You're linking the concept of the back button to a state system in photoshop where depending on what tool is active, shortcut keys / key modifiers do completely different things.
Huh? What? That makes no sense at all - those things aren't even remotely similar to each other! On Nov 6, 8:47 am, Rob Ross <rob.r...@gmail.com> wrote: > I assure you I understand the difference. > > see here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface#Modalities_and_modes > > specifically > > "Heavy use of modes often reduces the usability of a user interface, as the > user must expend effort to remember current mode states, and switch between > mode states as necessary." > > also: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_(computer_interface) > > "An human-machine interface is modal with respect to a given gesture when (1) > the current state of the interface is not the user's locus of attention and > (2) the interface will execute one among several different responses to the > gesture, depending on the system's current state." (Page 42)." - Jeff Raskin > > Rob > > On Nov 6, 2010, at 12:37 AM, Cédric Beust ♔ wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 11:20 PM, Rob Ross <rob.r...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > By the way, I think you are misusing the term "modality", which might be > > > why we seem to be in disagreement on this issue. > > > I'm using it in the simplest possible way to describe a human/computer > > interaction where the human has to keep a state model in his/her head as > > the software is used. > > > That's what I figured. The more traditional meaning of "modal" is something > > that forces you to act on it before you can resume other activities, such > > as a "modal dialog". They are sometimes necessary but by and large, modern > > applications are moving more to a "modeless" model where the actions you > > need to do are typically moved away from the main document so you can act > > on either any time you like. > > > You are probably more talking about "context", and again, my experience has > > shown that most users have no problems remembering a stack of three-four > > past activities (and if they make a mistake, they can always undo it by > > going "forward", which is another strength of this model). > > > The simplest example is something like Photoshop, where depending on your > > current mode (i.e., which tool is selected), clicking an object or using > > the keyboard can produce vastly different results. > > > A more modeless example would be a simple text editor. > > > Now that I read this, I think you are simply confusing "model" and "modal". > > > -- > > Cédric > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "The Java Posse" group. > > To post to this group, send email to javapo...@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > javaposse+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to javapo...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to javaposse+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
