[KLUG Members] Alert Annoyance

[Tim Gray]

On Friday 16 July 2004 12:03 am, Andrew Thompson wrote:
> Has this ever happened to you?
>
> You're seated at your machine, typing away at whatever, when suddenly
> the system pops up an alert box. You're typing so fast that before you
> even know it, you've hit space, enter, whatever, and before you know
> what even happened, the OK button flashes, the message vanishes, and you
> don't know WHAT the HELL you just agreed to?!

Why yes, that has happened to me... 

> So here's my thought, and if anyone has any ideas on how to implement
> such a thing, please do feel free to share. I think it would be nice if,
> instead of taking the first keystroke they catch, these alerts would
> wait, like, two or three seconds before accepting keystroke events.
> Actual button clicks they could still take immediately, I think. It
> seems less likely that a user would click right where a button popped up
> before realizing it was there, but that could be an option, too.
>
> I've pondered this little problem before, and the keystroke delay is the
> first idea I've had that hasn't seemed TOO intrusive. Any opinions?
> Thoughts on how to do it? Anyone?

Instead of trying to invent a new feline derma seperation implement 
(catskinner), you might want to try looking at your window manager and check 
the setting for how window focus is handled.  Chances are you can set it up 
so that the focus isn't grabbed by new windows (might take some getting used 
to as you'd then have to click new dialog boxes, etc.) or somesuch.  
Basically tinker, configure to taste and see if that helps.

-- 
--Tim Gray