Posted by: Bruce Byfield
on September 26, 2005 05:02 AM
You leap to a dubious conclusion while ignoring the most obvious one.
I'm quite comfortable with Boolean operations, thanks. But I have also done a reasonable bit of UI design, something you should have inferred from the article.
From that experience, I suspect that using the term "boolean operations" assumes too much knowledge on the user's part. UI Designers can't assume that everyone shares their general knowledge. Nor can they excuse a lapse in a design by blaming users for lack of knowledge.
For the same reason, I think "letter spacing" is a better choice than "kerning." Personally, "kerning" doesn't bother me, because I've done professional design. But, from having to explain the concept, I'm well aware that it means little to most people, so I think Inkscape was correct to avoid the term.
At any rate, let me point out that this is a minor criticism. In reviewing most software, I probably wouldn't have mentioned it. But Inkscape seems so much more informed about UI design than many project, so, while praising this awareness, I thought it only right to point out where the project stumbled a bit.
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Re:boolean operations
Posted by: Bruce Byfield on September 26, 2005 05:02 AMI'm quite comfortable with Boolean operations, thanks. But I have also done a reasonable bit of UI design, something you should have inferred from the article.
From that experience, I suspect that using the term "boolean operations" assumes too much knowledge on the user's part. UI Designers can't assume that everyone shares their general knowledge. Nor can they excuse a lapse in a design by blaming users for lack of knowledge.
For the same reason, I think "letter spacing" is a better choice than "kerning." Personally, "kerning" doesn't bother me, because I've done professional design. But, from having to explain the concept, I'm well aware that it means little to most people, so I think Inkscape was correct to avoid the term.
At any rate, let me point out that this is a minor criticism. In reviewing most software, I probably wouldn't have mentioned it. But Inkscape seems so much more informed about UI design than many project, so, while praising this awareness, I thought it only right to point out where the project stumbled a bit.
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