Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] read it and drool
From: David Olofson (david_AT_gardena.net)
Date: Mon Dec 04 2000 - 09:22:29 EET
On Monday 04 December 2000 05:01, Dan Hollis wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Dec 2000, Paul Barton-Davis wrote:
> > Dan Hollis writes:
> > >It seems to violate nearly every GUI rule there is. Knobs never
> > > belong on a GUI.
> >
> > i couldn't find this rule at the isys site. even if i could, i
> > reserve to say "crapola!". i don't disagree that there are better
> > visual elements than knobs. mackie has a nice one, for example: a
> > numeric display that works much the way my knobs do (simple
> > vertical motion to adjust the value; step size determined by
> > radial distance from the center of the element; direct text entry
> > possible as well). but to say point blank that you should never
> > use a knob - why not ban sliders too, since they are essentially
> > the same concept as a knob: non-numeric visual feedback with
> > mouse-motion adjustment for a value of some kind ?
>
> Usability studies showed that knobs were the worst possible control
> for a GUI. They are simply too hard to control and too prone to
> error -- a very bad control for a MOUSE. Sliders are much better.
>
> If you have a physical knob control in the real world, then an
> onscreen knob would be fine. (Hmm... anyone up for making a USB
> knob controller? ;)
Been thinking about it, but haven't done it yet. Would be interesting
to see if it could really work. :-)
There are optical high resolution rotary encoders that would be
suitable for this. One of those, a counter chip and a few gates on a
bidirectional parallel port would probably be the easiest prototype
hack. (The counter wrapping at 256 is ok, as you only deal with
deltas. Just read frequently enough to get at least two readings per
full counter cycle.)
//David
.- M A I A -------------------------------------------------.
| Multimedia Application Integration Architecture |
| A Free/Open Source Plugin API for Professional Multimedia |
`----------------------> http://www.linuxaudiodev.com/maia -'
.- David Olofson -------------------------------------------.
| Audio Hacker - Open Source Advocate - Singer - Songwriter |
`--------------------------------------> david_AT_linuxdj.com -'
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Mon Dec 04 2000 - 09:43:34 EET