Illiterate Users
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Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word I've decided to work on the creation of an alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing (1). I'm hoping to find a common, universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE. I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen. :~ NOTES ----------------------------------------------------- 1: Literary reference: Cite author and book for points. No googling or binging. :|
MehGerbil wrote:
alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing
Tap-farting like brail only for the mentally challenged.
VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.0 ToDo Manager Extension
Version 3.0 now available. There is no place like 127.0.0.1 -
Maybe you can create a full screen form, with red background and yellow letters saying exact this, "READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE: ". :-\ But don't be fooled. the user will somehow manage to miss this message as they do with all others... :sigh:
I'm brazilian and english (well, human languages in general) aren't my best skill, so, sorry by my english. (if you want we can speak in C# or VB.Net =p)
They would have the screen too low to see. We have users that start several instances because it is not showing up. The solution since we cannot harm the user is to close all but one and move it up the screen (funny how scroll bars work).
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They would have the screen too low to see. We have users that start several instances because it is not showing up. The solution since we cannot harm the user is to close all but one and move it up the screen (funny how scroll bars work).
I go for the old "open a thousand windows and show a alert in each", maybe the user read at least one... or not :|
I'm brazilian and english (well, human languages in general) aren't my best skill, so, sorry by my english. (if you want we can speak in C# or VB.Net =p)
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Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word I've decided to work on the creation of an alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing (1). I'm hoping to find a common, universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE. I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen. :~ NOTES ----------------------------------------------------- 1: Literary reference: Cite author and book for points. No googling or binging. :|
I swear monitors disable some peoples' brains. They are perfectly normal human beings, until they sit at the computer, where they suddenly forget basic problem solving and literacy. That's the only way I can explain situations like this: "How do I print?" "Did you try clicking print?" "..." :doh:
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I swear monitors disable some peoples' brains. They are perfectly normal human beings, until they sit at the computer, where they suddenly forget basic problem solving and literacy. That's the only way I can explain situations like this: "How do I print?" "Did you try clicking print?" "..." :doh:
I did open a new window, but some mosquitoes are coming in. It's not just a windows printer. It prints text, too.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word I've decided to work on the creation of an alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing (1). I'm hoping to find a common, universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE. I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen. :~ NOTES ----------------------------------------------------- 1: Literary reference: Cite author and book for points. No googling or binging. :|
MehGerbil wrote:
despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen.
Maybe that was a bad choice and a modal message box is called for? Or more emphasis on preventing the user from making a catastrophic error in the first place (this may not apply to your app). In my experience, flaming the user is usually an indication of a UI that could stand improvement. At least that's how I feel about UIs that I've built. :) /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word I've decided to work on the creation of an alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing (1). I'm hoping to find a common, universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE. I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen. :~ NOTES ----------------------------------------------------- 1: Literary reference: Cite author and book for points. No googling or binging. :|
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+5 for naming the correct author. That wasn't the book I was thinking about though, as I've not read it I'm not sure if he may of used the same material twice. I'm thinking "Breakfast of Champions".
That could be right. It's been a loooooong time since I've read any of Vonnegut's books, but Tralfamadorians figured prominently in several of them; they're also a major part of the plot in Slaughterhouse-Five. For those "not in the know", Tralfamadorians are space- and time-faring beings from the planet Tralfamadore. They look like toilet plungers with a hand on top of the handle and communicate by farting and tap dancing.
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Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word I've decided to work on the creation of an alternate language that is combination of farting and tap-dancing (1). I'm hoping to find a common, universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE. I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen. :~ NOTES ----------------------------------------------------- 1: Literary reference: Cite author and book for points. No googling or binging. :|
MehGerbil wrote:
Since most of my end users cannot read or understand the spoken word
So you only communicate with your end users orally? Odd.
MehGerbil wrote:
universally undertandable symbol for READ THE ELPHANTING ERROR MESSAGE.
Perhaps that is the source of the confusion. They are relying on the written word and you are presuming that they are suppose to rely on the spoken word. Myself I haven't noted any significant difference in communication (all forms) ability between end users and developers.
MehGerbil wrote:
I had to walk over to a difference office building today because the user couldn't find the error message despite the bright red bar across the top of the screen.
I smelled oil burning in my car for weeks before I took in in to the shop to get it fixed. The customer service rep (not a mechanic) noted within seconds after lifting the hood that the oil cap was off and sitting on the engine exactly where I left it several weeks before when I filled up the oil. I had of course popped the hood a couple of times during that period just to make sure nothing was actually on fire. They were nice enough not to charge me for that. The world is a big place and I can't learn everything even when it is obvious. I don't expect any better from anyone else. And when someone indicates they have confusion with something that I was hoping was understandable then I look closely at it and attempt to make it better for the next time. Seems to work for me.