I've recently been in a discussion on the Inkscape list about a potential feature for Inkscape. In the end, it doesn't look like it will be implemented as part of Inkscape. While I never wish to discourage a feature or a developer, it seems that in the end, the user must win. We can't overwrite user's files without warning them, and we can't significantly alter the way that output file formats work. Both are bad.

This morning I got some support from reading Jef Raskin:

The system should treat all user input as sacred and -- to paraphrase Asimov's first law of robotics, "A robot shall not harm a human, or, through inaction, allow a human to come to harm" (Asimov 1977, p. 44). The first law of interface design should be: A computer shall not harm your work or, through inaction, allow your work to come to harm.
The Humane Interface, Jef Raskin, ACM Press 2000, p. 6
It is nice to have support in making a user decision from someone with such renown for user focused design.


posted Aug 30, 2005 | permanent link