Microsoft, Windows and the User Interface
Computers, OSes and applications have evolved over the years adjusting and changing to user habits, trends and what have you. Most of the time, the changes are subtle. Sometimes, they are drastic. But over time, the changes can get all mixed-up so that many users could get confused about how to use them... and how not to use them.
User interface design is a science. If you would design a button, you would normally give it one and only one purpose: to turn something on or off; to start or end something; to change modes; to make something happen; etc. Just one of these really, but not a combination of these because it can confuse the user. One time it does this, and in certain conditions, scenarios or what have you, it does that. A button is a button and what it does should be predictable at the very least.
Consistency is important. It's like designing the traffic signs. Red means stop, green means go. If you would change any of these colors, you'll have to make sure that you'll change it everywhere and not just in a few intersections here and there. It would confuse the drivers and more accidents may happen.
Implementation wise, uniformity is the key. Despite subtle differences, a more striking hint of uniformity makes a successful user experience. It's like the door. No matter how different you make it, it can always be opened and closed. Sliding doors or hinged, everyone knows they can walk through it in order to get in to or out of a place.
Consider Microsoft's Windows. Windows have changed over the years from the classic Win3.x, to Win95, Win98, WinXP, WinVista and now Win7. The differences to the major screen functions can be drastic per release. In some, areas, the changes are subtle. Over time, you can see how much these changes are all mixed up in the latest version. Windows has become a UI monster and could actually have one of the worst UI design implementation in terms of achieving consistency and uniformity.
That's a strong statement. Yet, it's true. For example, there's the ribbon interface which was introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. It's unique to some of the Office applications but was not implemented in all of them. Some built-in applications in Windows 7 have the ribbon but not all applications share the same feature. For most built-in Win7 applications, you still have a mix of WinXP or WinVista UI. Another example is the Windows Media Center which is also used in XBox 360, Zune and now Windows Phone. The Metro UI is amazing but it is not available in all of Microsoft's products.
The point is, as time goes by, it seems like the Windows UI is fast becoming one of the most complicated software to learn and master. Simplicity is the key. If Microsoft desires loyalty from their customers, they have to define an identity through the UI designs of their software products. Recently, it seems like Microsoft is creating products with which the user experiences are no longer as coherent as they used to. You can really sense how much a functionality may've been created by a different group. It's like as if they missed the memo to change the UI design... or they just failed to meet the deadline.
With the advent of Kinect, a new user interface is on the way. Meanwhile, Microsoft is losing their branding in terms of really innovating the user experience. Looking ahead, I won't be surprised if a successful Kinect implementation to control Windows would not even come from Microsoft.
User interface design is a science. If you would design a button, you would normally give it one and only one purpose: to turn something on or off; to start or end something; to change modes; to make something happen; etc. Just one of these really, but not a combination of these because it can confuse the user. One time it does this, and in certain conditions, scenarios or what have you, it does that. A button is a button and what it does should be predictable at the very least.
Consistency is important. It's like designing the traffic signs. Red means stop, green means go. If you would change any of these colors, you'll have to make sure that you'll change it everywhere and not just in a few intersections here and there. It would confuse the drivers and more accidents may happen.
Implementation wise, uniformity is the key. Despite subtle differences, a more striking hint of uniformity makes a successful user experience. It's like the door. No matter how different you make it, it can always be opened and closed. Sliding doors or hinged, everyone knows they can walk through it in order to get in to or out of a place.
Consider Microsoft's Windows. Windows have changed over the years from the classic Win3.x, to Win95, Win98, WinXP, WinVista and now Win7. The differences to the major screen functions can be drastic per release. In some, areas, the changes are subtle. Over time, you can see how much these changes are all mixed up in the latest version. Windows has become a UI monster and could actually have one of the worst UI design implementation in terms of achieving consistency and uniformity.
That's a strong statement. Yet, it's true. For example, there's the ribbon interface which was introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. It's unique to some of the Office applications but was not implemented in all of them. Some built-in applications in Windows 7 have the ribbon but not all applications share the same feature. For most built-in Win7 applications, you still have a mix of WinXP or WinVista UI. Another example is the Windows Media Center which is also used in XBox 360, Zune and now Windows Phone. The Metro UI is amazing but it is not available in all of Microsoft's products.
The point is, as time goes by, it seems like the Windows UI is fast becoming one of the most complicated software to learn and master. Simplicity is the key. If Microsoft desires loyalty from their customers, they have to define an identity through the UI designs of their software products. Recently, it seems like Microsoft is creating products with which the user experiences are no longer as coherent as they used to. You can really sense how much a functionality may've been created by a different group. It's like as if they missed the memo to change the UI design... or they just failed to meet the deadline.
With the advent of Kinect, a new user interface is on the way. Meanwhile, Microsoft is losing their branding in terms of really innovating the user experience. Looking ahead, I won't be surprised if a successful Kinect implementation to control Windows would not even come from Microsoft.
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