Re: Weird fuel behavior

[Eric McDonald <mcdonald at phy dot cmich dot edu>]

Hans Ronne wrote:

> > I like the idea of panes on the side, as opposed to the bottom or top.
> > Makes the aspect ratio of the main map closer to that of a square.
> > Question is, are sides the most comfortable for the human eye?
>
>
> I doubt that. It was pointed out a long time ago that most computer games
> have this stuff in arow at the bottom, just where the instrument panel in a
> car is located, and probably for the same reason. 

Like the fact that the firewall separating the cockpit from the engine 
compartment is located there (in most cars)? ;-) Why put the dash board 
near the roof of the car or off to the side, if the bottom is already 
blocked? I think that could simply be a matter of not wasting viewable area.

> I don't think most users
> would prefer a square map window, but rather a wider "panoramic" view. 

All those houses with square windows....

> This
> is after all what we are used to since we live on a surface (the Earth) so
> the human brain is probably hard-wired to like it.

The reason why I posed the question is because a similar evolutionary 
conjecture had crossed my mind as well. However, I was hoping that 
someone would chime in with an ergonomic or interface design study that 
would more strongly suggest a resolution to the wide rectangle vs. 
square question.

Eric