UKKOSS13: A university project on calibre usability

[ukkoss_project]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

It would be possible to supply a configuration setup with Calibre, asking the user in the installation wizard if he wants an "Easy" or "Expert" interface. The former will just hide all advanced items (and possibly even parts of the configuration screen).

I quickly respond to this (representing only myself):

One of the ideas we have discussed resembles what you're describing here: two slightly different interfaces for "Newcomers" and "Advanced Users". The Lite version would have the bare essentials needed for managing a library while the Advanced version would be pretty much what Calibre is at the moment.

Instead of having to choose between these two versions during installation, the user could switch between the modes simply by pressing a button when using the program. While I understand that Calibre is intended as kind of a Swiss army tool for e-books, I think a more "stripped-down" layout could interest people who find the current functionality a bit overwhelming for their needs. The Lite-version could also serve as a "tutorial" if designed properly.

- Lassi

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ukkoss_project

I quickly respond to this (representing only myself):

One of the ideas we have discussed resembles what you're describing here: two slightly different interfaces for "Newcomers" and "Advanced Users". The Lite version would have the bare essentials needed for managing a library while the Advanced version would be pretty much what Calibre is at the moment.

Instead of having to choose between these two versions during installation, the user could switch between the modes simply by pressing a button when using the program. While I understand that Calibre is intended as kind of a Swiss army tool for e-books, I think a more "stripped-down" layout could interest people who find the current functionality a bit overwhelming for their needs. The Lite-version could also serve as a "tutorial" if designed properly.

- Lassi

Wait. You're mixing personal, pre-conceived improvement ideas in with the data you're collecting in your study?

[ukkoss_project]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Wait. You're mixing personal, pre-conceived improvement ideas in with the data you're collecting in your study?

No, as it's pretty obvious that's not a way of doing any 'science'.

Edit: The project has been going on for over two months already, so it would be odd if there hadn't been any kind of internal discussion between the project members.

Please wait and see until we've released something concrete you can criticize.

- Lassi

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ukkoss_project

Please wait and see until we've released something concrete you can criticize.

- Lassi

The only thing I can guarantee I won't criticize, is that which you do not say.

You just say when you're ready.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by ukkoss_project

I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot here. We’re university students; we’re here to learn, and if we can also provide something of value to the calibre community, ...

well, some people might be wary of "UI experts".
Look what UI experts did to Windows 8 Metro interface,
Look at the abomination called Ribbon
Look at what they did to the latest version of iOS,
Gnome 3, Unity, Slashdot Beta ... the list goes on and on ...

Suggest whatever you like, but if you try to dumb down the Calibre features I will fight you tooth and nail ;-)

[ukkoss_project]

Originally Posted by kacir

well, some people might be wary of "UI experts".
Look what UI experts did to Windows 8 Metro interface,
Look at the abomination called Ribbon
Look at what they did to the latest version of iOS,
Gnome 3, Unity, Slashdot Beta ... the list goes on and on ...

Personally, all of those are things that I have loved to hate for the past couple of years.

Especially the Gnome 3 / Unity division seemed to hurt the Linux community quite a bit as Ubuntu kind of lost its status as the "champion of desktop Linux". At least the Linux Mint guys are doing a good job at keeping the classic Gnome-style desktop alive...

But now I digress.

- Lassi

[theducks]

Originally Posted by kacir

well, some people might be wary of "UI experts".
Look what UI experts did to Windows 8 Metro interface,
Look at the abomination called Ribbon
Look at what they did to the latest version of iOS,
Gnome 3, Unity, Slashdot Beta ... the list goes on and on ...

Suggest whatever you like, but if you try to dumb down the Calibre features I will fight you tooth and nail ;-)

Amen (no experience with the iOS one)

Some of us are touch challenged to boot.
My Glove size XL. I am also a klutz

I can't use most of the touch screen menus on my phone without a stylus
Using my TAB is only slightly better, Many, many false selections
AND I have friends with fingers even larger than mine that I feel sorry for trying to use these tiny on screen buttons.

I believe there is a clear division and distinction between the groups. The problem is the touch-GUI group refuses to acknowledge there are other needs out there. OSMFA (m=must)

[kovidgoyal]

@ukkoss: Dont worry too much. Just do your project, make your recommendations. Most likely some will be acted on and some not. Some people are (often rightly) wary of change, some people get bored of the similarity. Whatever you do, some people will be unhappy, others will be happy. That is life as a software developer.

[phossler]

@ukkoss: Don't worry too much. Just do your project, make your recommendations. Most likely some will be acted on and some not. Some people are (often rightly) wary of change, some people get bored of the similarity. Whatever you do, some people will be unhappy, others will be happy. That is life as a software developer.

