- cross-posted to:
- hackernews@derp.foo
- cross-posted to:
- hackernews@derp.foo
In which we once more delve into the world of user interface design.
Autumn 2023
Three years ago, I wrote a rant about the problems of our current UI paradigm. The complaints I voiced were hardly new or unique, neither was the text what I’d consider my best writing. It was, honestly, mostly a way to blow off steam. It seems I struck a nerve, though, because it’s proven to be one of the most popular texts I’ve published here. For some time, I’ve thought about writing a follow-up, and a recent resurgence in the text’s popularity prompted me to finally do so.
[…]
What were we talking about?
Usability, as defined by Wikipedia, is “the capacity of a system to provide a condition for its users to perform the tasks safely, effectively, and efficiently while enjoying the experience.” Its relation to software is further specified: “In software engineering, usability is the degree to which a software can be used by specified consumers to achieve quantified objectives with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a quantified context of use.” […]
In short, usability is the ease with which a predetermined task can be accomplished. Consequently, “It looks fresh” isn’t usability; it’s aesthetics. Likewise, the lack of a specific program feature isn’t the same as being able to use it as easily, efficiently and safely as possible. […]
[…]
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I blame the idea of the 00s and 10s that there should be some “Zen” in computer UIs and that “Zen” is doing things wrong with the arrogant tone of “you don’t understand it”. Associated with Steve Jobs, but TBH Google as well.
And also another idea of “you dummy talking about ergonomics can’t be smarter than this big respectable corporation popping out stylish unusable bullshit”.
So -
- pretense of wisdom and taste, under which crowd fashion is masked,
- almost aggressive preference for authority over people actually having maybe some wisdom and taste due to being interested in that,
- blind trust into whatever tech authority you chose for yourself, because, if you remember, in the 00s it was still perceived as if all people working in anything connected to computers were as cool as aerospace engineers or naval engineers, some kind of elite, including those making user applications,
- objective flaw (or upside) of the old normal UIs - they are boring, that’s why UIs in video games and in fashionable chat applications (like ICQ and Skype), not talking about video and audio players, were non-standard like always, I think the solution would be in per-application theming, not in breaking paradigms, again, like with ICQ and old Skype and video games, I prefer it when boredom is thought with different applications having different icons and colors, but the UI paradigm remains the same, I think there was a themed IE called LOTR browser which I used (ok, not really, I used Opera) to complement ICQ, QuickTime player and BitComet, all mentioned had standard paradigm and non-standard look.
People who wonder why I use a Linux desktop environment whose appearance and behaviour are basically unchanged from what they were 20 years ago, and daily drive a browser that forked from Firefox 27 and still uses that UI: this is why.
I think for the big apps like Whatsapp and Facebook it makes sense that the companies want to hide the features that give users control beyond the “standard” way of using the app in places where they cannot find it.
This is a way broader phenomenon than just dark patterns or whatever. It exists in open-source as well which generally does not have any incentives to do this sort of stuff.
It’s all Marketing. In order to attract users with fancy looking interfaces, many usability rules get overriden.
This started already years ago with the new, sleak looking Windows 10. Internally the usability problems were known. But marketing pushed for the release date. This UX drama was costly. over 5 billion in the air for the launch alone. Ending in a blame.
MS has been doing that little by little since windows XP. Keeping the useful control panel and system elements, but burying them under layers of “user-friendly” menus that offer little to no actual control.
Even though it’s common to bully on Microsoft, it’s not true in this case. There have been many studies and user tests to find an understandable way for users to reach that massive functionality of the MS office software. The Ribbon interface was the best in those testings.
Not talking about office. Talking about the control panel for windows itself.
E.G. network adapter settings. Used to be up front, now you have to dig for them.
Just saw this article linked in a ThePrimeagen video. I didn’t watch the video, but I did read the article, and all of this article is exactly what I’m always saying when I’m complaining about current UI trends and why I’m so picky about the software I use and also the tools I use to write software. I shouldn’t have to be picky, but it seems like developers (professional and hobbyist alike) don’t care anymore and users don’t have standards.
