We have very fancy rigs in the new classrooms in the new engineering building: the Kelley Engineering Center (or KEC for short.) Each "command center" for all the media devices (computer, overhead, DVD player, etc.) has a touchscreen to control turning devices on, playing, switching devices, etc. Someone was thinking when designing this system because there is a "Hide" button so the teacher can blank the screen temporarily to write on the whiteboard without being illuminated by the projector. I imagine, the same designer was trying to be helpful when he added the little note at the bottom of the blank screen: "To show image, press 'Hide' again." Now that's real intuitive! :-P
Posted by enigma at January 13, 2006 09:24 AMAs somewhat of an interface nut, that annoys me. It's funny to me how sometimes we developers have to create helper items (in the wrong place) to compensate for not providing the correct information the first time. For instance, in thinking about it, I'd change 2 things on the 'command center' touchscreen: the first would be that the 'Hide' button would have a dynamic text so that if, for instance, you were watching a DVD, the button would say 'Hide DVD Image' and then would toggle when it is hidden/dark to say 'Show DVD Image'. I would also add a status box into it so that it could have extra instructions for what to do if you get stuck. For instance the status area could tell you things so you wouldn't have to guess, such as 'The DVD image is currently hidden, press "Show DVD Image" to display it,' or also helpfully 'The bulb in the projector is out. I've emailed '' to get it replaced,' or 'Looks like you transposed your variables. I'm never driving on one of your bridges. EVER' or 'The snack machine just told me it's out of Doritos, let's have a moment of silence for our brothers who have fallen in the line of duty.' You know...stuff like that :)
Posted by: Dave at May 25, 2006 09:00 AM