One design fits all? - Usability check for Ribbon interface

Miao Wang / Wednesday, October 5, 2011

As a user experience architect, I’m always curious to see how good design involves users into an engaging ambience by checking their first time interaction. As recently Microsoft released its Windows 8 OS based on Ribbon interface, the debate about its usability from experienced and new users drew our attention that whether Ribbon interface is really that bad from usability perspective.

1. Visibility of system

In Windows 8 Explorer, Ribbon interface has replaced the previously available menu / tool bar and displays most functions in the header space. This would likely benefit new users more because many functions are pulled out of the menu and visibly available on the screen all the time; whereas experienced users will complain for the double-sized header space but slower access to functions without keyboard shortcuts. In this case, Ribbon interface does a good job on visibility for inexperienced users to reduce the short-term memory load, but increases the visual density with lower flexibility and efficiency for expert users.

2. Consistency and standards

On the upper left corner of the screen is a new File button, and it opens up a list of management options in a fairly new menu with different layout and interaction pattern from other function tabs in the header. A bunch of frequently used files and places are available here for a quick access, which is quite useful. However, for both experience and new users, this action is beyond what they expected from the previous operation experience and make them wonder. Besides, the inconsistency of Ribbon interface from the former Windows OS diminishes the learnability for expert users and it takes more time for them to find certain functions based on the old standard.

3. User control and freedom

Many users comment that the header in Ribbon interface takes up quite the amount of space. In fact, users are allowed to double click the function tab so that the upper-middle part can be hided with only tab names visible. Also, the shortcut key will show up if left mouse click “alt” in keyboard. Again, all these easy-pass controls need a clear mark for users without having to go through all the extended dialogues.

Redmondmag.com reported that power users feel the ribbons take "too much time and patience to learn." versus a fairly good acceptance by users except highly experienced users.*

As Ribbon interface offers functionality on the context where user is working, it provides a big potential to be implemented in the complex work-flow driven systems rather than generic document editing and file managing application.

* Source from Wikipedia