User Observation Hackfest

GNOME Customizations And Anticipated Future Requirements

Greatest GNOME Customizations • Software settings (ensure it's working, and configured correctly) • Interaction with files and pictures ( make it easier to save, and open in software) • Photo and file size management ( easier files saving, getting from A to B) • Avant-window-navigator instead of panel ( gnome-panel has some design problems) • Using main-menu • Thumbnailers • Killing errant software •Automated bug-buddy and reporting • Gunslinger, Launch Observation • Busy and Success Launch • One Click Observation •Automatic Restarts

User Observation Trends

- Shortcuts In File Picker - Panel Comfort Level - Recent Documents - When All Else Fails, Paper

Anticipated Future Requirements

• Elimination of standard file and folder design • Document storage in Alfresco • SAN storage, moving certain files to the right type of disk drive. Pictures are moved to slower drive. Aging files moved to near offline media • Session relocation, automatic resolution changes ( 1440x900 becomes 1024x768) • Not browser based, client software • Development Tools • Chart Widgets

Anticipated Future Requirements

GNOME Other Issues

• How to grow market share • Areas of growth

Greatest GNOME Customizations

Software Settings

Approximiately 60 gconf keys are hard coded at login. This ensures a working session if the user stumbles into a poorly designed feature. What happens if the user selects 100x2 workspace switcher? Gconf forces it back to 3x2. GNOME should focus on levels of reasonableness. A user should always get a working session on each login. This adds several seconds to the login, fired in the background as multiple processes.

Interaction With Files And Pictures

If GNOME has feature parity with MS Windows, we're going to lose. Most users have low skills. When they fail on MS Windows, they consider it a training issue. When they fail on GNOME, it's because we don't have Windows. EVEN if the steps are identical. – “A poor carpenter blames his tools”.

GNOME Desktop MIME Helpers Were engineered to make GNOME easier than Windows, especially for those with no file management skills. They usually know what they want to do, but do not know how to do it. If software gives them a file manager we fail. Everything should be drop and drag. IPAD: When you save a picture it does not ask for a file name nor a folder; it just works. - Only ONE person out of 800 disabled the MIME helpers for a more traditional PC environment!

Photo MIME Bar

WhatWhat are are the the apps apps thatthat work work with with pictures?pictures? Which Which ShowShow a a larger larger onesones are are for for viewview of of the the photo photo viewing?viewing? oror document. document. This visual cue This visual cue WhenWhen we we allow allow users users helps greatly. helps greatly. toto right right mouse mouse and and pick an application Just put it into pick an application Just put it into itit fails. fails. GIMP GIMP won't won't thethe clipboard, clipboard, why why open an ODT. DisplayDisplay the the pixels, pixels, save the open an ODT. but also convert save the but also convert intermediateintermediate file? file? thatthat into into language language thatthat is is simple. simple. Is Is thisthis picture picture too too big big forfor email email or or not? not?

WeWe can can make make a a reasonablereasonable guess guess asas to to what what size size theythey might might use. use. WhyWhy make make them them learnlearn GIMP? GIMP?

WhyWhy must must they they open GIMP to do open GIMP to do Why do I have They don't know how to get a file basicbasic functions functions Why do I have They don't know how to get a file that are done toto wait wait for for a a into email. I can see it right here, that are done bulky app to into email. I can see it right here, often. bulky app to whywhy must must I Inavigate navigate in in another another file file often. open when all manager? If all I want to do is send open when all manager? If all I want to do is send I Iwant want to to do do is is this via email, why do I have to open print it? this via email, why do I have to open print it? aa full full composer composer window? window? PDF MIME Bar

SoftwareSoftware applications applications that that workwork well well with with PDF PDF are are displayed.displayed. Have Have to to have have AcrobatAcrobat Reader, Reader, but but give give the the optionoption for for Evince Evince which which if if faster. faster.

PDFPDF Mod Mod allows allows merge, merge, XournalXournal allows allows writing writing inin another another channel. channel.

