This is an interesting design, and I think I'd like it if it behaved this way. It would also take care of one minor problem I have with the current UI: The "Confirm/Enter" button is the same as the "Visual Select" button, so if I confirm something once too many times, I accidentally change the visual. ("Damnit, where'd my Hula Hoops go?!")

There's only one problem with that design: The functions would not be immediately obvious to the user and are not self-explanatory. In other words, most users would have to read the manual to understand how they worked. (Or, if they were of the hacker mentality, they could figure it out by messing around with it.)

That's a tough call to make when you're designing a user interface: Simplicity vs. Power. The best user interfaces can offer both, but when you have things like limited controls and a limited display, you don't always have the luxury of being able to offer both.

Hugo, how do you feel about that balance between simplicity and power? Do you have an imaginary "target" user that you carefully design the UI for, or do you improvise the UI design?

Tony Fabris
Empeg #144