Basic Menu - Application Choices

[Andy Trevor]

Jim McQuillan wrote:
> On Wed, September 6, 2006 11:35 am, Richard Weideman wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Jordan (aka LaserJock) is working on dynamic menus.
>> https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/edubuntu-dynamic-menus
>>
>> "What I was thinking was having a basic .menu that would have the most
>> common items straight in the Applications menu so users don't have to
>> dig around sub-menus, then on top of that build subject-based sub-menus.
>> Stuff like Science, Art, Math, Writing, etc."
>>
>> He has a simple question for now:
>>
>> What would you expect to see on a common base menu for all users. We've
>> had the following suggestions:
>>
>> * calculator
>> * firefox
>> * gedit
>> * oo document
>> * oo spreadsheet
> 
> You have 'calculator' which is a generic tool, and then you have 'firefox'
> which is a specific application.
> 
> Both of those represent different ways of specifying what the user is
> allowed to do.
> 
> I think that students should learn the generic terms for doing things,
> without getting hung up on specific tools.
> 
> Therefore, I'd favor a menu like this:
> 
>   * Calculator
>   * Web Browser
>   * Text Editor
>   * Word processor
>   * Spreadsheet
> 
> If you use terms like 'firefox' then the students will be lost if they sit
> down at a computer that doesn't have that specific application.
> 
> I know i'd MUCH rather have my kids learn how to use a "spreadsheet" than
> how to use 'Excel'.
> 
> 
> Ciao,
> Jim McQuillan
> jam at Ltsp.org
> 
> 
> 

I agree with Jim.

We build our menus for Cutter (KDE) using generic terms.  Kids/Staff
understand "Web Browser" they may not get "Firefox"

-- 
Regards

Andy Trevor
Technical Director

Tel: 07840 988311

Cutter Project Limited

http://www.cutterproject.co.uk