PanoTools NG:
Re: Interface experiment
erik leeman 2009-Jan-14 09:36:09
Thanks for your input Matt.
Actually the compass was discussed in an earlier topic.
It was intended as a 'special purpose' feature, not for the general
public, and needs to be more accurate than it is now.
That's also why I didn't spend any time yet to improve its interface,
there's more to it than just the button.
I left it in more as a demo of what can be done, as an inspiration so
to speak, and its default state is off.
But the button is confusing, there is no question about that. Lesson
learned.
As mentioned in my original message, THIS test was intended to find
out if a specific interface element, the rotating sphere animation,
worked on all platforms and browsers. I put in a stationary version
and a hotspot version just to find out if that would make a
difference. Besides the matter of it working as such, I was also
interested in its impact on performance, that's why I scaled those
hotspot versions down. They are in fact of the same pixel size as the
large one. And no, I wasn't drunk when I made this test version : )
Now that I know that it works for nearly all who have tried it, I can
consider using it, or variants of it, 'for real'.
One application that was discussed is to use it as a preview while the
panorama is loading. For this I will have to find out if I can get it
on the viewers screen in time. Using it as a hotspot marker like in
the test is also something I am considering now that I've seen it.
But I fully agree with you, nearly always simple is better (I always
try to adhere to the KISS principle).
The hotspot can go back to a (nearly) off state after you've rolled
over it, because that means you have seen it.
There is no reasonable need to spoil the image with superfluous
interface elements, you can always find it again by pressing the 'show
hotspots'button, but at least you know that it's there.
The 'Open large version' button should make sense if you enter my
website via the normal route. Then you first encounter the option to
choose large or small versions. For those who regret their choice
later i've made it possible to switch sizes whenever they want.
I am fully aware of the fact that there still is a LOT that can (and
must) be improved about my work, but it is feedback like yours that is
indispensible in the process, and I am very grateful you took the time
to write your report.
Kind regards,
Erik Leeman
--- In #removed#, Matthew Rogers <matthew@...> wrote:
>
> I'd just ask myself do these extra interface elements actually improve
> the user experience or just confuse the issue. My issues from a
> general public users perspective are:
>
> 1. The compass button being an actual compass is counter intuitive.
> People would expect it to rotate and that the button simply turns the
> rotation on/off. And from other comments I'm not the only one thinking
> this.
>
> 2. Does knowing the actual degree of rotation add anything or does it
> simply show that you know how to use use flash. So often is the case
> with technology, in that it's used because the developers like to show-
> off. Yet in a lot of cases it's simply pointless. Just think back to
> what Flash websites used to be like 5-6 years ago :( Let's hope Flash
> panoramas don't go down the same route. Just having the compass rotate
> showing N S E W is all you need.
>
> 3. What does the spinning preview globe show ? They're too small and
> spin too fast to really work properly as a preview to the location
> they link to. You could probably just use random scenes and 99% of
> your viewers would be none the wiser. For me they're just too
> distracting. A simple overview map may not be as exciting but is a far
> better option from a user/navigation view. I MUCH prefer the version
> with the simple thumbnail previews. In most cases simple is better.
>
> 4. The show hotspot buttons has no indication to the state the
> hotspots are in. A button really should have a state to show it's
> current status. In one scene I wasn't sure if hotspots were on or off
> and kept clicking/rotating/clicking/rotation to see if they were on or
> off. But I still don't know, I just think that pano didn't have any
> hotspots. In this case don't show the button.
>
> 5. Having a preview sphere of the current pano you're viewing is
> completely nonsensical. Whether you can fade it down is irrelevant. It
> serves no purpose what-so-ever and doesn't encourage the user to
> interact with the pano. And I just realised it's the same spinning
> globe on every pano. Can I ask if you were drinking when you came up
> with this idea ????
>
> 6. RED TEXT, why ?
>
> 7. Why does the hotspot go back to an off state after I've rolled
> over it ? What turns it off, the rollover, the button, both, this is
> confusing.
>
> On an almost related issue the "Open Large Version", "Open Small
> Version" buttons don't really make sense. I know, that it relates to
> the file size but only after I've clicked it the first time. What I
> was expecting was a larger WINDOW size.
>
> Matt
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