[IxDA Discuss] The old Play/Pause toggle

[Sudhindra Venkatesha Murthy]

Interesting thread !!

>>I think the basic problem is that it is unclear whether it displays
the current state (I am playing) or the action >>that the button will
trigger (click to play). 

In the iPod, the play or pause indicates the "current state" whereas in
the iTunes, it indicates the action the button will trigger.  It is
quite confusing in the context of the iPod/iTunes because they are
inter-related hardware/software. A person using iPod invariably uses
iTunes and this contradiction is bound to cause confusion. I am not even
sure if the other mp3 players such as Creative follow the same
convention. 

Personally, I could understand the iPod's pause and play as current
status indicator and could remember it much better than I anticipated
but  when using iTunes, the button still makes me think whether it
indicates "action" or "current status", though it's a standard across
all music players.

<my 2 cents>

Best Regards
Sudhindra


-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com
[mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com]
Sent: 23 August 2006 21:47
To: ixda
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] The old Play/Pause toggle

[Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
material.]

>
> Seriously - can someone please explain why this question about the 
> usability of the Play/Pause toggle is even a question?

I think the basic problem is that it is unclear whether it displays the
current state (I am playing) or the action that the button will trigger
(click to play).

IMO, Mark Holtzer hits a (or maybe the) key consideration - whether
there are other cues or not. If I can see a progress bar moving, or a
counter counting, and hear audio at nearly all times that it is in play
mode (or all 3), the toggle is a more viable solution.

Just my two cents.   If you don't like this answer, please pick from  
the following:

A.  do your own testing
B.   it depends


MT


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