The Information School of the University of Washington What the Digerati Know INFO/CSE100, Fall 2006 Fluency in Information Technology http://courses.washington.edu/info100/ Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 1 The Information School of the University of Washington Questions from last class • Podcast in iTunes Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 2 The Information School of the University of Washington Readings and References • Reading – Fluency with Information Technology » Chapter 2, What the Digerati Know Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 3 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 4 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 5 The Information School of the University of Washington Intuitive Design? Could you do better? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 6 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 7 Consistent Interfaces The Information School of the University of Washington Most modern applications File and Edit menus with standard commands Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 8 The Information School of the University of Washington Same, but on a Mac Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 9 The Information School of the University of Washington Consistent Interfaces Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 10 The Information School of the University of Washington Computers use Metaphors • Some familiar computer metaphors – Desktop (folders, inboxes, etc…) – Tree (root, branches, leaves) – Stoplights red = stop or error Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 11 The Information School of the University of Washington Dance Dance Revolution What makes it easy to use? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 12 The Information School of the University of Washington Menus What 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 13 The Information School of the University of Washington “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! :) Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 14 The Information School of the University of Washington A New Application Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 15 The Information School of the University of Washington 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” Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 16 The Information School of the University of Washington “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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 17 The Information School of the University of Washington What does BBEdit Do? • All I know is it is a text editor… • Lets learn more by “blazing away” Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 18 The Information School of the University of Washington 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? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 19 The Information School of the University of Washington Built-in Help • The help menu is very handy QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 20 The Information School of the University of Washington • Ask questions interactively QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 21 The Information School of the University of Washington 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? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 22 The Information School of the University of Washington Example Online Tutorials • Skype Tutorial (3rd Party) – http://www.laptopmag.com/Features/SkypeMade-Easy.htm • Skype Online Help (Application Vendor) – http://www.skype.com/help/guides Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 23 The Information School of the University of Washington Dummies Books • http://www.dummies.com/ • Similar Format Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 24 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 25 The Information School of the University of Washington Lets look at 2 web browsers • Camino • Safari Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 26 The Information School of the University of Washington Another Implication • Similar applications means quicker learning – Possibilities: » Web Browsers - verified! » Word Processors / Text Editors? » Operating Systems? » Programming languages? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 27 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 28 The Information School of the University of Washington Questions • Open, New, Close, and Save can usually be found in the ______ menu Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 29 The Information School of the University of Washington Questions • The online manual can usually be found in the ______ menu. Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 30 The Information School of the University of Washington Questions • Name an advantage of a consistent interface from the consumer’s view? • From the developers view? Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 31 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 32 The Information School of the University of Washington 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 Oct 2 digerati @ university of washington 33