Why do Apple, Google and Microsoft want to so desperately hide the filesystem metaphor? Because data not encapsulated by an app is free data
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That ignores empirical data that taught us most humans struggle w file systems. Success of On Location, Spotlight, etc unambiguous.
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. So hide it as a power user feature, don't disable it. Clear anti-competitive agenda there masquerading as usability.
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Tenuous conclusion. Understanding that file systems are problematic metaphors predates current app phenomenon by decades.
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. I find it highly suspicious when "good UX" so obviously favors a business model. The filesystem metaphor can be 100x better
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. The problem is there is no good incentive to improve the filesystem metaphor beyond DOS era levels. Doesn't mean it's "bad"
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. Incredibly patronizing to assume that because users found v 1 from 1988 difficult, they will never find it easy
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Many subsequent attempts were made: Cairo, Pink… yet none took. I'm utterly failing to see economically driven conspiracy.
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I didn't say it was a conspiracy, just normal behavior under incentive structures. No coordination or top-down diktats needed.
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Fair. Still struggling w assertion that econ incentives > usability incentives. Eg web+search engs > gopher because usable+discoverable
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It's more a nature nurture relationship. Economic incentives = nature. UX = what nurture can achieve within that design space.
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Unconvinced. Econ incents more natural than human behav. evolved over eons? More strong brownian motion producer to ponder metaphors…
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