Comments on: The RightClickToRefresh Itch

By: Mihika Singh Verma

Mihika Singh Verma — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:55:24 +0000

So considering my laptop is infinitely old and slows down more everyday, I tend to click on the the Clean Up button out of sheer desperation. Guess what though, the moment my computer starts hanging, I “Clean Up” and it starts working smoothly again. I know it is completely silly but it works! Also, I think “Clean Up” gives me moral support that I very often need!

By: Siddharth Vanchinathan

Siddharth Vanchinathan — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:19:46 +0000

I think points 3 & 4 would probably be good explanations for the itch. The title of 3 should be Compulsive Order! Yes, the feeling is that you are creating order, but from a developer point of view, I’m not sure what RCTR actually achieves on the OS. It’s a placebo effect methinks.

By: Anuj Bugga

Anuj Bugga — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:22:15 +0000

This is interesting. I have several theories to explain it. Not very convinced about any one in particular

1. Sheer Boredom
2. Psychological Dominance – Are we trying to assert ourselves on our machine?
3. Compulsive Disorder – There is something inherently satisfying about RCTR. It feels like we are creating order by executing it.
4. In Between Task – Let’s say you close an application and are still thinking what to do next? You don’t want to just be sitting idle. So RCTR!

What do you think?

By: Vikram

Vikram — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:53:47 +0000

We belong to an impatient culture dude… I think RCTR, even if it triggers hourglass for some random amount of time, is a brialliant idea from software perspective. They have kept the user in mind while developing it. Of course, I am assuming that it does nothing.

By: Siddharth Vanchinathan

Siddharth Vanchinathan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:24:14 +0000

that’s a very valid point and it’s important to let the user know that there’s something going on. even if it’s a meaningless blinking light.

and btw i could do the micro speed RightClickToRefresh. I used to practice it in college

By: Ganesh Rao

Ganesh Rao — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:35:30 +0000

I used to do the click-drag more often than click-refresh on Windows. I think, it’s got to do with the way we perceive computers and machines. We constantly want to see something moving/happening on the screen, otherwise we subconsciously tend to think that things are getting slow or perhaps hung (at least that’s what I feel).

After I shifted to Mac, I find myself doing the hot-corner reveals more often than anything. I like looking at the reveal widgets/desktop/all-windows and the icon-zoom-animations on the dock. Especially when I just have one hand on any input device and nothing significant to do. I think it’s like doodling, we don’t do it consciously but we all tend to do similar things.

Also, I think it has to do with the gesture involved and performing the gesture like a micro-speed-challenge. The whole action: right-click, move-mouse-down, left-click, becomes a gesture, and people who do it repetitively try to do it in the most efficient and quick way. I’ve seen people do it even before the menu fully pops/slide open (incredible!).

By: Siddharth Vanchinathan

Siddharth Vanchinathan — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:37:49 +0000

ah! i never knew that the white translucent rectangle fades away instead of disappearing.

By: Navneet

Navneet — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:27:36 +0000

Hey Sid.. good entry! Have always had this itch. I’ve seen many people do it. I’ve noticed a pattern too. This seems to be more device dependent than software dependant. I say that because I find myself refreshing less often with a touchpad or a graphic tablet than with a mouse.

Like the sound of “The Zero of User Experience”. It’s like the “cap” of a pen. You want to put the cap back on the pen after using it and sometimes get mad if it gets lost. Some people like it so much, they get annoying clicking episodes with their pens.

I’ve recently switched to Mac OSX as well, but instead of using Clean Up, I drag a rectangle over an area of the desktop several times. It creates an interesting visual effect.