Words to live by



My 2 cents (and not original):

"90% of the users use 10% of the features; 10% of the users use 90% of the features"

Concentrate on making what 90% of the users do very simple and intuitive (you'll get a lot fewer emails and phone calls)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by phossler

Words to live by



My 2 cents (and not original):

"90% of the users use 10% of the features; 10% of the users use 90% of the features"

Concentrate on making what 90% of the users do very simple and intuitive (you'll get a lot fewer emails and phone calls)

I may be up to 20% of the features. I just hand edit to hone thing in, rather than fight for the perfect filter/import pattern/output.

HTML is simple compared to some of those complex Templates

[phossler]

@theducks

I may be up to 20% of the features.

No, I'd push you up to at least 50% I read all your posts

We did a big project from scratch at work, and they let the programmers basically design the UI.

Menus are loaded with jargon that doesn't translate well to 'user-speak'

'Update Table' instead of 'Create (thing)'
'Generate Report' instead of 'Display (thing)' (on screen)
'Submit Output' instead of 'Print Report'

I know that internally tables are being modified to have records added, modified , or deleted, I suggested it would be more intuitive if the UI was modeled on the 'Verb-Noun' format to address why the user sat in front of the KB:

User: "I want to update an existing project"

My very personal preference would be to have a 1st or 2nd level menu:

[Modify Existing Project]

instead of

[Table Maintenance], [Project Table], [Update]

Users come and go, but programs seem to last forever

[theducks]

Originally Posted by phossler

@theducks



No, I'd push you up to at least 50% I read all your posts

We did a big project from scratch at work, and they let the programmers basically design the UI.

Menus are loaded with jargon that doesn't translate well to 'user-speak'

'Update Table' instead of 'Create (thing)'
'Generate Report' instead of 'Display (thing)' (on screen)
'Submit Output' instead of 'Print Report'

I know that internally tables are being modified to have records added, modified , or deleted, I suggested it would be more intuitive if the UI was modeled on the 'Verb-Noun' format to address why the user sat in front of the KB:

User: "I want to update an existing project"

My very personal preference would be to have a 1st or 2nd level menu:

[Modify Existing Project]

instead of

[Table Maintenance], [Project Table], [Update]

Users come and go, but programs seem to last forever

I loved the Icons Don Knuth Phd. used in his book on TeX:
A curvy road ahead road sign, and 2 of them, for the really out there stuff

I am not sure Calibre can easily (logical) partition the menus for user levels. There is just too many settings that come into play at some point

[Katsunami]

Calibre's interface can be pared down to become very simple. I have it configured as shown in the screenshot below, but I still consider myself a power user.

I don't like the clutter caused by all the toolbars and icons, and for some reason, the Favorites plugin (to combine plugin icons/menu's) just doesn't work well for me. I don't know why, but as soon as I start using it, Calibre becomes unstable.

One thing I'd like to see changed in Calibre are the sometimes extremely long menu options, particularly the ones in 'Add books'; they include a complete description. Other menu options, such as the ones for 'Remove books' include "for the selected books' all the time, while it's obvious that only the selected books are affected. (At least, it's obvious to me, because this is the case in most other programs as well. If I'd select 'Remove specific format', then I would be quite suprised if this option would do that for the entire library.)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Calibre's interface can be pared down to become very simple. I have it configured as shown in the screenshot below.

<shot?>

I have pared mine down also (I also use all 3 menu locations).

But I think this discussion is "How does Calibre ship with a pre-configured, 'Pared' set of options"

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by theducks

<shot?>

You didn't even give me the chance to actually add the screenshot. Booh

It's there

I have pared mine down also (I also use all 3 menu locations).

But I think this discussion is "How does Calibre ship with a pre-configured, 'Pared' set of options"

I personally think the default Calibre menu/options layout is confusing and too large (literally: huge icons). I think my screenshot shows a much more usable layout, especially if the plugins are taken out.

When starting out, most people only need things like these:

- Create/Switch library
- Add books
- Remove books
- Metadata editing
- Book conversion
- Send to device
- Save to disk
- Copy to library
- Preferences

I.e., the basic "file management stuff," so they can use their books as if they were files, without being distracted by Calibre's latent power. It would be good to provide a short description on where to find and enable additional features, how to add plugins, point to the manual, and/or even point to MobileRead's Calibre forum.

An extremely basic user interface containing only the basic options is enough. Many people won't use more, but if someone gets to the point "I wish I could...," he or she will start looking, and come to the conclusion that they can achieve it.

I have set up a few Calibre installs using the same layout as I show above, but without the plugins and editing features. Calibre exposes very few capabilities to these users, but the ones it does provide, are enough to get people to organize their books, convert them and get them onto the e-reader.

All of those people have been using Calibre for some time now, without any complaints. If they want something that's not immediately obvious or out of their league, they contact me. I'll point them to the correct options or settings using some short instructions, and off they go for another 6-12 months.