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What the Digerati Know

What the Digerati Know. INFO/CSE100, Fall 2006 Fluency in Information Technology http://courses.washington.edu/info100/. Questions from last class. Podcast in iTunes. Readings and References. Reading Fluency with Information Technology Chapter 2, What the Digerati Know.

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What the Digerati Know

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  1. What the Digerati Know INFO/CSE100, Fall 2006 Fluency in Information Technology http://courses.washington.edu/info100/ digerati @ university of washington

  2. Questions from last class • Podcast in iTunes digerati @ university of washington

  3. Readings and References • Reading • Fluency with Information Technology • Chapter 2, What the Digerati Know digerati @ university of washington

  4. Learning New Tools • How do we learn to use new tools? • Be taught their use by someone else -- car, bicycle, etc… • Reading the owner’s manual -- chain saw • Passive Observance -- vending machine • Figure them out ourselves -- CD player digerati @ university of washington

  5. Quick Software Learning • Software designers want you to learn ASAP • How? : They try for “intuitive” usage • Consistent Interfaces -- build in experience • Suggestive icons and Metaphors -- bypass terminology digerati @ university of washington

  6. IntuitiveDesign? Could you do better? digerati @ university of washington

  7. Consistent Interfaces • Cars • What would you do if they were all different? • Software • Functions look like another • Software programs looks like eachother • Re-Use ideas - what others have done digerati @ university of washington

  8. Consistent Interfaces Most modern applications File and Edit menus with standard commands digerati @ university of washington

  9. Same, but on a Mac digerati @ university of washington

  10. Consistent Interfaces digerati @ university of washington

  11. Computers use Metaphors • Some familiar computer metaphors • Desktop (folders, inboxes, etc…) • Tree (root, branches, leaves) • Stoplights red = stop or error digerati @ university of washington

  12. Dance Dance Revolution What makes it easy to use? digerati @ university of washington

  13. MenusWhat does “New” Mean? • Most applications have the concept of a document with: • Attributes: date created, date modified, creator, … • Content: image, text, sound • “New” means create a ‘blank instance’ of a document for this application • A document has attributes as well as content • All stored in one file with a place for anything • A ‘blank instance’ is simply the structure with some of the attributes filled in but without any of the content digerati @ university of washington

  14. “Click Around” • Software designers use standard ideas to make applications intuitive • To learn a new application, check it out by clicking around • Take a minute to familiarize… • Look under all menus to see operations • Follow the “…” for menu operations • Try to recognize what the icons mean • Clicking around is Exploration! :) digerati @ university of washington

  15. A New Application digerati @ university of washington

  16. Lets “Click Around” with Audacity • Audacity • 1st - What does it do: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page • 2nd - Lets see if we can learn by “clicking around” digerati @ university of washington

  17. “Blazing Away” • Learn an application fast by trying it! • Beginning with a new instance, assertively try menu items • Expect to fail and make a mess • Exit the application and if you are asked to “Save?” reply “No” • Don’t be afraid of “breaking it” • Try repeatedly until becoming familiar digerati @ university of washington

  18. What does BBEdit Do? • All I know is it is a text editor… • Lets learn more by “blazing away” digerati @ university of washington

  19. What else can I do to learn? • Some times programs are intuitive • Easily teach yourself the application • Do so by familiarizing with features by “Clicking Around” • Assertively try out the features: • “Blaze Away” observing what they do • Be efficient -- stay focused, don’t type a lot when you expect to exit • What now, help? digerati @ university of washington

  20. Built-in Help • The help menu is very handy digerati @ university of washington

  21. Ask questions interactively digerati @ university of washington

  22. Online Tutorials • Where do they come from? • Expert organizations • Online Magazines • Different Formats • Interactive tools • Step by step examples • Often used as references • Might support a user community - example UW Computing Thunderbird • Things to consider: • Are they up-to-date? • Are they selling something? digerati @ university of washington

  23. Example Online Tutorials • Skype Tutorial (3rd Party) • http://www.laptopmag.com/Features/Skype-Made-Easy.htm • Skype Online Help (Application Vendor) • http://www.skype.com/help/guides digerati @ university of washington

  24. Dummies Books • http://www.dummies.com/ • Similar Format digerati @ university of washington

  25. Differences & Similarities of Applications • Different vendors - similar software - same task • Superficially - GUIs use similar features may look different • Fundamentally - task largely determines how the software must work… they must be similar • Implications • If you know one word processor, you can learn others fast • Software differences: mostly glitz and convenience • Don’t accept lousy tools, consider switching to other applications digerati @ university of washington

  26. Lets look at 2 web browsers • Camino • Safari digerati @ university of washington

  27. Another Implication • Similar applications means quicker learning • Possibilities: • Web Browsers - verified! • Word Processors / Text Editors? • Operating Systems? • Programming languages? digerati @ university of washington

  28. Mac or PC??? • Arguments about which is better, Mac or PC create only create heat, no light • They are more alike than different • Any fluent person can use both • I first bought a Mac Desktop, then a PC Desktop, then an IBM Laptop, and now this MacBookPro • And “afew other” computers in between digerati @ university of washington

  29. Questions • Open, New, Close, and Save can usually be found in the ______ menu digerati @ university of washington

  30. Questions • The online manual can usually be found in the ______ menu. digerati @ university of washington

  31. Questions • Name an advantage of a consistent interface from the consumer’s view? • From the developers view? digerati @ university of washington

  32. Summarizing • Humans must learn to use tools • Software designers want you to learn easily • Good software uses consistent interfaces and menus • Teach yourself applications by “Clicking Around” and “Blazing Away” • I don’t know all the features, you don’t know all the features, and that’s okay! • Software for a task must share core features • Learn applications independent of vendors digerati @ university of washington

  33. Homework 2 • Print out homework 2 • You will have to complete some tasks on 2 different computer systems (Mac, Windows, or Linux) • How will you ever learn? • Due in class on Friday, Oct 6th digerati @ university of washington

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