Let's do the Math

This time I'd like to point to something which is in early stage of development. The "OpenOffice.org Usage Feedback Extension" [1]




The OpenOffice.org Usage Feedback Extension is an extension that collects anonymous data about how OpenOffice.org is used. This information is used to better understand how people use OpenOffice.org.

Our plan is to have this extension final on release date of OpenOffice.org 3.0.

As mentioned above, the data will be used to do some statics on the usage of OpenOffice.org. For example: We can better figure out how frequently specific menu- and tool bar items are used. The collected data will help us to create a decision base for user interface changes. It allows us to decide better on defaults, or items displayed by default.

The anonymously collected data will be published in form of diagrams/tables on a page on OpenOffice.org.

As always, feedback and comments are welcome.
Directly here, or on the discussion page of the Extension Specification.

There is momentary nothing to download, but this will change soon.

Stay tuned.

[1] http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/User_Experience/OpenOffice.org_User_Feedback_Extension

OOo User Experience Project Lead Meeting in Hamburg

Sun Microsystems User Experience team had a meeting with Christoph, our OOo User Experience Co-Lead. Christoph stayed in Hamburg to meet his Notes2 iTeam, so we used this opportunity to prepare the upcoming quarterly review for Writer and to discuss general UX related things.


From top left to bottom right: Christoph Noack (OOo UX), Éric Savary (Sun QA), Max Odendahl (OOo Dev), Mathias Bauer (Sun Dev),
Christian Jansen (Sun UX), Andreas Martens (Sun Dev), Frank Loehmann (Sun UX)

I think the meeting was very productive and we also had much fun showing Christoph and Max a little bit of Hamburg at night. After dinner we went down to the harbour to have a look at the Hamburg Cruise Days. Nearly every ship/building was illuminated with blue light.


Blue illuminated Rickmer Rickmers and Disneys Lion King musical hall in the back.

I hope we can repeat those face to face meetings beside our weekly telephone calls.