tools those of us old
enough remember used to be available only in non-electronic forms,
like address books, note pads (+/- to-do list), calendars and check
registers. Oh, the liberation to be more in touch with rest of the
world, not having to keep track where all those different paper
records and notes are!

Not that Newts can't be used as distractions: e.g, games, forever
hunting for the perfect app or utility, etc. Anything can become an
obsession/distraction, of course.

>people..noticeably more receptive to *writing* while talking as
>opposed to typing

Good point I suspect/believe is generally true.

In this context, typing includes variants like graffiti and on-screen
keyboards -- I've always winced watching others struggle entering
info into Palms and other handhelds.

Typing is a more hand-eye-brain coordination intense process than
writing with one hand, partly because of needing to enter characters
with both hands moving over a many times larger area just to write a
handful of characters, and partly because one isn't looking at the
writing on the same plane where ones manual activity is occurring,
and also not having to continually check whether one's hit the
correct key(s), and -- for most of us -- correct comparatively
frequent errors.

Ergo, it takes considerably more attention/time to type than handwrite,

= less attention available for someone else

Although a lot smaller contrast, I would also argue it takes more
attention to print than write cursively, but those who find cursive
writing more difficult obviously have a different experience.

My -- no wonder I have such resentment against Steve and his minions.

Signed,

A Newt commit-ee (saved from being committed to an institution by Eckhart)

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Received on Fri Jun 19 18:45:56 2009