Wireshark mailing list archives

Re: Start and stop capture toolbar buttons?


From: Graham Bloice <graham.bloice () trihedral com>
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 15:18:50 +0100

On 9 April 2013 14:54, Ed Beroset <beroset () mindspring com> wrote:

Evan Huus wrote:
The *proper* (for certain values of that word) way to decide this issue is
really to do a usability study, however that is expensive/time-consuming
so
unless Riverbed wants to make that investment it isn't likely to happen
with any degree of rigour.

There was a study on that very thing many years ago when the object of
study was icons for VCRs.  (Anybody remember them?)
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=515hD47OVB0C&lpg=PA552&pg=PA553#v=onepage&q&f=false

They found the same confusion about the Record icon and noted that the
Play icon had 85% recognition, but Record only 42% and noted that the
Record icon was "Often though of as 'stop', particularly if coloured red.
 Connotations of traffic lights, 'no entry' sign or full stop."

For that reason, I suggest we either use a different color (green? blue?)
or (ab)use the Play icon and that we make the "stop" icon red if it isn't
already by now (I'm still using SVN Rev 48628 at the moment).


Interestingly the bad recognition factor for "record" seems to have been
largely the fault of the UK (my Mum?) and without them included the
recognition for the symbol is over 51%.  Still not great though.

I was reminded last night though, when "training" my spouse about the
remote for the new PVR, it's not so much what's on the buttons (icons or
text) it's the position that folks remember.
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