While studying WPF as new tool for applications with a device-independent resolution, I read that you can make animations rendered with DirectX graphics engine.
So I was wondering if it's worth learning to build animations for business applications ... At first time, I came to my mind charts, any suggestions? What other animation uses in a business interface?
You are mixing two questions that should be answered separately:
To that second question I would answer NO. I see users that love their console-based application as it is lightning fast, straight to the point, with a standardized and predictable behavior.
The only situation where I would accept animation in a business application is when it gives you additional information. If a chart animates showing you the evolution of some data over time, that's useful. If it's just a fancy animation that you have to wait for to read the data, don't add it.
A few cases where animation can be helpful in business applications:
In general animations aren't really that useful in any application if it's used day in day out by an experienced user. They tend to get in the way (at least in my experience). However, that's not to say that you shouldn't build animations into your application.
Animations work best for the occasional user and for demonstrations.
For the former they reinforce that something is happening and, if done right, can draw the attention to the important part of the screen.
For the latter they look good, if done right, when presenting the application in a sales situation. It makes your application look dynamic and in these days of iPods, iPads and smart phones "modern".
To satisfy these two requirements you will need to build in animations, but have an easy way of turning them off.
