Why Star Trek’s User-Interfaces Suck
May 4, 2009 by Rico Mossesgeld
Filed under Ramblings of a Gadget Geek
Has anyone realized that—aside from the apparently unresolved questions of FTL travel and matter transmission—Star Trek is an impossible future? Especially, if you’re talking about user interfaces.
Well, the TNG variant at least. The “Okudagrams” that characterize the controls of the USS Enterprise-D (as well other ships within the same timeframe) actually seem counter-intuitive. Granted, the bright colors and adaptability—similar to how an iPhone changes whats on screen depending on what app is running—make the futuristic interface look cool. But nobody’s ever considered just how easy it is to use (or not).
