Talk:Mode (computer interface)

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[edit] Modes are generally frowned upon in interface design

With something like the vim editor, I can understand why/how it is that modes can generally lead to confusion when implemented in a way that is not immediate to the user. However, I severely doubt that user confusion is inherent within the concept of modal computer interface usage. More likely, modifying implementation (say, by making the background screen colour of different modes change in a manner that corresponds to those different modes, is the most likely way in which it would be possible to implement modal computer interfaces whilst preventing user confusion).

I would be interested in any comments that are out there in regards to this. --[[Nukemason]|[Nukemason]] 08 August 2006 1911 (UTC)

Note that for your proposed modification, the user must be aware of the screen state in order not to make errors. Say that users aren't looking at screen (for example by touch-typing), then the modal interface may catch them. Jef Raskin opossed to modal interfaces because they prevent becoming habituated - performing common actions without conscious reasoning. If you include the application state into the action loop, you break the instinctive performing of the action (what's often called "muscle memory").

There are limited places where modes can be useful - specially with direct manipulation. See for example the use of tool palettes in graphic applications. Normally these tools work well because 1) users of these applications are highly trained and 2) the current state is persistently shown as the cursor shape, which is the focus of the user attention (so according to Raskin's definition, this change of state is not a mode).Diego 07:20, 21 August 2006 (UTC)