Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ncr-sd!matt From: matt@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Matt Costello) Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards Subject: Re: Request for human interface design anecdotes Message-ID: <1943@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM> Date: 12 Dec 87 03:54:21 GMT References: <10579@brl-adm.ARPA> <421@minya.UUCP> <19391@amdcad.AMD.COM> Reply-To: matt@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Matt Costello) Organization: NCR Corporation, Rancho Bernardo Lines: 21 The real problems in interface design generally occur because of unstated assumptions. We had a hilarious incident occur here recently... There is a plan here to put a PC on every desk, including those of secretaries and managers. So that each individual would not have to waste time aquiring a decent editor and the other tools, a package was put together containing 10 disks of software that was PD or that we had a license for. At the part of the installation process where the files were to be copied on the hard disk, the instructions said to insert each of the 10 disks into the floppy disk drive. Imagine our suprise when a worried secretary called to say that she had been able to fit only 5 of the disks into the disk drive. Fortunately no damage occured and the instructions were quickly changed. Disclaimer: I don't have a PC, nor do I want one. -- Matt Costello+1 619 485 2926 {sdcsvax,cbosgd,pyramid,nosc.ARPA}!ncr-sd!matt