Well it looks like the roll WordPress has been on finally came to a grinding halt. 3.8 has created some serious usability issues. It looks like mid-life crisis time has finally arrived for WP creators.

Why would anyone in their right mind abandon backward compatibility on the usability front? 3.7 was the pinnacle of perfection for easy-on-the-eye reading that made it super easy to quickly pick out what you wanted. This was due not only to careful use of the right contrast but also to various techniques for separating different components on the page. Now that is all out the window.

In 3.8 fonts may be larger but they are harder to read due to contrast issues. And individual things on a page a harder to find quickly. The whole things reduces productivity big time and is going to create difficulties for people with sensitive eyes and imperfect vision. That is one of the foundation stones of usability, so what is going on here?

I was stunned to upgrade to 3.8 and without any warning be forced into this admin downgrade. Every usability specialist ought to know that white text on a black background is a huge usability issue. Yet that is the default sidebar color scheme! The very first thing i did when i saw that was look for an option to use the old 'classic' style, but alas no one seems to have thought it was important to preserve continuity in this area. This exemplifies the same attitude that makes opponents of smart meters so livid. You took away my nice usable admin without notice and without giving me a choice!

As a WordPress developer the WordPress team and future has just been downgrading in my mind by several basis points. WordPress is over the hill now.