[kepler-dev] Kepler actor icons

[Bertram Ludaescher]

Laura:

Great! I'm happy in particular about the last point below :-)

cheers

Bertram

Laura L. Downey writes:
 > See comments interspersed below.
 > 
 > Laura
 > 
 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: Bertram Ludaescher [mailto:ludaesch at ucdavis.edu] 
 > 
 > We talk about different user groups for sure (as is now acknowledge
 > generally ;-)
 > 
 > But we also talk about very different kinds of uses cases! (not just
 > different user groups) 
 > 
 > [LLD>] Agreed
 > 
 > Some "workflow" use cases might very well have some components that
 > correspond to numerically solving differential equations. Other
 > workflow use cases might be just darn complicated by their nature,
 > i.e., inherently. No usability engineering (or software engineering
 > for that matter) can simplify the inherent complexity of those complex
 > problems.
 > 
 > [LLD>] Again, agreed.  Usability engineering can't magically make complex
 > problems and issues easy -- but it can help us design the system to better
 > support the tasks -- whatever they are via a combination of good visual
 > design, information design and interaction design.
 > 
 > But this seems obvious. Simple linear pipelines can capture certain
 > linear workflows. But when your problem requires complex data and
 > control flow, nesting, complex iteration and/or recursion etc. then
 > one has to bite the bullet, no matter what. Obviously icons don't do
 > much to help this problem. Higher order functions (map, foldl,
 > foldr,...) or other workflow patterns as recently adopted by Triana
 > (from the van der Aalst type of pattern) do. 
 > 
 > We should focus more on these things too. Icons (and the discussion
 > about them) should focus on those used in toolbars, menus etc. 
 > 
 > For actors they are overrated (IMHO)
 > 
 > [LLD>] Just to clarify here Bertram, we are not going to focus on the visual
 > design any longer.  I will incorporate the latest feedback and make a final
 > recommendation and we are moving on to other issues.  I have a consolidated
 > list of usability issues I've created (from the group testing, observation
 > and team feedback) and will continue to add to that list, including the
 > important issues you have raised.
 > 
 > Bertram
 >