On 30/04/12 09:35, Alan Bell wrote:
easily confuse an up'date' with an up'grade'.
> Whereas updates are usually fairly safe, upgrades are not.
that is the bit that needs fixing, an upgrade should be as safe as an
update.
Hi Alan
There are *two* bits that need fixing not only the one bit! I
wholeheartedly agree that an upgrade should be as safe as an update,
certainly. I can see that particular issue taking some time to fix,
and being quite hard to test and verify. Meanwhile, it is easier, and
I think useful to arrange visually and in text etc, an intuitive and
even more clear separation between upgrades and updates, I have new
and non techy users most in mind here. We obviously hope there will be
many more of them soon.
> Upgrade and update sound similar and seem similar. They appear even in
> the same window in the same situation.
they do sound a bit similar,
You understate this. They sound and look a lot similar.
but it isn't the same window at all,
The windows I have in mind are the regular 'update is ready' windows
which traditionally has (or had) a top banner with such as (link also
below)
'New Ubuntu release '11.04' is available [Upgrade] (button)
this is (was) at the TOP of the window, it suggests a priority
accorded to things seen first, and in a top, upper, position. Also the
word 'New' is a powerful attention getter.
Below this is a list of items, I recognise them as updates, and at the
bottom of the windows to the right, are two buttons [Check]
[Install Updates]
Not far below, at the very base of the window are buttons
[Settings] and at the right hand side [Close]
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll248/candtalan/Screenshot-UpdateManager.png
So the key 'Updates' button does not have visual prominence. It is not
even labelled simply 'Updates' It reads 'Install' 'Updates'. The word
'Install precedes the 'Updates', which is seen last. Also the word
'Install' is likely to be associated in a new novice users mind with a
new installation of (Ubuntu), rather than perhaps the more mundane and
routine maintenance. Perhaps.
I am talking here about people who are not expecting to actually read
words (!) When I used Windows for years, I became aware that I was
conditioned to just click 'Yes' to choices, all choices, otherwise
things did not actually work(!) What we present to new users will be
seen and used by people with eyes like mine used to be, they will
click without reading, and more likely, without understanding,
probably, without even wanting to understand. So a correct form of
words is not the only GUI human computer interface (HCI) aspect to be
considered, the whole interaction is relevant. Human computer
interface stuff can be subtle yet important. Marketing in our very
retail based society relies heavily on impression. People now expect
marketing, and seeing something prominent I think made my friend
vulnerable to a mistake. Having said all this, I am also aware that
many of the new Ubuntu users and continuing non techy users that I
help, typically would say they see the invitation to upgrade as
clearly something to avoid, one said (I just asked here) they would
avoid it like the plague or similar words. This is typical of a non
techy user who has clear decisions to leave anything unusual alone and
refer it to their 'admin' friend (me) their helper. My aged friend I
mentioned earlier was brass necked enough to have confidence - and
misunderstood what he saw. Interestingly, I notice that many long time
Windows users, albeit not very skilled, are determined to do stuff
themselves, and they simply do not call me first. This always
surprises me but it is evidently a fact of life. And they do not use
ubuntu forums as an early port of call either. When I started using
GNU/Linux I realised that its choices and yes/no offers were much
more real than I had gotten used to with Windows.
(If I am getting detailed it is because I have seen this sort of
thing cause significant probs (my friend) and in a previous
incarnation I designed HCI for control systems where getting it wrong
might shut down your water supply)
hth
--
alan cocks
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