Comments on: Office 12 and the Task-Based Interface http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/ Former Open Source programmer with experience at companies like IBM and Apple. Now a UI Designer with an education in Cognitive Science and Human-Computer Interaction. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:29:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: MS Office12的全新UI - Hi Seven http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-54940 MS Office12的全新UI - Hi Seven Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:39:42 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-54940 [...] 目前Office 2003使用者界面的工具列型表，大体上沿续自1997年开始采用的模型，这个多数人熟知的使用界面，将随着下一代Office 12（代号）的推出，而有了命革命性的改变。① [...] […] 目前Office 2003使用者界面的工具列型表，大体上沿续自1997年开始采用的模型，这个多数人熟知的使用界面，将随着下一代Office 12（代号）的推出，而有了命革命性的改变。① […]

]]> By: julian/blog » Blog Archive » It’s not the final theme, we mean it this time http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-12395 julian/blog » Blog Archive » It’s not the final theme, we mean it this time Mon, 20 Feb 2006 18:26:57 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-12395 [...] As I went into detail bout before, I agree with John on that last issue. [...] […] As I went into detail bout before, I agree with John on that last issue. […]

]]> By: julian http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10157 julian Wed, 12 Oct 2005 20:38:24 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10157 The reason Microsoft is calling it "Results-Oriented UI" is because it does violate some of its Task-Based roots, but it's certainly not the death of WYSIWYG. Nielsen's comments about it being not WYSIWYG are just... odd. There was further discussion about this <a href="http://www.peterme.com/archives/000623.html">on peterme.com</a>. From the other articles I've read I've come to understand that the Ribbon is basically a task-based interface grafted onto a tool-based interface. This is not really a "new" paradigm. The half-and-half-ness of the interface is where a lot of my uneasiness came from, I think, and I still stand behind my comments wishing they would take this all the way. I think half-way isn't going to get them where they want to go. The reason Microsoft is calling it “Results-Oriented UI” is because it does violate some of its Task-Based roots, but it’s certainly not the death of WYSIWYG. Nielsen’s comments about it being not WYSIWYG are just… odd.

There was further discussion about this on peterme.com.

From the other articles I’ve read I’ve come to understand that the Ribbon is basically a task-based interface grafted onto a tool-based interface. This is not really a “new” paradigm. The half-and-half-ness of the interface is where a lot of my uneasiness came from, I think, and I still stand behind my comments wishing they would take this all the way. I think half-way isn’t going to get them where they want to go.

]]> By: Joyce http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10155 Joyce Wed, 12 Oct 2005 16:26:26 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10155 It's called Results-Oriented UI. Jakob Nielsen just posted an Alertbox article called R.I.P. WYSIWYG on the new paradigm. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/wysiwyg.html It’s called Results-Oriented UI.

Jakob Nielsen just posted an Alertbox article called R.I.P. WYSIWYG on the new paradigm. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/wysiwyg.html

]]> By: gambler http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10067 gambler Mon, 10 Oct 2005 17:13:12 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-10067 I haven't tried the beta yet, but stumbled upon your article. I am studying for my PHD, and found your article interesting... especially the comparison to a game-based interface. It reminded me of a good quote: [Videogames] They are so far ahead of the race, compared to the dull and workmanlike interfaces of "serious" software" [S. Poole in Trigger Happy: Videogames and the Entertainment Revolution. ].. your article illustrates this nicely! if only more "serious" apps borrowed from the good design employed in many games.. I haven’t tried the beta yet, but stumbled upon your article.

I am studying for my PHD, and found your article interesting… especially the comparison to a game-based interface. It reminded me of a good quote:

[Videogames] They are so far ahead of the race, compared to the dull and workmanlike interfaces of “serious” software”
[S. Poole in Trigger Happy: Videogames and the Entertainment Revolution. ].. your article illustrates this nicely!

if only more “serious” apps borrowed from the good design employed in many games..

]]> By: julian http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9559 julian Sun, 25 Sep 2005 18:22:30 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9559 Yes, Microsoft says that about all of their betas, and things sometimes do change significantly, but that doesn't mean the current stuff isn't bad. All that means is that there is some hope. It's somewhat silly to send something off to the "usability team" if the visual design is <em>causing</em> a lot of confusion. I know that it will change, but I'm not sure that it will change significantly enough. Yes, Microsoft says that about all of their betas, and things sometimes do change significantly, but that doesn’t mean the current stuff isn’t bad. All that means is that there is some hope.

It’s somewhat silly to send something off to the “usability team” if the visual design is causing a lot of confusion.

I know that it will change, but I’m not sure that it will change significantly enough.

]]> By: jim http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9557 jim Sun, 25 Sep 2005 12:53:48 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9557 Jenson Harris mentions that the visual design is not the final design in his blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2005/09/15/467956.aspx Jenson Harris mentions that the visual design is not the final design in his blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2005/09/15/467956.aspx

]]> By: jim http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9556 jim Sun, 25 Sep 2005 12:46:50 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9556 "The visual design is what really gets me." Can't remember if it's mentioned in the Channel9 video, but I'm sure they said that the visual design is NOT the final design - its only function is to provide the test and usability teams with a working program. “The visual design is what really gets me.”

Can’t remember if it’s mentioned in the Channel9 video, but I’m sure they said that the visual design is NOT the final design - its only function is to provide the test and usability teams with a working program.

]]> By: julian http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9376 julian Fri, 23 Sep 2005 19:34:53 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9376 sloan, in theory this would be significantly faster once it has been learned. There are now gigantic icons for each of the common actions. You click the right category (like "Insert") and then it's just a matter of fast icon recognition rather than reading words. If you're relatively familiar with the icons, and the icons are differentiated enough, icon recognition can be really fast. Traditional menus are known to be quite slow to navigate. There have been many proposed replacements which attack different problems, but none have really taken over for various reasons. sloan, in theory this would be significantly faster once it has been learned. There are now gigantic icons for each of the common actions. You click the right category (like “Insert”) and then it’s just a matter of fast icon recognition rather than reading words. If you’re relatively familiar with the icons, and the icons are differentiated enough, icon recognition can be really fast.

Traditional menus are known to be quite slow to navigate. There have been many proposed replacements which attack different problems, but none have really taken over for various reasons.

]]> By: sloan http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9373 sloan Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:58:03 +0000 http://missig.org/julian/blog/2005/09/13/office12-task-based/#comment-9373 Honestly, this looks simply like they are grouping toolbars at the top, which is a good thing. They are also adding realtime editing so you can see what a selection will do before commiting to it and having to click undo. But without really working with it, I don't know how different this is... One question from a usability side, how much SLOWER will this system be than drop-down menus? It takes a lot more mental energy to find the right icon, in the right place, with the right label than using well categorized menus... right? Honestly, this looks simply like they are grouping toolbars at the top, which is a good thing. They are also adding realtime editing so you can see what a selection will do before commiting to it and having to click undo. But without really working with it, I don’t know how different this is…

One question from a usability side, how much SLOWER will this system be than drop-down menus? It takes a lot more mental energy to find the right icon, in the right place, with the right label than using well categorized menus… right?

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