Stephen -
The example is an urban legend I'm afraid:
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
Best,
Dan
Stephen Clarke wrote:
> Sander
>
> My first question would be to ask why you want to do it. In other words
> "What is the problem to which a redesign of the user interface for the
> VLE is a solution?"
>
> The other thing to be wary of is that this is not a "Russian Pencil"
> problem. Someone recently mentioned this at a meeting or conference
> (sorry I can' remember who and give you credit).
>
> During the space race the Americans spent millions to design a pen that
> could work in zero gravity. The Russians bought each of their
> astronauts a pencil. Undoubtedly the Papermate pen (a spin-off from the
> above mentioned) offers a superior writing experience to a pencil, but
> was it worth all those millions?
>
> Steve
>
> Stephen Clarke
> Head of eLearning
> Information Services
> University of Birmingham
> Birmingham
> B15 2TT
>
> +44 (0)121 414 4736
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Web Master
> Sent: 24 May 2006 14:20
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [VLES] Web Application Task Orientated Design Approach
>
>
> Hello there,
> I've got a question regarding task orientated web application design
> (I'm responsible for redesigning the interface of a VLE).
>
> There are two ways to step through a task:
> choose what you want to do
> do the task (get rewarded)
> then place it where it you want
> (do something, then think about where it ends up)
>
> or
> choose where you want to do something
> then what you want to do
> then do the task (get rewarded)
> (database approach)
>
> The current VLE favours the second method, which I find
> counter-intuitive. When I ask to myself: what do I want to do - I answer
> for example add a news article. I don't answer add something to a
> course.
>
> That's why in the new VLE I thought it was logical and most intuitive to
> use the first method. Add a news article, then select course. This means
> you start out from a selection of tasks. I think this follows the
> thought process best (non disruptive) and therefore would be easier to
> use.
>
> However the current VLE starts out from a selection of courses /modules,
> then present the relevant tasks. I think this can simplify the interface
> (as irrelevant options won't be shown), but then might be harder to use.
>
> With the first option you get rewarded earlier in the process (as your
> task is completed quickly), motivating the user.
>
> These are the reasons the decision was made to go for this route.
> However this means the user isn't bothered about where it ends up and
> the course /module is chosen afterwards, this effects the interface.
>
> Is there any literature that can deny or verify my view?
>
> Best Regards,
> Sander van Dragt
> Web Designer
> Angus College
> ###########################################
>
> This message has been scanned by F-Secure Anti-Virus for Microsoft
> Exchange. For more information, connect to http://www.f-secure.com/
>
> ***************** List information: *****************
> Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
> Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
> To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave
> vle
>
> ***************** List information: *****************
> Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
> Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
> To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave vle
--
Dan Stowell
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/fiso/lifesciences/
Room 139, Medical School, 74 Huntley Street
University College London, London, WC1E 6BT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 0888 (within UCL: 40888)
*
* Sponsored Haircut:
* http://www.mcld.co.uk/sponsoredhaircut/
*
***************** List information: *****************
Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave vle
|