Configurable display panels

[Tomb]

I think this is something that we'll see. I think moreso for well trained
units (SF etc) and it can probably be locked out for recruits. But if it gives
someone an edge, it'll be available to the elite.

[Roger]

Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 08:49:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: Roger Books <books@jumpspace.net>

Do you know how many stupid, worthless, inaffective settings your users would
pick if allowed to chose their view?

[Tomb]

I worked with police dispatchers. The dispatch window was configureable. Base
colour scheme as light blue with some yellow. Easy to read. Yet I've seen some
as had theirs configured in blaze pink and some other atrocious shades. To me,
these shades would hurt the eyes. But apparently they weren't using my eyes.
It made them happier and more productive. And it was readable by others
because some things were fixed
- where the patrol unit status marquee showed up, how an alert showed up
(the icon, whether it flashed, where on the screen it appeared).

You can give people configurable control up to a point. Where that point is
depends on who it is and how well trained they are. And you want to be able to
grab a one click option to restore defaults.

An inability to configure UIs is one of the most singular failures in
usability IMO. It says "we're gonna restrict everyone to the design produced
by the committee". I'm a power user of computers and I absolutely hate this.
The same will undoubtedly be true of elite forces especially once they get
given the option.

If adjusting my image filter a bit into the violet spectra makes me better on
point, then that's great. You don't go friggin around with kit when you're in
the field (unless you're an idiot or desparate). That's
what training is for - to learn what your gear does and how it works
best. Some things need to stay where they are (your wound dressing for
instance) so anyone coming to help you can find it. Some things don't (your
HUD) need to be exactly identical as long as meaning is preserved in some
fashion.

But again, this will come down to troop quality and training. Poorly trained
troops with adjustable equipment will be arsing about, have the settings
wrong, etc. (A great example of this deals with internal configuration of
starship lighting on an alien ship in John Ringo's latest couple of books).
But good troops will setup things for optimal performance.

Roger says he'd rather have 5 guys at 100% than four guys at 103% and one guy
at 30%. I'd rather have four guys at 103% and leave the other guy at 100%
until he gets trained on the gear.....