On Thursday 04 Dec 2003 11:21 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
Probably the favourite acronym amongst all of the cryptic jargon used by computer enthusiasts is RTFM. I'd like to raise the question: Should a computer *need* an instruction manual?
The nirvana of all interface design is operability without instruction. If the user interface has good affordance and feed back it could become idiot proof. However it seems that they are breeding better idiots all the time so this nirvana it seems will never be attained.
Well versed users will always get tired of having ther hands held and joe public will always just need that little bit of help that isn't there. You will never please everybody all the time it just ain't possible, interface design is and always will be a compromise.
Cheers, BJ