Ubuntu Wiki

• Launchpad Entry: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/kubuntu-system-settings-usability

• Created: 2006-06-12 by el

• Contributors: el

• Packages affected:

Summary

System Settings is a major usability gain for Kubuntu over the default KDE's KControl. Here we review the layout and inclusion of modules in System Settings to improve usability further.

Rationale

The high number and partial redundancy of configuration modules in Kubuntu's system settings makes it hard to find configuration options. This is especially problematic for first-time users who want to set up their basic system (network, hardware, appearance). If they do not succeed, they are likely to de-install Kubuntu before even probing to use it for everyday tasks.

Use cases

• Jon installs Kubuntu. After the initial startup, the user goes to System Settings to set up the network and the appearance for his desktop. He then adds a new user for his girlfriend.
• Maisie has been using Kubuntu for a while and wants to add a printer, she wonders where to do so.

Scope

The Kubuntu System Settings should be an easy tool to set up the system. KDE power users who want the full and complex functionality can fall back to KControl.

For Edgy, we will concentrate on improving the current first-level structure of System Settings, i.e. modules like Desktop, Network or Printer. While unneeded modules are removed, the remaining ones are first of all grouped by categories that are set up by *everybody* who has permissions to administrate the PC then by modules that are only needed in fewer cases. In both areas, the modules are then grouped in usage-related categories.

As far as possible, the modules themselves will be streamlined by removing unneeded submodules and ordering them by priority. Where obviously necessary, submodules will be moved to a new category.

Procedure

The system settings will be optimised in continuous interaction between development and usability. At the Ubuntu Summit in Paris we made a first attempt to separate relevant from less relevant modules and find a better information architecture. This preliminary design will be refined using several methods of usability engineering.

The usability contributor has started to perform user tests with the preliminary information architecture and labels to refine them gradually. This process of refinement will continue until the development has finished to separate sub modules that have to be moved to other categories.

Design

First-level separation

On the first level, modules will be separated into modules needed by every user versus modules needed by only specific use cases. Buttons to switch between the two views will be placed on the toolbar. Their current working title is "General Settings" and "Advanced Settings" and will be refined during the ongoing user tests.

General settings:

• Appearance
• Desktop
• Sound and Multimedia
• User Account

• Regional (Regional & Accessiblity should be split into two)

• Accessibility

• Keyboard & Mouse (including joystick)

• Printers
• Display
• Sharing
• Bluetooth
• Network
• Date and Time
• User Management
• Power Control
• Storage Media
• Zeroconf

Specific settings:

• Connections
• Login Manager
• Disk and Filesystems
• System Services
• KDE components
• Storage Media
• Font installer

Dropped settings:

• Panel, available through the panel menu. Launch feedback then needs to be moved to the panel configuration dialogue.
• Digital Camera, no longer needed if we include Digikam
• Security and Privacy, available through KWallet which is launched by default
• Desktop sharing, available through krdc

Categories

The modules in each first-level area need to be grouped in categories.

To have sane categories is crucial for the findability of the configuration options. The below suggested categories therefore need to be verified by appropriate usability methods. Preliminary categories:

General Settings (Working Title):

Personal

• About Me (== User Account)

• Date, Time & Timezone

• Region & Language

  • Country/Region & Language (without shortcuts, keyboard layout, input actions)

  • Spell Checker
• Accessibility
  • Accessibility
  • Input Actions

Look & Feel

• Appearance
  • Colors
  • Fonts
    • Font Installer
  • Icons
  • Style
  • Window Decorations
• Desktop
  • Background
  • Screensaver
  • Behavior
  • Multiple Desktops
• Splashscreen
• Window Behavior
  • Window Behavior
  • Window-Specific Settings
• Notifications
  • System Notifications
  • System Bell

Computer Administration

• Keyboard & Mouse (including shortcuts, keyboard layout and input actions; mouse; Joystick)

• Display & Monitor

• Printers
• Sound (Arts)
• Power Management
• User Management
  • Users
  • Groups

Network & Connectivity

• Network Settings
  • Network Interfaces
  • Routes
  • DNS
  • Network Profiles
  • Advanced: Zeroconf
• Sharing
  • File Sharing
  • Local Network Browsing
• Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Services
  • Paired Bluetooth Devices

Specific Settings (Working Title):

System Administration (Working Title)

• Disk and Filesystems
• System Services
• Login Manager
• Connections

Removable Devices

• Storage Media
• Audio CDs

KDE Components (Working Title)

• Default Applications
• KDE Resources
• Service Manager
• Session Manager

[http://ellen.reitmayr.net/downloads/SystemSettings.mm see freemind mindmap]

Accessibility

Keyboard navigation in System Settings needs to be fixed to ensure arrow keys move between icons as expected and tab moves between categories.

Internationalisation

The Personal menu lacks a .directory file meaning it can not be translated, this needs to be added.

Loading Speed

At the moment System Settings loads all modules in a category when the user clicks on that category. To speed up loading it should only load a module when that specific module is needed.

CategorySpec