Andrew, Usability in the OpenSource environment seems to be a science of it's own and your statement reminds me of an article by Nichols & Twidale -- The Usability of Open Source Software. http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue8_1/nichols/ The text will provide a better understanding in which situation/environment usability discussions take place in the OS development process.
I just think that the open sharing of ideas is just as important as the open sharing of code, yet it practically never happens. I'd also like to contribute my expertise (graphic design & usability) as would many other people yet even discussing the topic in public is pretty much prohibited.
Hey, I just reckon if you let (and encourage) people talk about what they would like, many good ideas may come of it.
At the moment, we do not know much in detail about the developers and the users of openSUSE. So we try to get information via our "Online Survey Project", the openSUSE 10.2 online questionnaire was only the first step to collect real data and will be available soon. Perhaps this and other information will us enable to create clear defined primary (and/or) secondary Personas. I think, the challenge will be to combine the "normal user view" with the "Geek/Sysadmin user view" because the openSUSE is the base for Server and Desktop development. To implement the general use of the Personas into the OS development process will be another project ;) Greetings! Sigi -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-usability+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-usability+help@opensuse.org