Using the current "logout" fading effect, I've created an intelligent way of informing users about security/system notifications of importance.
This is just an idea, but I feel that people are still ignoring important icons or notificatioins important for keeping your system up-to-date and secure.
If you would like to read my full idea and write-up about this, including screen shots, please visit my website or go straight to the article:
http://www.breathedeeply.com/usability.html
Peace. Love. KDE Everywhere!
Ratings & Comments
13 Comments
There is a bug report at bugs.kde.org about improving knotify, maybe this could be the solution: http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=108076
This is existing application in hungarian blackPanther OS 5.x (devel) distro, the name:bubbled and bubblemsg. Functions: system notifications, install/remove packages, showing fortunes message, and all.. Under development: send/recevie user messages on local network, news reader... Screenshots: http://www.blackpanther.hu/modules/xcgal/thumbnails.php?album=26&page=2
I absolutlely agree with you. Maybe we could add a box with latest messages from /var/log/messages or others... p.s. good icons, do you have a link for them?
Thanks. The icons are the OSX collection. You can find them here: http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=16564
I dig it. Very innovative, sparxxxie. My only concern would be that the feature is disabled by default configuration, in case of the user having lesser-efficient drivers and/or software-based acceleration. And I'm not directing this as you, sparxxxie - Merely stating that until even lower-level hardware can actually pull off simple GL animations like this in movie-like grace that so many of us expect, it's going to unnerve the senses.
Personaly, I hate the pop up system notifications in windows XP. They get in your way when you don't need them (mainly at startup, when you just want to get something done) and you can't access or regenerate them when you need them and they're gone (e.g. when you have some time to fix something). Also chech law 8 of the Laws of Interface Design by Jason Spisak at http://www.symphonyos.com/laws.html (the other laws are interesting too). Another reason why I think copying the windows way of messing with the user/computer is a bad idea: important system notifications are meant for the root user, while the regular linux/kde user is (should be) non root.
i totally agree.
I agree with you too. XP's way of handling pop-up messages is not only annoying, but they have abused it so much that people disregard them because of it. That's exactly what we DON'T want to do. I also agree that the system messages should be only for root users. *BUT*, instead of saying "this is how it SHOULD be", I'm merely saying this would work better than the current implementation. SuSE watcher loads for users, not only root.
"Another reason why I think copying the windows way of messing with the user/computer is a bad idea: important system notifications are meant for the root user, while the regular linux/kde user is (should be) non root." So you're implying that everyone is knowledgeable to have a root user/system admin?
"Non-technical users are scared to click on icons or mess with anything that is unfamiliar territory. These users are scared they're going to perform some action that is going to cause them to loose data or have to reboot their machine." Thats the point. I absolutely agree on this. As a student of computer science i get called regularly to help out with the computers of friends, and i often experienced this behaviour. Its the same with Virus Updates, Firewall Messages, etc. We also have to face that these users will in most cases NOT read longer system messages, or even help texts. I think the way windows handles this is the wrong path, because the messages just look like any other unimportant text. But of course, if you design new ways to notify the user, it must not be nagging advanced users and there must be the possibility to turn everything off.
An interesting idea. Using the logout concept would be good, but personally I would make sure there is a place to disable it. :-) Nevertheless, you got my support. :-) I'd be happy to help out if necessary (art skills).
I definatly agree with you, and I'd like to suggest to go to www.kde-artists.org and give it a try in the Plasma Discussion, as this might be a point for them as well! Jan :)
Will do! Thanks Jan! :)