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PLEX, this last week pushed out changes to its ROKU users (I am one). That made using PLEX nearly impossible for some people. Light and Dark gray color palate. White text on light gray background, to the point of the PLEX 1/4 screen height logo and spinning-working throbber being lost on the background.
So war ensues... See Plex.tv support forums if you must.
My question to you all, "What is TECH's responsibility to the Handicapped?".
Should good TECH also have a backdoor method allowing those with usability issues to still use the product, when TECH changes directions? What about lifetime pre-paid services that are now unusable? Should there be immediate return of funds, so we can buy the second best solution (now the best choice for us)? Should any change be signed off by a third party auditor to insure continued usability?
So again, asked differently, what is TECH's moral responsibility?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by J_Darnley on Tuesday December 18 2018, @12:49AM (2 children)
> Light and Dark gray color palate. White text on light gray background
Probably the ultimate sin. Either white on black, or black on white. Perhaps an "off white" as the background is permissible. I bet this change was coupled with a lightweight font.
> a backdoor method allowing those with usability issues to still use the product
If a "backdoor" exists it is for all people to use. I'm not against that. I like to abuse my software to use it in the manner I deem appropriate.
> What about lifetime pre-paid services that are now unusable?
No doubt some legalese gets them out of having to provide some service in perpetuity. Don't go for a license or service that can be revoked. Buy.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday December 18 2018, @01:14AM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday December 19 2018, @06:19PM
What the fuck happened to just making software CONFIGURABLE?
I do not want black on white nor white on black. Too much damn eye strain. Obviously the colors must be distinct enough to quickly and clearly tell the difference, but once that is accomplished the next goal is for the full screen to maintain a similar brightness so your eyes aren't constantly adjusting every time you glace to a different part of the screen. If you decide you're going to force the entire goddamn world to use your one and only color scheme, then you can't possibly hit the right balance for every single person's eyesight and monitor configuration and everything else. Give me ten options, you can probably get pretty close. Let me punch in my own damn color codes, and it'll be perfect for anyone who wants it to be.
We need more of this, definitely. I wouldn't call it a "backdoor" though; I'd call it "obeying the Unix philosophy". Make each program as small as possible. Split the backend from the UI, and give me the information I need to control that backend with CLI arguments or by hand-crafting TCP packets if I really feel like doing it that way. This also makes it easy for someone else to produce an alternative UI that might work better for some users. But that requires companies to actually consider their users rather than just their profits....
Open source does this pretty well though. You can fork the whole damn project...or you can just contribute the code for a checkbox in the settings menu that will do what you need. Usually that's a pretty easy choice. In my experience, open source projects generally (though certainly not always) have much more robust configuration options, and I suspect this reason is a large part of that.
If you bought a "perpetual" license for any kind of software product, you're a goddamn moron (their marketing department are scumbags too, but that goes without saying). Should be pretty obvious they can't actually provide that. Get them to guarantee some minimum lifespan in the license so you can know what the hell you're actually buying...otherwise you might as well just take that money to a casino.