We’ve used the classic ERDAS IMAGINE UI for quite a long time now. The problem, as with so many expert systems, is that much of the functionality is buried in layers and layers of menus, sub-menus, sub-sub-menus, and sub-sub-menu tabs. Furthermore, as development effort has accumulated over the decades, we’ve seen tools diversify, develop their own semantics, and meander off on their own path. Here at the ERDAS IMAGINE development team, we decided to redo the over 200 man-years of IP we have in our desktop suite and build an improved user experience, without redoing the most knowledge intensive aspects.
In other words, we had to provide a massively improved user experience, without changing the core user experience. If that sounds paradoxical, that’s because, at a basic level, it is. The thing is, we like a challenge.
In all seriousness, this presented a difficult problem. So we broke it down until it became less difficult.
First, we identified three of our most-used applications: the Viewer, the Map Composer and IMAGINE VirtualGIS. It quickly became apparent that without some level of experience, using these applications, separately or together, was difficult. Next, we identified major workflows in each application and across applications. Then, we decided to look at the tools available.
We were intrigued by The Ribbon, which is a relatively new way of replacing menus and toolbars in modern software. We tested it and, after some quick prototyping, we quite liked what we saw.
Finally, we needed a way to integrate workflows within each application and across multiple applications. Appropriately armed with whiteboards, Post-IT notes, and large sheets of paper, we attacked our identified workflows. Before too long, an integrated workspace developed. Project EWOK (ERDAS WOrKspace) was born.
EWOK allows us to tie together a heterogeneous set of applications in a simple, easy to use, and easy to learn UI. Other useful features fall out as a natural result, which is something we love seeing: the ability to have multiple views, to visualize data in different modes; custom workflows, allowing the development and packaging of specialized workflows; and a “Shoebox” data repository, so project teams can quickly share datasets, to name a few.
Over the last few months, we have seen Project EWOK grow, and are immensely proud of it. It really is much easier to use, making the labyrinth that is ERDAS IMAGINE navigable. I’ll be talking about a few specific highlights (including multiple views, custom workflows, the shoebox and more) in this space.
Stay tuned.