<div class="gmail_quote">2012/1/28 Harald Schilly <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:harald.schilly@gmail.com">harald.schilly@gmail.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div id=":1c1">I think the reason why code<br>
is on the right is that it is flipped in your brain and the general<br>
idea is that the left hemisphere is more "logical". I don't think that<br>
this is of any significance, but worth considering. (and the more<br>
art-oriented right hemisphere will be happy to have drawings on the<br>
left).</div></blockquote></div><br>I think the notion of predominantly 'logical' and 'creative' hemispheres is now considered a major oversimplification at best. It's the kind of neat 'fact' that seems plausible enough to get repeated without anyone checking it, and can provide a science-y justification for fairly arbitrary decisions. In any case, we focus both eyes on the point we're paying attention to, so I doubt the layout makes any significant difference to where information ends up in the brain. <br>
<br>The idea of placing plots and output on the right was more that cause follows effect, and the languages we're most familiar with are read left to right. Of course, it would make sense to have an option to switch it round.<br>
<br>I wonder: if a user's first language is written right-to-left, when they are writing code left-to-right, will it feel more natural to have [output <- code] or [code -> output]. I'm trying to imagine writing code right-to-left, and I think it would still be clearer to me for the layout to follow my first language's writing system. Would any Arabic or Hebrew speakers on the list like to chip in?<br>
<br>Thomas<br>