M206 - TMA03 Question 1
This question took the form of two conference postings about observations regarding a particular software package. Part 1 was done individually and part 2 was to critique another person's submission.
Stage 1 Posting
Line Width Slider:
The line width slider has good visibility due to its labelling though I believe the format of the labelling shouldn't be in lowercase, title case would probably be better e.g. 'Line Width".
The line width slider provides two good feedback methods, one in a numerical form to the right of the slider that increases as the slider is moved to the right and decreases when moved left, this having a range to 40. The second method is situated below the slider and is a graphical representation of line width. The graphical representation shows a horizontal line, the width of which increases or decreases as the slider is operated, this giving good visual feedback of the size of the line width to be applied. The indication given by both methods is linked to the position of the slider.
Align and Resize:
The widgets used here are obviously buttons as their edges are shaded thus making them appear to be raised from the background and thus affording them to be pushed.
Taking the first vertical column of buttons and working top to bottom:
When the first button is pressed the left-hand sides of selected squares or rectangles align to the left-hand side of the leftmost of the selected items. Therefore the function of this button is to left align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this left aligns selected items. The feedback is also good as the selected squares or rectangles move to their new left-aligned positions.
When the second button is pressed the selected squares or rectangles align their centres centrally to the selection on a common vertical axis. Therefore the function of this button is to centre align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this centre aligns selected items. The feedback is also good the selected squares or rectangles move to their new centre-aligned positions.
When the third button is pressed the left-hand sides of selected squares or rectangles align to the right-hand side of the rightmost of the selected items. Therefore the function of this button is to right align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this right aligns selected items. The feedback is also good as the selected squares or rectangles move to their new right-aligned positions.
Taking the first horizontal row of buttons and working left to right:
When the first button is pressed the top edges of selected squares or rectangles align to the top edge of the topmost of the selected items. Therefore the function of this button is to top align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this top aligns selected items. The feedback is also good as the selected squares or rectangles move to their top-aligned positions.
When the second button is pressed the selected squares or rectangles align their centres centrally to the selection on a common horizontal axis. Therefore the function of this button is to centre align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this centre aligns selected items. The feedback is also good as the selected squares or rectangles move to their new centre-aligned positions.
When the third button is pressed the bottom edges of selected squares or rectangles align to the bottom edge of the bottom-most of the selected items. Therefore the function of this button is to bottom align selected squares or rectangles. The visibility is good in that the artwork on the button infers that when pressed this bottom aligns selected items. The feedback is also good as the selected squares or rectangles move to their bottom-aligned positions.
Second row third column button:
When pressed this button causes all the vertical sides of the selected squares or rectangles to be increased in size to equal the size of the largest side in the selection. The function of this button is therefore 'make all vertical sides equal to the largest in the current selection'. The visibility of this button is poor, as it does not immediately convey that this operation is going to happen when pressed, would benefit from labelling or more meaningful artwork. The feedback is good as the sides of selected squares or rectangles stretch to the size of the largest side though this is not always as clear as it should be.
Third row second column button:
When pressed this button causes all the horizontal sides of the selected squares or rectangles to be increased in size to equal the size of the largest side in the selection. The function of this button is therefore 'make all horizontal sides equal to the largest in the current selection'. The visibility of this button is poor, as it does not immediately convey that this operation is going to happen when pressed, would benefit from labelling or more meaningful artwork. The feedback is good as the sides of selected squares or rectangles stretch to the size of the largest side. Though it makes no difference its operation, it appears that this button is narrower than the other buttons except the Exit button.
Part 2 of this question has been removed, as it was a critique of someone else's submission for part 1 of this question.