Instructions become really interesting when they are poorly translated from, usually, Chinese. Then its anyone's guess on what was really meant by the technical writer.
arthur
I called the company this mornring.
I got one [fairly obvious] question asnwered.
A second question, the person sort of said: Yes, that's the way it is, so that's the way it is.
I offered to leave my phone number for them to get more feedback, but no interest.
The lady did tell me one possibly illuminating thing:
This is a new product.
(What the hell was wrong with a *simple tricycle*?)
That does help explain a bit. I was going to say I wonder how long the product will last, but, unless Consumers Reports discovers it (and how many persons read Consumers Reports?), since nobody buys a tricycle twice, these user intereface problems may not translate into poor sales. The box promises more and better! You definitely get *more*!
\brad mccormick
-----Original Message----- From: Ed Weick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 8:23 AM To: Cordell, Arthur: ECOM; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Futurework] REAL-TIME FIELD OBSERVATION
It needs cooperation. Whenever I try to assemble anything, my wife takes the instructions (even before I can give them to her) and with something of an air of arrogance takes me through it step by step. It may be an example of women think, men do.
Ed Weick
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 9:49 PM Subject: RE: [Futurework] REAL-TIME FIELD OBSERVATION
Ever try to assemble a barbecue???
-----Original Message----- From: Brad McCormick, Ed.D. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 5:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Futurework] REAL-TIME FIELD OBSERVATION
I never understood why "dads" feel such fulfillment in having children, until about an hour ago. (No sh-t!)
My wife brought home the needs-adult-assembly tricycle from hell.
I've been working on the thing for an hour, and have finally advanced to about frame 4 of 14 frames of assembly instructions.
The real challenges aren't explained in the instructions....
So, why do "dads" feel creatively fulfilled? Because putting together a child's toy can be a serious challenge in "discovery learning" (i.e., discovering whats somebody else already knows but won't tell you and won't even tell you they know so that you can resent them for their stonewalling).
This is amazing. With toys that almost need an Edison to put together, "dads" can easily fail to see that they aren't really creating, inventing or discovering anything, but just being free outsourced labor for the toy company. (But we know that the only way to prove you love someone is to make a useless sacrifice for them, see the famous O'Henry story "The Gift of the Magi", e.g.)
The company's name is Radio Flyer, and I hereby nominate them for a User Interface (UI) big-time botch award!
Who has time to watch Superbowls?
\brad mccormick
-- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
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--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
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