UsersUsers have have PDFs PDFs that that they they wantwant to to fax. fax. Their Their technique: technique: 1)1) Open Open in in LibreOffice LibreOffice (slow) (slow) ( (hope hope that that it it renders) renders) 2)2) Use Use the the fax fax feature. feature.

NowNow they they can can do do it it with with a a single single step.step.

Text MIME Bar

ShowShow that that LibreOffice LibreOffice is is available;available; no no attempt attempt then then toto open open ODT ODT with with another another application.application. You You are are able able to to printprint the the document document without without openingopening LibreOffice LibreOffice first. first.

ShowShow the the first first page page of of the the document;document; helps helps users users findfind the the right right document. document.

TextText files, files, is is it it text text for for a a document?document? Is Is it it a a fixed fixed column column reportreport that that should should be be landscape-courier-8?landscape-courier-8? Is Is it it a a CSVCSV that that should should import import into into Calc?Calc?

avant-window-navigator

More modern appearance vs gnome-panel. Looks great on all resolutions including 1024x768. Excellent applets which are stable and eliminate having users fumble around the Internet. The biggest feature: Users cannot understand the concept of launcher and window list. Avant works like Mac, once a launcher is clicked it instantly becomes window list. This reduces users double launching the same applications because it's in another workspace or minimized.

avant-window-navigator

OurOur city city seal seal always always is is on on the the left side so users have a left side so users have a AppletsApplets are are hard hard coded coded into into predictablepredictable way way to to find find software software position, reset if the user packages that are not shortcuts. position, reset if the user packages that are not shortcuts. modifiesmodifies them. them. This This creates creates a a predictablepredictable environment. environment. IfIf this this icon icon is is deleted, deleted, it's it's hard hard codedcoded to to always always come come back back Folder shortcut: For quick access again. Folder shortcut: For quick access again. SpeakerSpeaker Volume: Volume: easy easy to to change change WorkWork space: space: hard hard coded coded to to 3x2 3x2 Weather:Weather: hard hard codes codes to to Largo Largo LaunchersLaunchers appear appear in in the the Clock middle area and become Clock middle area and become Logout:Logout: Always Always on on the the far far right. right. aa window window list list once once the the softwaresoftware is is launched. launched.

TheThe panel panel is is disabled disabled from from beingbeing moved moved to to the the left, left, right right oror top. top. This This ensures ensures that that all all resolutionresolution and and application application variablesvariables are are QA'd QA'd

main-menu Main-menu was used because we have 280 desktop icons. Cascading menus have too many clicks and sub-menus, cannot all be at the top level. Main-menu allows you to type and filter icons and find what you want. Icons are groups by Category and it's easy to scroll through the whole list, find what you want and drag them to the menu. Main-menu tries to stay running as a process, we kill after 30 seconds in order to prevent huge slowdown when new icons are added.

main-menu

IconsIcons are are displayed displayed in in categories.categories. The The filter filter area area allowsallows you you to to type type in in strings strings toto look look for for packages. packages.

Thumbnailers

The default desktop did not have robust thumbnailers. Giving a user a visual cue of the first page helps greatly with usability. As many documents are thumbnailed as possible, including text files.

Problem: Many of the thumbnailers do not have a timer to give up after a specified number of seconds and have to be manually killed.

Thumbnailers

AsAs many many files files types types as as possiblepossible are are generated generated thumbnails.thumbnails. This This seems seems to to bebe overlooked overlooked in in most most distributionsdistributions

Killing Errant Software

GNOME has a PC/Windows design for errant software. If it locks, reboot the computer to release it. Users cannot usually handle a kill process utility. They have them at home and what they have learned is to reboot when things stop working correctly. Obviously we cannot reboot a server that has hundreds of users. So how to solve this issue?

Killing Errant Software

TheThe computer computer can can take take a a reasonablereasonable guess guess if if the the softwaresoftware is is having having problems, problems, andand then then give give the the user user a a non-intrusivenon-intrusive popup popup giving giving themthem a a way way to to kill kill errant errant software.software. This This eliminates eliminates usersusers having having to to figure figure out out somesome kind kind of of process process list list UI.UI.

