While it's probably a fun thing to play with, I question the wisdom of creating a device that trains people to explore complex user interfaces without documentation by operating the controls at random. There are enough people who do that as it is.
I have a 7 year old grandson that would get a kick out of this. He has always been the most button pushing child I have ever seen. When he was 2 it took me some time to figure out why my computer would always be at the login screen when I went back to my office. Come to find out he was pressing the reset button when I would walk away and he would be watching cartoons like nothing happened when I went back!!!!!
My worry would be the Homer Simpson syndrome. Someone would get use to pushing buttons and then decide at the wrong time to push a button on a complex machine just to see what it would do!
I can certainly agree with this part of the description. "Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or background, humans naturally want to touch buttons when presented with one."
Way back when most of the instruments had switches buttons and pots to set them up there would be a large number of service calls that were the result of people playing with the switches buttons and pots. Not all of them were kids either. I caught a couple of professors and doctors at it on occasion.
I question the wisdom of creating a device that trains people to explore complex user interfaces without documentation by operating the controls at random.
Ha,. isn't that what Microsoft has been doing for decades now:)
I think it's a great project. Now I know why I have that urge to build a MITS Altair front panel.
Humanoido
Posts: 5,770
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Need.
-Phil
My worry would be the Homer Simpson syndrome. Someone would get use to pushing buttons and then decide at the wrong time to push a button on a complex machine just to see what it would do!
1. User interfaces should invite exploration, and
2. They should not be so complex as to create havoc if the "wrong" button is pressed.
-Phil
Way back when most of the instruments had switches buttons and pots to set them up there would be a large number of service calls that were the result of people playing with the switches buttons and pots. Not all of them were kids either. I caught a couple of professors and doctors at it on occasion.
Ha,. isn't that what Microsoft has been doing for decades now:)
I think it's a great project. Now I know why I have that urge to build a MITS Altair front panel.
Heater, one can build similar with a Propeller chip. The Minimal Computer programs in Binary through lots of font panel switches.