http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=914950


in reply to Re^5: Perlmonks SmartPhone App
in thread Perlmonks SmartPhone App

Hi Corion,

Well as one small example, in this case for an iPad, not an iPhone, the Nodelet area on the right hand side. On pm this requires you to click the link Nodelet Settings (if you can find it, and I can't offhand see where it's got to) and put in a sort code like 1, 2 etc, which the application then changes to 1.9, 2.9 etc (why is this?) and then press save (well actually I think it's called submit). The whole area could be drag and drop with a small 'x' showing on hoverOver for delete.

Here's what apple has to say about the positive use of GUI metaphors:

Metaphors

When virtual objects and actions in an application are metaphors for objects and actions in the real world, users quickly grasp how to use the app. The classic example of a software metaphor is the folder: People put things in folders in the real world, so they immediately understand the idea of putting files into folders on a computer.

The most appropriate metaphors suggest a usage or experience without enforcing the limitations of the real-world object or action on which they’re based. For example, people can fill software folders with much more content than would fit in a physical folder.

iOS provides great scope for metaphors because it supports rich graphical images and gestures. People physically interact with realistic onscreen objects, in many cases operating them as if they were real-world objects. Metaphors in iOS include:

  • iPod playback controls
  • Dragging, flicking, or swiping objects in a game
  • Sliding On/Off switches
  • Flicking through pages of photos
  • Spinning picker wheels to make choices

In general, metaphors work best when they’re not stretched too far. For example, the usability of software folders would decrease if they had to be organized into a virtual filing cabinet.

Ref: Apple Human Interface Guidlines

But man, my text is prosaic and unstimulating, go into a store and play with an iPad.

Regards,

Steve

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Re^7: Perlmonks SmartPhone App
by Corion (Patriarch) on Jul 17, 2011 at 17:02 UTC
    Well as one small example, in this case for an iPad, not an iPhone, the Nodelet area on the right hand side. On pm this requires you to click the link Nodelet Settings (if you can find it, and I can't offhand see where it's got to) and put in a sort code like 1, 2 etc, which the application then changes to 1.9, 2.9 etc (why is this?) and then press save (well actually I think it's called submit). The whole area could be drag and drop with a small 'x' showing on hoverOver for delete.

    Feel free to implement this through Javascript. I have implemented a right-click on the nodelet headings that brings up a menu where I could select the nodelets' settings. I don't use it much as I have Javascript disabled mostly. As for the inconvenience of configuring the website on an iPad, I would simply configure the UI on my main PC and then use it on my hypothetical reader gadget. I presume that most users of Perlmonks have access to a full, open computer where a proper keyboard exists to enter text and where they can configure Perlmonks to their hearts content.

    The automatic renumbering of nodes to 1.9 and so on is so you have it easier to insert one or more nodelets between nodelets 1 and 2 - it would be pretty ugly to need to manually renumber all nodelets just to move the nodelet with (current) number 9 up in between the nodelets with (current) numbers 1 and 2.

    But man, my text is prosaic and unstimulating, go into a store and play with an iPad.

    Thanks - I already did that and felt uninspired.