RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] multiple screens vs. one big one was Re: Text file description of GUI...

Hi Ballendo -

Yes, I understand now. I haven't seen the Master5 GUI, but I
agree with you about separating the info across separate screens,
like Sean has depicted in the sample GUI images he posted to the
Photos section. Art Volta also separates info into different
windows in his G-code Controller, but in a completely different
way. I wish he could do it like Sean shows, but I understand the
logic behind his madness.

Thanks,

Carlos Guillermo
VERVE Engineering & Design

-----Original Message-----
From: ballendo [mailto:ballendo@...]
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 5:45 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] multiple screens vs. one big one was
Re: Text file description of GUI...

Carlos,

Think of it this way: You can see a movie on a drive-in screen, a
movie theatre screen, your television, or your mediaplayer window.

Now let's say the movie has some information you need to read
easily
(a product placement "ad" you paid big bucks for<G>). On the large
screens, you can easily do this. On the smaller screens you can't
see
things very clearly...

So what Sean and I are saying is that we would rather see "less"
on
EACH screen (of a multiple screen interface), so that each "part"
ON
that screen can be larger. (like commercial controls)

Compared to the other two options currently available on PC-based
controllers: All on one screen, better have a big monitor, or VERY
good eyes. OR, All on one screen, but we only get to see part of
that
screen. (Since our screen resolution is smaller than the screen
was
designed for.)

For example, In Master5, it is all on one screen, so with a small
monitor(assuming the small monitor can EVEN DO 1024x768!), it is
like
watching the movie on a tiny tv (or, since Art has included scroll
bars when screen resolution is less than 1024x768; it becomes
similar
to looking at the large movie screen through the cut out bottom of
a "cereal" box...(only seeing part at a time)

So it's a question of "requiring" a large screen to be functional,
vs. "allowing" a large screen to be more useful.

When you change/increase the screen settings on your computer
monitor, you are doing it for one of two reasons (or both):
1)To make each object bigger. 2)To fit "more" objects into your
view.

Does this make sense?

Ballendo

P.S. I had asked Art during the "early days" to use 640x480 in his
design, but he said he "needed" 1024x768. Maybe If I had
understood
the reason he wanted it was because he was putting everything on
one
screen, I could have "made my case" differently.

At any rate, numerous "usability" studies have shown that multiple
screens are less likely to result in errors of input(and mistakes
in
interpretation of output); which is certainly a concern for this
product (a cnc control).