RobiNZ CAD Blog

"Matt Writes" on a new User Inteface

Given the focus of the latest AutoCAD release, a new UI, I found this recent blog post interesting reading:

Matt Writes - dezignstuff.com/blog/:
“The 2008 interface is only the latest salvo in this war on their customers. The 2008 interface throws away all of the knowledge and training that loyal customers have accumulated over the years, mainly for the benefit of people who have never used the software - potential new sales to reluctant-to-change 2D users. Is this any way to treat your loyal customers? Yank the rug out from underneath them? What’s wrong with a familiar interface for a tool? We are not talking women’s fashion, we are not talking styling, we are talking about how we interact with an engineering tool that needs to remain familiar. There is no benefit in random change.” [continues]

The UI in question? SolidWorks 2008 (released July 2007) with it’s version of the ribbon. Matt's “reluctant-to-change 2D users” being targeted by the new UI? AutoCAD users who have just been ribboned!

Who’s on first…

SolidSmack and the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Although I don’t use SolidWorks I do read SolidSmack – a SolidWorks focused blog. The “how to" posts aren’t much use to me but there is a wealth of other content on product design, technology and other cool stuff that keeps me reading.

I suspect Josh has been touched by the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodly appendages. His “5 minute model” combined with his site logo (below) resembles a cubist FSM.

SolidSmack.com - www.solidsmack.com
I created the below model in just over 5 minutes. Fun stuff.

It’s already appeared in AutoCAD, DWF/Freewheel (thanks to Robert Grandmaison), MindManager and Second Life. Will the Flying Spaghetti Monster spontaneously appear in Revit, ArchiCAD, Inventor and other design applications? Is it a sign?

 

Tags: SolidSmack, Flying+Spaghetti+Monster