Automated bug-buddy and Reporting

Bug-buddy is way too confusing for users and all they want to do is get their software working. So in instances where they kill their software, we force the user to pick a description of what happened and then automatically grab a backtrace and dump it to a file where they can be tracked. They cannot terminate software until they tell us what happened.

Bug Reporting

IfIf they they relaunch relaunch software software that that alreadyalready running, running, we we make make them them pickpick from from a a list list of of most most common common issues.issues. This This helps helps us us look look for for trendstrends and and perhaps perhaps training training improvementimprovement areas. areas.

TheyThey also also have have the the option option to to notnot terminate. terminate.

WmctrlWmctrl is is used used to to make make an an attemptattempt to to raise raise windows windows and and movemove you you into into the the right right workspace.workspace. Very Very often often users users 'lose”'lose” their their windows. windows.

Gunslinger And Launch Observations Users by habit seem to feel that clicking on icons multiple times will make it launch faster. They also sometimes do not understand when to single and when to double-click. Once a user clicks on an icon in our customized GNOME, it does a date time stamp and does not allow them to click on the icon again for 5 seconds. We sometimes have had users click on the same icon 10 times to make it 'run faster'. Something like gnome- terminal would just open 10 sessions.

Gunslinger Blocking

HereHere the the same same icon icon is is clicked clicked onon four four times. times. Default Default GNOME GNOME wouldwould launch launch the the application application thatthat many many times. times. The The mouse/Xmouse/X symbol symbol shows shows that that thethe extra extra clicks clicks were were blocked blocked andand no no attempt attempt was was made made toto launch launch more more instances. instances.

Busy And Success Launch

StartupNotify in the .desktop file does not work well. The spinning symbol very often spins after the application is open and ready. Users for some reason think they have to wait until it stops spinning to work. So they were completely disabled. Software on servers never cold starts, so it opens very quickly.

Busy And Success

EachEach software software application application willwill show show you you that that it's it's opening.opening. The The desktop desktop thumbnailthumbnail appears appears to to show show thethe user user exactly exactly what what they they opened.opened.

FunctionsFunctions such such as as screenshot screenshot areare displayed. displayed.

One Click Observation

Users don't want to understand anything low level in GNOME. They want to focus on the content of their project and not how it works. One tiny feature in LibreOffice is one of the most popular that was deployed. What is it?

One Click Observation

BeingBeing able able to to attach attach a a documentdocument you you are are editing editing directlydirectly to to email email is is one one of of the the mostmost popular popular features features on on the the desktop.desktop.

WhenWhen reviewing reviewing web web based based GroupwiseGroupwise email, email, it it was was virtuallyvirtually eliminated eliminated because because itit did did not not support support mailto: mailto: tags. tags.

That'sThat's how how important important this this is. is.

Automatic Restart

Users have no way to fix or restart software that has crashed. Everything should be logged and then restart. In GNOME 2, if parent dbus fails, the session is dead and the user loses all of their work. Everything should have a way to be restarted.

Automatic Restart

User Observation Trends

Shortcuts In File Picker

Not one users has figured out on their own that they can save favorite folders on the left edge of the GNOME and LibreOffice file picker. Does this all under one of those categories where the software should know their favorites because they are in fact navigating there manually?

Shortcuts In File Picker

UsersUsers never never figure figure out out onon their their own own that that they they can can inin fact fact save save their their favorite favorite foldersfolders on on the the left left

EvenEven though, though, once once they they knowknow about about it, it, it's it's one one of of theirtheir favorite favorite features. features.

Panel Comfort Level

Users tend to find the icons that they need to use and then never stray far from the lower panel. They memorize the pictures on the icon and the position of the icon is critical. If anything moves, we get support calls. So that tells me that position, color and artwork are how people remember their launchers.

Panel Comfort Level

SomeSome advanced advanced users users use use UsersUsers are are very very andand love love the the virtual virtual uncomfortableuncomfortable looking looking workstations,workstations, but but for for the the forfor new new software software packages. packages. mostmost part part it it goes goes beyond beyond theirtheir comfort comfort level. level. Window Window TheyThey want want to to find find it it once once movementmovement and and moving moving andand then then memorize memorize throughthrough tasks tasks and and minimizing minimizing thethe position position and and icon. icon. isis very very uncomfortable uncomfortable for for them.them.

