Coffee tables and software development tools
Category musings
Yesterday I assembled a coffee table purchased from Wal-Mart - well, actually, it's a TV stand, but we'll be using it as a coffee table - and, as usual, got to thinking about software development. Throughout the assembly, I contemplated Captain Rob "Oblivious" McDonagh's post about usability of Domino development tools and found myself wondering what, if anything, those in the business of designing development tools could learn from the same exercise.
Documentation
Since this was a "build it yourself" kit, the box included detailed instructions for assembling the various components... in Spanish. Although certain words like "posterior" were familiar enough to determine contextual intent, I had to rely almost entirely on pictures to determine how to achieve my desired result. Fortunately the pictures were sufficiently clear. Any instruction manual makes certain assumptions about the reader's background, literacy, toolset and skillset. When that documentation is incomplete, or the assumptions upon which its content is based prove incorrect, it becomes difficult or impossible for the instructions to be successfully followed, and the value of the result is potentially reduced.
Recommended or Included Tools
Many of these kits come with a small set of tools for use in assembling the product, such as a screwdriver, a hex key (a.k.a. "Allen's wrench"), etc., in addition to the various parts that make up the product. This one didn't, but the documentation identified (according to Laura, who commands a larger working knowledge of Spanish than I) which additional tools would be useful or essential during assembly. This wasn't a problem, because only a screwdriver was required, and most people already have at least one of those near at hand. But what if a hex key was required but not provided? If I'd already assembled similar products and received one with one of those kits - or purchased one - then I'd be set... assuming it was the correct size. Otherwise this kit would ultimately be useless to me until I acquired the additional tool. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth, for a couple reasons. First and foremost, I've spent money on this product, but can't receive value from it until I obtain something else that could easily have been bundled with the product itself. Secondly, in the comparative sense, I've seen other vendors provide a complete package... and in some cases, the same vendor with other products. That's when I'd be really irked: if a previous product from the same company was ready to go right out of the box, but with this product I have to go round up additional tools, that wastes my time and postpones the moment when I begin to receive value from my investment.
Stability and Permanence of Result
Although the kit did not include any tools, it did include glue. Where two pieces connected, most included a combination of dowels and cam-locks to provide a strong connection. Cam-locks are brilliant (I'll mention more on this topic in a moment), and would probably have been sufficient, but each was accompanied by a hole to insert a short dowel that would fit into both of the connecting pieces. According to Wikipedia, this is a variation on the "dowel reinforced butt joint". Laura noticed that I wasn't gluing the dowels into place, as the documentation recommended. I responded that, if the assembled product didn't seem sturdy enough without the glue, I could always add the glue later... but I didn't want to make each connection permanent prior to completing the assembly and finding out whether I'd successfully overcome the obscurity of the documentation. In other words, I didn't want to lock myself into a structural decision only to find out that the end result neither looked nor functioned as desired. Thus far, it seems the glue was unnecessary; the assembled unit might not be able to hold a 32-inch television (it might... we haven't tried), but at this point we have no plans of putting it to such a use. For our purposes, it's plenty sturdy, and I like knowing I can take it apart again without completely destroying it.
Ease of Component Interaction
As I mentioned, cam-locks (or "Knock-down fasteners") are brilliant. They're easily connected, surprisingly strong, and easily disconnected. In every case where I've seen them used, the parts involved do have to be installed first, but it's fast, intuitive, and easy to do so. I'm guessing (hoping, praying... haven't had a chance yet to confirm) that this is directly analogous to the way in which composite applications are developed in Notes 8. If so, no wonder IBM is so excited about the addition of this concept.
Yesterday I assembled a coffee table purchased from Wal-Mart - well, actually, it's a TV stand, but we'll be using it as a coffee table - and, as usual, got to thinking about software development. Throughout the assembly, I contemplated Captain Rob "Oblivious" McDonagh's post about usability of Domino development tools and found myself wondering what, if anything, those in the business of designing development tools could learn from the same exercise.Documentation
Since this was a "build it yourself" kit, the box included detailed instructions for assembling the various components... in Spanish. Although certain words like "posterior" were familiar enough to determine contextual intent, I had to rely almost entirely on pictures to determine how to achieve my desired result. Fortunately the pictures were sufficiently clear. Any instruction manual makes certain assumptions about the reader's background, literacy, toolset and skillset. When that documentation is incomplete, or the assumptions upon which its content is based prove incorrect, it becomes difficult or impossible for the instructions to be successfully followed, and the value of the result is potentially reduced.
Recommended or Included Tools
Many of these kits come with a small set of tools for use in assembling the product, such as a screwdriver, a hex key (a.k.a. "Allen's wrench"), etc., in addition to the various parts that make up the product. This one didn't, but the documentation identified (according to Laura, who commands a larger working knowledge of Spanish than I) which additional tools would be useful or essential during assembly. This wasn't a problem, because only a screwdriver was required, and most people already have at least one of those near at hand. But what if a hex key was required but not provided? If I'd already assembled similar products and received one with one of those kits - or purchased one - then I'd be set... assuming it was the correct size. Otherwise this kit would ultimately be useless to me until I acquired the additional tool. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth, for a couple reasons. First and foremost, I've spent money on this product, but can't receive value from it until I obtain something else that could easily have been bundled with the product itself. Secondly, in the comparative sense, I've seen other vendors provide a complete package... and in some cases, the same vendor with other products. That's when I'd be really irked: if a previous product from the same company was ready to go right out of the box, but with this product I have to go round up additional tools, that wastes my time and postpones the moment when I begin to receive value from my investment.
Stability and Permanence of Result
Although the kit did not include any tools, it did include glue. Where two pieces connected, most included a combination of dowels and cam-locks to provide a strong connection. Cam-locks are brilliant (I'll mention more on this topic in a moment), and would probably have been sufficient, but each was accompanied by a hole to insert a short dowel that would fit into both of the connecting pieces. According to Wikipedia, this is a variation on the "dowel reinforced butt joint". Laura noticed that I wasn't gluing the dowels into place, as the documentation recommended. I responded that, if the assembled product didn't seem sturdy enough without the glue, I could always add the glue later... but I didn't want to make each connection permanent prior to completing the assembly and finding out whether I'd successfully overcome the obscurity of the documentation. In other words, I didn't want to lock myself into a structural decision only to find out that the end result neither looked nor functioned as desired. Thus far, it seems the glue was unnecessary; the assembled unit might not be able to hold a 32-inch television (it might... we haven't tried), but at this point we have no plans of putting it to such a use. For our purposes, it's plenty sturdy, and I like knowing I can take it apart again without completely destroying it.
Ease of Component Interaction
As I mentioned, cam-locks (or "Knock-down fasteners") are brilliant. They're easily connected, surprisingly strong, and easily disconnected. In every case where I've seen them used, the parts involved do have to be installed first, but it's fast, intuitive, and easy to do so. I'm guessing (hoping, praying... haven't had a chance yet to confirm) that this is directly analogous to the way in which composite applications are developed in Notes 8. If so, no wonder IBM is so excited about the addition of this concept.
Comments
Required tools = a mail account and a PC, Mac, or SLED (+ keyboard & monitor for the obvious impaired).
Posted by Scott At 03:36:35 PM On 08/27/2007 | - Website - |