[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] staff client dev 2014-05-19 / feedback

[Vickie Turcotte]

I would like to comment on a couple of the things Dan said.

"We are taking something which is fundamentally a website concept (a link
between pages) and applying it to an application, and we need to very
careful that we don't misapply a web-centric mindset to any areas where that
thinking isn't appropriate." - Dan

(Please excuse me if this isn't the right time or place for this comment - I
am not trying to hijack the thread, nor start a debate.)  I would just like
to extend that a bit to also say don't misapply a mouse-centric approach
where it might not be appropriate.  I'm an end-user, a cataloger, and
entering marc records is, at its most basic, very much like data entry.
That means hands are on the keyboard most of the time, so going to the mouse
to move around or save the bib slows down the process.  So I use the
alt/ctrl shortcuts, and the tab key, but these aren't always faster, or not
available.  (I can provide examples if anyone is interested.)

Entering patron data is similar, so I think my comment applies.  Again,
please disregard if this is not relevant or useful to the conversation.

"Instead of thinking of things as "links" and then trying to make one rule
for a bunch of disparate things, I'd propose that we should have distinctive
interface elements for which we can then define usage appropriate behaviors.
Doing so would create a tremendous opportunity for improving the overall
usability of the staff client as a whole." - Dan

This sounds to me like creating consistency - things would behave the same
in multiple places.  +1

[going back to lurking mode]

Vickie




Vickie Turcotte
Head of Technical Services
Chelmsford Public Library
25 Boston Rd.
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-256-5521 x106
Fax: 978-256-8511
vturcotte at mvlc.org