Open source usability
Poor usability and bad interface design are a problems wich prevent opensource software from widespread use and market success. Frans Englich adresses in his article on NewsForge this problem from the perspective that software usability is a technical issue that Open Source developers can and should face and conquer.
Extract:
"If I want to learn programming in Python, device driver development for Linux, or object orientation, I can consult countless HOWTOs, online books, FAQs and email list archives. If these sources don't answer my questions, I can ask the community through an IRC channel or email list and almost always get a reply based on the community's decades of collective wisdom.
But If I want to learn how to write phrases understandable by users or what colors to use that still allow color-blind people to use my software or how to best name categories for efficient navigation, I can do nothing but listen to people's opinions in the matter. Where is the open source community's pool of facts and knowledge covering usability issues?"
Related Links:
Open source usability is a technical problem we can solve on our own