#653 4.01 Accessible user interface

[Paul King]

I find the user interface to PGV pretty straightforward
& logical and convenient, but am dismayed to learn that
my elderly relatives do not.

Not one of my relatives so far has even been able even
sign up for an account without intense hand holding by
me (they all seem to miss the requirement to click on
auto reply link to confirm email address)

Once signed in they are absolutely overwhelmed by the
array of options and information on display all at
once, and by the fact that all the links to access the
various functions look different to what they are used
to (usually Micro$oft), and change location and
appearance depending on context.

All so far have simply given up - putting it in the
"too hard" basket. Which means their valuable memories
are lost

Can I request an alternative user interface be created,
at least to glean information from non IT literate
relatives?

More akin to an interactive "wizard" / simple on line
survey form than anything...

Only 3 or 4 options should be visible on each screen,
always consistently placed, and always displayed in a
graphically consistent way - eg as large friendly
buttons.

Data entry and user navigation would occur on a
prompted sequential "flowchart" basis rather than all
being available at once.

All text and graphics should be large size, to
accommodate short sighted people.

All media files they want to attach should be
automatically placed inside a media sub folder
automatically created & named after the individual
being described (this makes it easier for administrator
to find & clean up later if necessary)

I fear without a "dumbed down" version like this, we
are all loosing the essential cooperation and memories
of many family members!

[Patrick Kellum]

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I agree with this 100%, I have the same problem with the
less then computer literate family members.

This is one reason I still think templates would help a lot,
you could have a simple interface for some folks and an
advanced layout for others.

[Pauly]

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You could do most of this by editing your theme, use the CSS
to hide all the features you don't want.

[Paul King]

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I would be looking to relocate & add features as much as
hide them

To enhance user experience, I would be looking to make the
interface less dominated by it's underlying database

To begin with, a new "non technical" user should literally
be presented with a flow charted series of simple questions
to elicit the desired info - eg, "who would you like to add
to the tree", "did this person have any children? (yes/no)"
etc.

All the while, there should be positive feedback &
encouragement in the form of graphical tree network
appearing & growing in front of them (i.e. not on some
separately generated chart!) as they provide the requested
information.

Data entry needs to be made into a rewarding experience for
people with short attention spans and with little tolerance
for or interest in learning how to use "technical" things

A more intuitive & dynamic method of navigation would help a
lot - allowing full editing of data directly wherever it
happens to be displayed - eg directly in charts and lists -
so that editing the material does not remove the chart or
list from view.

The primary form of navigation should be graphical, and
should consist of the user just panning around and zooming
in and out over the entire family tree as if it were a
google road map. Relatives could locate known & unknown
people graphically & intuitively via "landmarks" of known
relatives and their displayed connections - editing as they
go (pop up windows would contain details for editing, media
etc).

The current search by name & soundex feature is useful but
is still inherently a comparatively tedious interruption
because it draws the user away from the action - which is
the unfolding stories and connections of people generation
by generation.

The happy prospect of discovering a relative you have never
heard of is far less likely if you need to already know some
of the connections or a surname etc.

Sailing overhead looking down on a map & exploring all the
twists & turns you see is just more FUN

For ease of understanding, interface needs to be very much
about instant visual feedback, and needs to follow intuitive
patterns of understanding elderly people are already able
to relate to - e.g. reading and following the roads on a map.

There should be no changes of view required to edit
different aspects of database - user should always be in
visual contact with the map (even if popup/sidebar windows
are used for detail) users should see & control resulting
linkages visually as much as via text data Fields.

Hope this ramble makes sense!
Hope it also appeals to someone with the ability to
implement it!