Is the Metro interface doomed?

[Arthur]

Former Firefox for Windows 8 developer: Low test numbers doesn't mean OS is in trouble « Neowin

 

Last week, Mozilla decided to put development of its Firefox web browser made specifically for the Modern user interface in Windows 8 on hold indefinitely. Now a former member of the browser's development team is defending that decision while at the same time saying that it does not mean Windows 8 itself is in trouble.

 

In a new blog post today, former Mozilla team member Brian R. Bondy, who worked on the Firefox for Windows 8 team, wrote that just because the browser had a low amount of beta testers doesn't mean that Windows 8 and the Modern UI have low general usage. He believes that one of the reasons why there were so few testers is that Windows 8 does not allow any third party browser to run on the OS unless it is set as the default. He states, "Several people could have had a Modern UI capable Firefox pre-releases installed, but just never knew it."

 

The other reason is that Windows 8 also makes it harder to set one browser as the default compared to older versions of the OS.

 

While Bondy believes Microsoft should make the default browser settings in Windows 8 less confusing, he does support their direction with the Modern UI as a whole, stating, "I do believe that touch hardware is something people are adopting and will adopt more."

 

Following Friday's blog post by Nightingale, Neowin attempted to contact Mozilla to see if we could get more information about their decision to cancel development of Firefox for Windows 8. Unfortunately, a spokesperson for the company declined to answer most of our questions, stating only, "We have no plans to start development again at this time. We always watch the desktop and mobile markets to find opportunities to advance Mozilla's mission."

[seawolf]

Former Firefox for Windows 8 developer: Low test numbers doesn't mean OS is in trouble « Neowin

 

This highlights some of the problems with the Metro interface (requirement for browser to be the default to use), but also says to me that some people are being unrealistic or short-sighted about touch interfaces.

 

"I do believe that touch hardware is something people are adopting and will adopt more.".

 

A touch interface works great in many applications - phones, tablets, touch tables, kiosks, point-of-sale, controls in cars, etc. However, they do not translate well onto laptops or desktop computers where the screen is sitting in the upright or vertical position.

 

If a large mass of the population suddenly started using touch controls on laptops and desktop computers in place of a mouse or trackpad, we would see a large increase in RSI-related shoulder and neck problems as the result of constantly lifting the arm horizontally and reaching forward, up down, and to the side. These movements are natural for a person in a standing position for short periods of time (kiosks) or when the touch surface is on an angle or sitting horizontally (as tablets are most often used). There is a risk of RSI in any touchscreen device, but the risk goes up considerably when the screen being used is sitting in the vertical position.

 

Are Windows 8 Touch Laptops Bad For Your Health?

 

This is why I think MS blew it in failing to understand the distinction between a touchscreen interface and a desktop/laptop interface. Trying to merge the two interfaces makes the resulting interface inferior on both types of devices. It's not about a technological issue such that just improving the interface or touchscreen technology is the solution, it's the reality of human physiology and therefore breaks one of the cardinal rules of human interface design.

[Arthur]

If a large mass of the population suddenly started using touch controls on laptops and desktop computers in place of a mouse or trackpad, we would see a large increase in RSI-related shoulder and neck problems as the result of constantly lifting the arm horizontally and reaching forward, up down, and to the side.

That's the thing though. For laptop and desktop users, touch is a supplementary input method, not the sole input method used 100% of the time.

 

Are people more prone to RSI if they use keyboard cases with their tablets (because it's more-or-less than same form factor as a touch-screen laptop)?

 

 

This is why I think MS blew it in failing to understand the distinction between a touchscreen interface and a desktop/laptop interface.

Without a touchscreen, all the Start Screen is is a full screen Start Menu with bigger icons that can display dynamic information. In this context, what's the problem?

Edited March 18, 2014 by Arthur

[seawolf]

That's the thing though. For laptop and desktop users, touch is a supplementary input method, not the sole input method used 100% of the time.

 

The Metro interface is designed almost entirely with the idea of a touchscreen in mind though. The large-screen AIO Windows 8 PCs make for fantastic kiosk because of this. And, if MS were intentionally trying to make a great kiosk interface - boy they definitely succeeded.

 

Are people more prone to RSI if they use keyboard cases with their tablets (because it's more-or-less than same form factor as a touch-screen laptop)?

 

I would say yes, absolutely. Putting a keyboard case onto a tablet and using that extensively is even worse than using touchscreen interfaces on a laptop. At least on the laptop, there is the option of using the trackpad and most people would and should use that (making the touchscreen on a laptop or desktop pretty much a "gimmick" and only increasing manufacturing costs). On a tablet, that is not an option (except on the Surface). The fact that there is a trackpad built into the Surface shows that MS did at least realise that using the touchscreen when in "laptop" mode was less than ideal.

 

Without a touchscreen, all the Start Screen is is a full screen Start Menu with bigger icons that can display dynamic information. In this context, what's the problem?

 

The whole interface is designed for touch, so even having to use hot corners and all of the other interface quirks with using Metro on a desktop means much more movement of the mouse to bring up the Metro "start menu". This all adds to the increased likelihood of RSI.

Edited March 18, 2014 by seawolf