Re: Improving the Launchpad tour - your input

["Kent Tenney" <ktenney@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 8:43 AM, Matthew Revell
<matthew.revell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 2008/9/25 Kent Tenney <ktenney@xxxxxxxxx>:
>> A few reactions, inline comments below.
>>
>> I'd like to see a table of contents for the tour.
>>  -found it, flashy thing when hovering 'Next'
>>  - I would like the pages listed on the left, seems to be room
>
> We're going to experiment with different ways of presenting the ToC
> and clarifying the purpose of the Next button.
>
>> no 'Prev' equivalent to 'Next', must hover upper 'Next' ...
>
> Yeah, I agree we need a "previous" button. It's on our list of
> improvements and I've now filed a bug:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad-documentation/+bug/274794
>
>> On the bugs page, possibly a link to a live bug.
>> Same idea with other pages, link to a live example when possible.
>> The screenshots are fine, but don't offer exploration.
>
> Great idea. Thanks. I've filed a bug:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/launchpad-documentation/+bug/274795
>
>>>  * Have we got the level of detail right? Or are we leaving out
>>>   chunks of background info?
>>
>> I think leaving out chunks is appropriate for this, links to detail
>> might be enjoyed.
>
> One place we could link to would be the Launchpad user guide. Or do
> you think we need specific content for people who are unsure of what a
> bug tracker actually does, for example?
>
>>>  * Are we talking to the right people? At the moment, it's aimed
>>>   at experienced free software people. Is that right?
>>
>> The goal seems "Check out the exciting potential in a couple minutes", which
>> can target a broad audience, and it succeeds well with that.
>
> Yeah, that's pretty much the goal :)
>
>>>  * Do the images work?
>> I think images are as important as words. The tour is definately improved by use
>> of images. As images are used more in explanations, we will learn how
>> to increase their effectiveness.
>
> Great.
>
>> Of the images in the top pane, I fine the 'Building Community' one to
>> be least helpful.
>
> Interesting. My inevitable question is "why?"

I don't know how to read the images.
Theres a blue 'S' thing, a red diagonal, a bzr logo,
a terminal and a green arrow.

The bzr logo and the terminal have meaning for me, but
the others don't, and I don't understand what is being represented
by the people being associated with the icons.

how I read the others;

1. extreme diversity, virtually endless
2. centralized triage (ah, the blue 'S' is Silva)
3. diversity tamed
4. a gathering to discuss a specific bit
5. translated chunks
6. after learning the Silva logo from 2, and google telling me Silva
is a CMS; makes more sense
    I still don't know red diagonal and green arrows, but presumably
they are other communities.
    Members of those communities will recognize their logo and see
they are included.

    ... still not clicking, the text doesn't reinforce that
interpretation. Silva, bzr and green arrow are
   primary, red diagonal and terminal are secondary, each is
associated with a group, there is some
   overlap, but the people don't seem particularly aware of each other ...
7. a central location provides different groups the resources they need
8. multi-lingual discussions
9. a group reviewing and discussing a whiteboard type thing
10. visualization of timeline

>
>>>  * How do you reckon we can improve the layout?
>>
>> Not sure. I like layout reflecting some element of flow, I don't
>> recognize a flow element here, but it probably exists.
>>
>> I'm currently considering flow to consist of workflow, toolchain and timeline.
>> I guess each of these elements live in a more detailed
>> explanation. This is maybe not so much a guided tour as a promotional
>> brochure with snapshots of the scenic locations. As such layout needs only
>> to be easy to look at, it is that
>
> The tour, right now, is just a quick way to find out which are the
> most exciting features in Launchpad, so we didn't set out to tell a
> story that flows. The order of the slides is based on the popularity
> of those parts of Launchpad.
>
> Thanks for your input!
>
> --
> Matthew Revell - Launchpad.net - free software collaboration and project hosting
>