Recent Documents / Software Ecosystem Those of us that work on computers think of GNOME and the applications as one ecosystem. Users tend to have a ring of comfort around the individual applications and are uncomfortable moving past that area; the interaction between desktop and multiple applications is very confusing to them. Recent Documents is the way they know how to find what they have created and it's application centric.

Software Ecosystem

Advanced Users (US) Real Users (THEM)

GNOME Application Application

Recent Documents Recent Documents Application Application

Application GNOME Application

Recent Documents They can't understand how they all work together.

When All Else Fails - PAPER Users love paper and it's been very difficult to break this habit. As soon as you print, you create a silo of data with personal notes that is never shared. Reasons why users print: 1) Allow them to write notes on the data 2) To allow them to file it in a paper folder 3) Because the screen for some reason does not display the information in the manner they want

Printing is very expensive, we should be working to break them of this habit.

Anticipated Future Requirements

Current Silo Based File Storage

Email Local NFS USB Phone + Storage Mounts Sticks Tablet

Users spend countless hours with information in multiple places, transferring files , emailing documents and trying to keep track of the most recent version. Document Management

Document Management System Connects to all devices and creates a business social network.

Document Management And GNOME

Document management software already works with browsers. This makes the operating system and desktop not as important. This is an opportunity to make GNOME work better than Windows. The competition is the browser. Have GNOME do things the browser cannot do.

Alfresco Document Management

Document Management And GNOME Ideas where GNOME can integrate into DMS: • Popup and notifications of certain features • Is someone waiting for you to approve a file? • Did someone make a change to a file you deemed important? • Did someone post a message to a wiki? • Who is editing a file I want to work on? • Help me contact them with email, a call or Skype. • Hide the file system complexity. Help them edit right out of DMS

Document Management And GNOME Ideas where GNOME can integrate into DMS: • Help them with pictures, making mass changes with a single click. • Alert them when files are getting too big. • Nautilus UI changes to assist with optimizing ODT files. (picture resizing) • Help them merging pieces, merging PDF files • Document annotate and storing in the native format.

Bundle Alfresco With GNOME?

An idea is to bundle Alfresco or other document management system with GNOME. Out of the box file system nuances would then be hidden to users (optionally). GNOME would then also allow for instant peer to peer file sharing with full digital rights. Users would just need to know how to set up “sites” and then how to share with other users.

Mockup, Nautilus With Document Plugins And Helpers

ClearlyClearly shows shows the the user user whatwhat software software correctly correctly opensopens the the file, file, where where they they cancan save save it, it, how how they they can can alteralter it, it, how how suitable suitable it it is is for for variousvarious functions, functions, how how to to easilyeasily save save it it into into Alfresco, Alfresco, whowho is is working working on on it it and and watchwatch it it as as it's it's being being edited.edited.

SAN Storage

This allows greater control over files. You can move all pictures to slower disk drives. You can also tell it to move documents to near offline (DVD/BluRay) after a certain amount of days. Should be used in tandem with a document management system.

Session Relocation

Users struggle with window managers, window movement, minimizing and resolutions. GNOME should make session relocation easier. You might go from 1680x1050 dual monitors to 1024x768 on a tablet. Users will not find their running software. Idea: When GNOME detects RANDR change, it moves all running software into containers organized by workspace.

Session Relocation Mockup

Other Ideas Required

Development Tools: There are a lot of little database applications that need to be written that are not suitable for MONO or Glade/Python. We need far faster turn around time on them.

GTK Chart Widgets: We need to be able to create great looking charts quickly and easily. Eye candy for users is very important.

GNOME Other Issues

GNOME needs to pick a target market. While home users are passionate, there will not be greatly increased numbers in that area. The greatest chance of increase will come from business and Government. Dollars matter and a product that is turn key for the future will certainly get some consideration; especially in business.