[Sugar-devel] Initial implementation of toolbars design

[Gary C Martin]

Hi Simon,

On 27 Jul 2009, at 22:26, Simon Schampijer wrote:

> On 07/18/2009 04:17 AM, Gary C Martin wrote:
>> Hi Caroline,
>>
>> On 17 Jul 2009, at 22:14, Caroline Meeks wrote:
>>
>>> We can put it in front of actual kids once you get a sample working.
>>> We could even try playing the video for our existing classes. I  
>>> don't
>>> know if they'll be able to give you feedback from just seeing the
>>> video. Might be interesting to find out.
>>
>> Yes that's an interesting one... I have more understanding of  
>> usability
>> studies with literate adults, where you can have a controlled
>> environment. With the idea that you set goals/tasks to be completed  
>> with
>> the interface and ask the user to vocalise what they think they are
>> doing ("I'm clicking this because I think it's the search  
>> button...").
>> You only interact with them once they are clearly stuck, to help them
>> get back on track. Asking for any-ones opinion is usually frowned  
>> upon
>> in usability studies, as opinion is almost always different from  
>> actual
>> behaviour – but some opinions are better than nothing, which is why I
>> keep asking :-)
>>
>> Perhaps I should work with Walter and Aleksey's initial toolbar  
>> code and
>> make an identical test clone of TA but with the new toolbar design (I
>> can use Aleksey's Write mock-up code as an example)? Then you could  
>> let
>> the class (or a random selection of the class) use it for some  
>> tasks and
>> watch how well (or not) they manage with the new interface?
>>
>> Simon: have you used TA yet in your lessons?
>
> Yes, the problem is, that I won't get into class before September  
> again - we have summer holidays :/
>
> About the design - as already noted, the current implementation does  
> not match gary's mockups. I think the mockups are more consistent in  
> using icons in the primary toolbar. Having the text entry field  
> (activity name) present, could help the users that know Sugar  
> already. They would not feel that much lost.
>
> Can we get mockups for Browse? I would do the changes then there.

Sure, will do.

> When doing testing we should maybe do tests for people that have  
> used Sugar before already, and probands with no knowledge of Sugar  
> at all.
>
> Regards,
>   Simon
>
> Btw: I was lost a bit with that the canvas is only shifted down when  
> the toolbar is locked. But I guess it makes sense, in order to have  
> not shifting the canvas down when you search for an option and  
> pulling down the different toolbars. Not sure, yet.

Yea, I know what you mean, but having the canvas always jump around  
could be quite distracting, and would be a performance issue if the  
canvas content need to re-flow, or re-render. Canvas resizing is going  
to be one of the more challenging aspects of retro-fitting existing  
Activities with a new toolbar design, especially as many were not  
written with flexible screen sizes in mind.

Regards,
--Gary