One example of where the underlying system architecture is exposed and confusing users occurs in the poor organization of menus. Users made the following comments about the menu organization throughout GNOME, which they did not find intuitive:
"'Settings' should be in the control panel...'Settings' is not a program!" (P7)As they spent more time completing the study tasks, users were exposed to the terminology throughout GNOME. Their feedback included:
"I wouldn't expect 'Settings' or 'System' to be under 'Program'." (P9)
"'Foot > Panel > Global Preferences...', I wouldn't think those would have to do with the panel." (P6)
"There are lots of options. Do they consider 'Programs' to be the same as 'Applications'? I'm not sure of the overlap between the menu items." (P3)an one user, after right clicking on panel, commented:
"It's giving me the same choices as up here!" (P2)
"For people not as versed in UNIX and UNIX terminology, it might be confusing." (P11)Users also commented on the GNOME's complexity, in both the number of options and the amount of information on the screen:
"I was surprised at the humor and jargon. I wouldn't expect that in a finished product." (P6)
"Some of the terminology I have no awareness of." (P4)
"It took me a while to look for words I'm used to that would guide me to areas to do work." (P8)
"Someone might be overwhelmed by the amount of options." (P7)Summarizing their experience and their overall impression of how easy GNOME was to use, users said:
"There are too many features and icons for somebody new." (P7)
"I wouldn't have as many games for work." (P10)
"It seems like there's more than normal, that it's giving me a whole bunch of choices." (P1)
"There are a lot of options and menus. All the choices could be tough, it's a lot of information to go through." (P3)
"Some things were accessible that an entry-level user would not want or need, but other things were buried deep." (P11)and, of the Control Center specifically, they commented:
"There's too much stuff on the [Control Center] screen!" (P5)
"I was surprised by how many things were listed in the Control Center." (P7)
"It's not stuff you know, I don't think it should be here. It should be condensed down to one advanced area." (P10)
"It's a lot to digest, it could be intimidating." (Pilot)
"GNOME was slightly more difficult [than the system I use now]. I was not satisfied with the ease of tasks." (P9)Design Recommendation: These architectural issues, which are pervasive throughout GNOME, would best be addressed in a User Interface Style Guide for GNOME. To solve these issues, which have a large impact on the user experience, will require the coordination and cooperation of the community; to develop user interface guidelines, to implement the necessary changes, and to adhere to the guidelines.
"If someone showed me it would be okay, but if I was a new employee without help, I wouldn't get it." (P6)
"I felt a little frustrated, I needed help. It's not quite as easy as it could be." (P2)
"You can better it [GNOME] and make it much easier." (P1)
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