Comments on: Please note that the progress bar may reach the end before all files have been copied. http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/12/23/progressbar-reaches-end/ General musings and programming stuff Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:22:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: Steve Campbell http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/12/23/progressbar-reaches-end/#comment-8304 Wed, 04 Jan 2006 20:10:03 +0000 http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/12/23/progressbar-reaches-end/#comment-8304 I think the progress bar is overused in its current format. We need a new UI to represent progress in a way that is more realistic given the (often) unknown nature of any progress. What do users want to know when the system is performing a task? 1) Is it busy or has it crashed? 2) Shall I sit and stare at the screen, or go away and make a cup of coffee? A progress bar fulfills (1) relatively well, but (2) is not so obvious. I think the progress bar is overused in its current format. We need a new UI to represent progress in a way that is more realistic given the (often) unknown nature of any progress.

What do users want to know when the system is performing a task?
1) Is it busy or has it crashed?
2) Shall I sit and stare at the screen, or go away and make a cup of coffee?

A progress bar fulfills (1) relatively well, but (2) is not so obvious.

]]> by: Alex Danvy http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/12/23/progressbar-reaches-end/#comment-7558 Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:42:26 +0000 http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/12/23/progressbar-reaches-end/#comment-7558 I just installed Windows Vista December CTP and found the same behaviour. I took me 3 hours to install under Microsoft Virtual PC. 1 hour to reach the 100% and 2 hours waiting for... I don't know what. I just installed Windows Vista December CTP and found the same behaviour. I took me 3 hours to install under Microsoft Virtual PC. 1 hour to reach the 100% and 2 hours waiting for… I don’t know what.

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