[Elecraft] If it plugs in, then it should work

Edward R Cole kl7uw at acsalaska.net
Mon Aug 24 13:09:00 EDT 2015


Obviously you've never been in the military?  (or forgot?)

The military is a big "testing pool" for "idiots" (please note the 
quotes for idiot-its use is tongue-in-cheek).  I used to work for 
Hughes Aircraft writing "tech manuals" for the military.  You could 
not assume the operator knew anything technical.  You told him what 
to look at and what to push-twist-connect in a very rigid sequence 
with big red WARNING inserted liberally throughout the 
manual.  Typical user was a private with no technical knowledge.  He 
was just going to "use it".

But George is also correct that the process of idiot-proofing is a 
"fools errand".

I heard back for the military techs that worked on this stuff that 
they "ripped the schematics out of the manual" and trashed the 
rest.  So much for my efforts.

Later in my professional life I did apply my tech writing skills 
toward training unskilled personnel on how to set up portable 
repeaters, towers, antennas, etc.  I taught an annual "radio" class 
to "refresh" their memory.  It helped somewhat.  They at least knew 
they were in trouble with me if they broke something - ha!

73, Ed - KL7UW

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To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] If it plugs in, then it should work
Message-ID: <55DA4A51.70702 at k5dkz.com>
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George Danner wrote:
 > Once you start down the path to "Idiot-Proofing" equipment, you will soon
 > learn that the average idiot is much more clever than you ever imagined!
 >
 > 73 George AI4VZ

Actually the real idiots are the ones attempting to do the idiot proofing.

I have never understood why anyone would want to build equipment that
could be used by idiots.
<K5DKZ>

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
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