Edward Tufte video presentation on improving iPhone UI
edwardtufte.com
edwardtufte.com
The real problem though is that since his widgets are designed to answer a different set of questions, there isn't really any basis to compare the two sets of designs.
I disagree. As someone who has some experience trading stock, there's no way that anyone would seriously make a trade just based on looking at sparklines. Even technical analysts need more information to make a decision. So in that regard, sparklines are a failure.
>The real problem though is that since his widgets are designed to answer a different set of questions, there isn't really any basis to compare the two sets of designs.
What about weather? What question is Tufte's version answering?!
That was kind of my thinking, that sparklines are more information than you need to know how much your portfolio is worth, but not enough to answer the question of whether to buy stock. (Which is what I was trying to say when I said that it answers the question poorly and unaesthetically.)
- stocks and weather should use higher resolution imagery to convey more data - MobileSafari's bottom button bar should be transparent as to not take up extra screen real estate - he really like the phrase "computer administrative debris"
I can see how lots of people would agree with him-- seeing thousands of data points on one screen makes sense. But it sacrifices usability and makes the experience less fun and more difficult-- look at his weather "fix;" not only is it very ugly, but it's also difficult to find exactly what the temperature is because of the poor contrast and small, "image-sized" resolution. Apple's design is "cartoony" because it's supposed to look beautiful, be extremely easy to see, and show minimal data.
It reminds me of a quotation: "A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery