Comments on: Write the manual first. http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/ -- aza | ɐzɐ -- Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:31:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sex http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-11320 Sex Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:59:07 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-11320 I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user. I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user.

]]> By: porno http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-11216 porno Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:32:27 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-11216 I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user. I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user.

]]> By: Zayıflama Lida Fx15 Ve Biber Hapı Zlfvbh http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-10215 Zayıflama Lida Fx15 Ve Biber Hapı Zlfvbh Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:03:49 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-10215 I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user.Hapı Zlfvbh I bug digital watches because analog clocks are difficult to read. The prominence of the minute hand over the hour hand is practical but confusing and illogical. The need to multiple by 5 to get the exact minutes is an additional mental strain for the user.Hapı Zlfvbh

]]> By: Pavol Vaskovic http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3606 Pavol Vaskovic Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:45:00 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3606 Aza, I'm interested in your response to Jesse Andrews. It is also my experience, that writing software documentation is an excellent way to discover all the conceptual inconsistencies and cognitive hard edges of the program. If you can't explain it easily, that its definitely not easy to use in practice. But I was also in position described by Jesse, designing a new UI for a product. Whiteboard concepts and paper prototypes got me only so far... Sometimes it is necessary to build the real thing and iterate few versions, to get excellent results. I'm not sure how the "manual first" rule applies there. Aza, I’m interested in your response to Jesse Andrews.

It is also my experience, that writing software documentation is an excellent way to discover all the conceptual inconsistencies and cognitive hard edges of the program. If you can’t explain it easily, that its definitely not easy to use in practice.

But I was also in position described by Jesse, designing a new UI for a product. Whiteboard concepts and paper prototypes got me only so far… Sometimes it is necessary to build the real thing and iterate few versions, to get excellent results. I’m not sure how the “manual first” rule applies there.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3346 Kevin Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:16:35 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3346 I commented on my own blog, I don't think it has its place here, but you can read it if you want : http://kevinbongart.net/blog/2009/01/08/write-the-manual-first/ I commented on my own blog, I don’t think it has its place here, but you can read it if you want :

http://kevinbongart.net/blog/2009/01/08/write-the-manual-first/

]]> By: Robby Macdonell http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3321 Robby Macdonell Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:57:53 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3321 Writing a manual totally feels right as a part of the design and exploration process, both as a sanity-check for complexity and a way to make sure a feature is relevant to a real human need. I can see having a coherent man page as a requirement before any production-code is written (or whatever the equivalent is for non-software products). But I'd agree with what Jesse said above, I'm not so sure about the "write first" part implied by the title. Writing an end-user document as a way to define features seems a bit problematic. Writing a manual totally feels right as a part of the design and exploration process, both as a sanity-check for complexity and a way to make sure a feature is relevant to a real human need. I can see having a coherent man page as a requirement before any production-code is written (or whatever the equivalent is for non-software products).

But I’d agree with what Jesse said above, I’m not so sure about the “write first” part implied by the title. Writing an end-user document as a way to define features seems a bit problematic.

]]> By: Havvy http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3315 Havvy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:39:49 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3315 Great article. You have a typo though: "Remember, though, it’s not the their fault." The "the" is not needed. I've been trying to write a manual (wiki type) for a Web IRC client, and it does get tough to write something that you think newbies will understand, acts as a reference for more experienced users, and it does get difficult. Still, it increases my knowledge of it. Great article. You have a typo though: “Remember, though, it’s not the their fault.” The “the” is not needed.

I’ve been trying to write a manual (wiki type) for a Web IRC client, and it does get tough to write something that you think newbies will understand, acts as a reference for more experienced users, and it does get difficult. Still, it increases my knowledge of it.

]]> By: Henrik N http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3313 Henrik N Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:47:25 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3313 I've read about an alarm clock that is voice-controlled, so you can do something like "set the time", "eight forty-five". That's an interesting interface, too. I’ve read about an alarm clock that is voice-controlled, so you can do something like “set the time”, “eight forty-five”. That’s an interesting interface, too.

]]> By: Henrik N http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3312 Henrik N Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:44:32 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3312 I agree digital watches read better. When I look at an analog watch, I find myself translating it to digital anyway. Though analog makes it easier to visualize at least short passes of time, like when you have to leave in ten minutes. While turning the crown is really simple, intuitive and easy to describe on an analog watch, on a digital watch the mapping isn't as direct, so presumably the user would mostly understand it through their experience with analog watches. Also, the worst-case scenario (changing by 6 hours if it turns both ways, or 12 hours if it only turns one way) can be a bit time-consuming. A digital interface can be made pretty simple and intuitive (hour plus and minus buttons, minute plus and minus) but it's a tradeoff against watch real estate and simplicity/elegance. I agree digital watches read better. When I look at an analog watch, I find myself translating it to digital anyway. Though analog makes it easier to visualize at least short passes of time, like when you have to leave in ten minutes.

While turning the crown is really simple, intuitive and easy to describe on an analog watch, on a digital watch the mapping isn’t as direct, so presumably the user would mostly understand it through their experience with analog watches.

Also, the worst-case scenario (changing by 6 hours if it turns both ways, or 12 hours if it only turns one way) can be a bit time-consuming.

A digital interface can be made pretty simple and intuitive (hour plus and minus buttons, minute plus and minus) but it’s a tradeoff against watch real estate and simplicity/elegance.

]]> By: Jan-Christoph Borchardt http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/write-the-manual-first/comment-page-1/#comment-3311 Jan-Christoph Borchardt Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:40:11 +0000 http://www.azarask.in/blog/?p=222#comment-3311 There is a problem though: the features differ. On an analog watch, you just set hours and minutes. For the digital one, the extra instructions which fill the page are for timezone, second, year, month, day, and even the time format. You cannot accomplish that with one (or two) crowns while maintaining ease of use. But regarding manuals: the best product is that which does not need one. No one likes to read long instructions, even if they are beautifully information designed. (Although I admit that it is often insightful.) There is a problem though: the features differ.

On an analog watch, you just set hours and minutes. For the digital one, the extra instructions which fill the page are for timezone, second, year, month, day, and even the time format.
You cannot accomplish that with one (or two) crowns while maintaining ease of use.

But regarding manuals: the best product is that which does not need one. No one likes to read long instructions, even if they are beautifully information designed. (Although I admit that it is often insightful.)

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