OK I get that this new tool has more flexibility since it can run on portable devices such as phones, is that right? If so then that has got to be a good thing I guess. And of course the screen is designed differently too - a matter of taste I suppose. But what benefit, or how is it better, than ED shipyard? Don't get me wrong - great job and all that, but not sure that it is all that much better to be honest.
Neither of these tools is actually all that user friendly. Here's just a little example.
I want to choose a Life Support module. There are factors that affect my choice. Weight, power use, and duration in this case. Click the module box on the screen and I see a list of choices but no helpful information. I have to actually choose one and see how it affects everything. Then go and choose another one to see how that affects things and hopefully remember the previous one to decide whether it is better or worse. Then look down the bottom at the ship as a whole to see what the affect has been and this requires searching around to find the appropriate numbers. Just one example.
I want to be positive - I certainly applaud your efforts - but to me the tool is just another representation of what EDS does and doesn't present anything in terms of either a revolutionary or evolutionary step forwards. It's just the same info and mechanics, presented a little differently.
What would be good would be for a design to be done based around how it would actually be used. How does a user use it, hands on? Where are they looking? What info is needed to make choices and how (wnd where) can that be best presented in an intuitive and informationally replete manner? How could colour be better utilised? (it is a little mono-chromatic and an opportunity is therefore wasted). What about fonts, font size and weight variations, and so on. It could be so much more.
