[Elecraft] SPLIT indicator will use the 10th LED

Thu Jan 31 12:39:01 2002

I like the idea. Rod can just turn it off with the menu<g>.

Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 12:12 PM
To: Rod N0RC; [email protected]; Jerry Bliss; [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] SPLIT indicator will use the 10th LED

Rod wrote:

> This human interface design stuff can be very tricky. An interesting
> book on the topic is, "The Design of Everyday Things"; Norman, Donald =
A.

Funny you should mention Don Norman, who was my senior advisor at UCSD =
(Univ. of=20
California, San Diego). I took his Cognitive Engineering class (COG SCI =
135)=20
during the year that he wrote that book, and I and other students were =
among=20
reviewers of the first draft. I graduated from UCSD with a degree in =
Cognitive=20
Science, and later Don and I worked for the same company (Interval =
Research). I=20
have all of Don's books, so I can probably reflect his position on most =
areas of=20
HCI (human-compter interaction) and ergonomics in general with some =
accuracy.

I agree with you that using the 10th LED represents a mixing of visual =
design=20
metaphors, and that it's a non-optimal solution. But in view of the =
importance of=20
the problem--some users not noticing that they're in SPLIT mode and/or =
that they=20
have RIT or XIT turned on--it's necessary to find some overt means of =
indicating=20
the system state. The LCD should be used for this, ideally, but so far I =
haven't=20
come up with a way to use it that doesn't compromise other information.=20

I've had a lot of private feedback on the SPLIT indication method, and =
it's=20
running about 10:1 in favor of using the LED. This is with the =
understanding that=20
it is strictly optional: you don't have to turn it on if you're happy =
with the=20
flashing chevron. Even *that* method of indicating SPLIT mode evolved =
over time--
we tried many other conventions. The fact is that there's limited panel =
space on=20
the K2 and no extra outputs, at present, to drive additional LEDs that =
might be=20
positioned more appropriately for this function.

Yes, this user interface stuff is tricky! I'd like to thank everyone for =
their=20
input.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list: [email protected]
You must be a list member to post to the list.=20
Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments).=20
See: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com