[mythtv] CVS UI Questions

[Daniel Savard]

I second this menu layout. I also found somewhat odd and counter
intuitive the current menus. After some experiments with my own
daughters and myself, we often go the wrong path and have to go back
too often to finally get where we want to go.

The role of the GUI is to mask underlying technical stuff and present
a sounding metaphor to the user. Given the products like MythTV are
targetting non-techies peoples, extra care must be taken to handle
users desires smoothly and avoid them frustration. After all, when
sitting to play a game, watch a movie or listen at some music, they
are just in a good mood to have good time.


On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:35:55 -0500, Nathan Ziarek <htpc at ziarek.com> wrote:
> I didn't see this mentioned, although I am willing to believe I just missed
> the email...
> 
> A week ago or so I updated my Myth install to CVS and noticed that all of
> the menus had been reorganized into groupings like "Optical Disks" and
> "Information." I didn't have time to putz with it, and haven't since then
> (working on my HT in the basement now means no time for computer stuf!), so
> I don't know if this change is on a theme by theme basis or an overall
> change.
> 
> However, as I've thought about it (thinking is about all I have to give to
> the project), I don't think I like it, and I don't think it advances the
> usability of the system at all. In fact, I think it makes it much more
> convoluted.
> 
> When I sit down at my TV or media station, I go with a goal in mind: I want
> to listen to music, I want to watch TV, I want to watch a movie. I don't sit
> down and say "I have an optical disk" or I have a DVD in my hand. However,
> the reorganization seemed to make some sense to me, so I started to sketch
> out what I thought might make more sense. If I wanted my Mom to sit down at
> this and use it, what would best convey to her the methodology? I came up
> with something like this. I think it represents my train of thought, and
> while perhaps a bit of overkill (too many clicks to do one thing) it
> definitely follows a logical pattern in getting to the end result.
> 
> Television
>     Live TV
>     Recorded Programs
> Movies
>     DVD
>     VideoCD
>     Video Library
>         Link to Recorded TV Programs
> Music
>     Internet Radio
>     FM Radio
>     Tunes
> Information
>     Weather
>     News
>     Browser*
> Communication
>     Phone
>     Instant Messenger
>     Browser*
>                 * could go either way
> 
> As I said, the biggest thing I can offer to this project is that I really
> enjoy thinking about ways to make the UI better. Maybe you all disagree with
> this line of thinking or maybe you have little tweaks that could make it
> better. In the end the menu would seem to be a minor issue within such a
> complex program, but I sincerely believe (can't say it enough!) that the
> thing that separates a good program from a great program is the polish.
> Maybe you just consider MythTV a tinker program in which case my points are
> kind of null. But for those that see it as a very legitimate HT application,
> I'd like to hear what you have to say about the menu system.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> nate
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 



-- 
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Daniel Savard