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What is rule one?

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

With apologies to Terry Pratchett, I am re-writing rule one. While it is always wise to follow his version … “Do not act incautiously when confronting little bald wrinkly smiling men”, – mine will have to be “remember: software is not intuitive”.

Before you start screaming, I know that there are many cases where software is not challenging to figure out and some people find learning software to be very easy. What I am referring to is the habit that adult learners have when trying to do a task in some piece of software. Generally I get some variation on “I know it’s easy, but I’m not finding it” when people come to me for help.

Why assume that it’s easy?

I teach software for a living and am far more likely than the average user to spend time digging around in software to find what I need. **warning, long and rambling story** This morning I was cursing a long blue streak at Apple for the (to me very counter-intuitive) way they set up default email preferences. I use Outlook 2011 for work and gmail for everything else.

With the new division of Axiom that I’m building I wanted to be be sure to have some kind of online task-tracking and contact-tracking system for my business partner and I to use. After some digging and playing with some trials I chose CapsuleCRM. When I click on a contact email in Capsule I want it to open Outlook. Capsule has a setting to let me open Gmail if I wish, but not Outlook. The default behavior of my computer is to open Mac Mail.

So – how do I get the computer to open Outlook when clicking an email address link? I never had to look for this setting before and was verklempt when I discovered that I had to go into Mac Mail, start a new account and then go to preferences to change the default email settings for the computer to be Outlook.

WHAT?!? Who thought putting the default email settings inside Mail was a good idea. GAHHHH! I have to create an account so that I can NOT use Mac Mail?

And Kirsten, your point is?

OK, So that was a long way to go for today’s advice – Do not assume that software is intuitive.
Is is very easy to make software rules that are easy to understand for the other people writing the software. It’s not easy to make rules that are easy to understand for someone who is not already versed in the rules and regs of the development team. When you are looking at a new piece of software (or an update to one that you already use), please remember that is is the job of the software to help you – not the other way around.

But everyone says it’s easy

Everyone? no, not everyone (I don’t) – BUT when you encounter those people (your kids, grandkids, easily frustrated coworker…) keep in mind that they fall into one of two catagories:

They did find it hard to learn and have forgotten how frustrated they were
They have previous experience that makes the software familiar, and therefore easier to learn

How many people do you know that find it totally rational to click the Windows “Start” button to get to Exit? (Don’t get me started on the Windows 7 “Orb” – Gack!). How many Mac users think it makes total sense for a picture of an apple to be a menu? Why is Ctrl (or Command on the mac) and Z the shortcut for “Undo” almost everywhere? – “Because”, that’s why.

It’s almost zen really – “It is what is”. Zen – Yes, Easy – No

So… what was rule one?

All together now… “Software is NOT intuitive“.

Thank you. Class dismissed.

Tags: Learning, software training, stuff for students, Training Tips
Posted in Humor, Software, Training | No Comments »

Why is Copyblogger Hiring Psychics?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Psychic Power and Blogging

Why isn’t the New York Times onto this?

As some of you know, I’m new to the universe of content marketing and social media. When I knew I would be diving into this world, I approached it the way I do any new learning task – Full Monty, only with clothes on (…does that still qualify as a Full Monty? Probably not, but “all-out” is less snarky).

Knowing I had a huge amount of information to filter thru, I went to look for those people and organizations who already knew a ton about the subject and read, and read, and read. Eventually, I read enough to decide if they would be good to listen to or not.

Psychic

Does that seem backwards? It’s not really.

I do a lot of research when teaching a new topic, even if I’m just going to be teaching it to myself. Often, even if it isn’t “for” a specific class, that information leaks into my teaching. I regularly give students suggestions on websites, videos, and books that they should check out. Those resources are generally ones I’ve been reading or using for a while. I don’t want to say “this seems useful” if I could say “this is good in these ways.. and not so good about this…” instead.

One of the best finds for me is a website called “Copyblogger”. They provide a great service. Easy to follow information on online marketing that makes a lot of sense and isn’t expensive – not that easy a thing to pull off.

But, in life, there are often two sides to any story. Copyblogger may be stunningly useful for people learning online marketing, but subscribing to their email feed is not an unbridled joy. An unexpected side effect to their service is a regular dose of “the willies” due to their unfortunate habit of writing posts that are so prescient as to be downright creepy.

It’s unnerving to be thinking “No one visits my website” only to open your email and see “Why nobody cares about your content (and what to do about it)”. It’s equally odd to start looking at advertising for your website at 9am only to read an email at 9:30 titled “Why Advertising Doesn’t Work for Bloggers”. *shudder*

I think I’ve learned a lot from them, however, my blog has been gathering dust with lots of good intentions and no actual writing. Today was my “write for the blog” day for this week. As I sat down to type, my brain froze. I am very, very skilled… at procrastination. I should teach a mastery course to those less talented, more productive souls looking for help. When I opened my email to begin the time suck that is reading and sorting my mail, I saw “5 ways to Quickly Write High Quality Content” from… guess who.

OK, I give!

Brian Clark is clearly an evil genius and the people at Copyblogger are obviously all masters of blog-fu. I’m totally prepared to name myself after a chirpy bug if it will get me producing actual content rather than the many, many posts I’ve written in my head at 11:30 while trying to fall asleep.

I need your help!

Yes, you – the one reading this post (nice shirt by the way).

Please take 90 seconds out of your day and comment.
Which post do YOU think I should tackle next?

The second part of the InDesign CS5 eBook introduction
The five things I every Office 2007 user should know
Something else, software related please. I do not know how to defeat a horde of Ninjas

Thanks!

Posted in Humor, Resources, Social Media | 2 Comments »

With Photoshop CS5 this is now a hanging offence!

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Phootshop Disaster hair

http://www.psdisasters.com/2011/02/topshop-unique-unkindest-cut.html

I know, I know… hair is always a pain to do in photo edidting – but COME ON!

If the new Masking and Selection improvements are not enough to help someone avoid making a trainwreck like this one then we should all chip in and get them a Lynda.com membership. Deke McClelland has some amazing videos that will help master selections. If you haven’t see him in action, look here- Refining your masks

Posted in Humor, Photoshop | No Comments »

Where did she go?

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

Photoshop Disasters always is worth a read. If you haven’t had a chance to see them, look at this gem…
It’s paired with the text “You’ll come for the beaches but stay for the woman cruelly chopped in half”

Tags: Photoshop
Posted in Humor, Photoshop | No Comments »

Old Quote – New Love

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

I came across an old quote by Jared Spool of User Interface Engineering.
it reads as follows..

“When we have clients who are thinking about Flash
splash pages, we tell them to go to their local supermarket and
bring a mime with them. Have the mime stand in front of the
supermarket, and, as each customer tries to enter, do a little
show that lasts two minutes, welcoming them to the supermarket
and trying to explain the bread is on aisle six and milk is on
sale today.

“Then stand back and count how many people watch the mime, how
many people get past the mime as quickly as possible, and how
many people punch the mime out.

“That should give you a good idea as to how well their splash
page will be received. That’s the crux of it.”

Now I have no hate on for Flash. I enjoy both using and teaching it – BUT… I am NOT a fan of any “jump through this hoop” feature on a website, and splash pages have been a big one in this category.

This quote is perfect! I have a new geek crush (sorry Deke!).

Tags: Flash, General Geekiness, Whimsy
Posted in Flash, Humor | No Comments »