[bksvol-discuss] Re: Step 1 Issues (was Re: very confused)
- From: "Jake Brownell" <jabrown@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 11:51:20 -0500
Hello Monica,
The step1 list has changed around a bit in the past, my first few months
books would appear at the bottom of the list, and then they were at the top,
and then it's flipped a few more times. I'm not sure that the engineers are
doing it purposefully and I'm more inclined to think there is a bug.
To help in traversing step1, keep in mind that you can use the find feature
to quickly find books that may or may not be on the page, it's something I
generally employ whether I'm in a hurry or not. In addition you can use your
screen readers command to read just a column, like title. I used this
command the other day to read the entire list in an attempt to locate
duplicates, it took me just over 4 minutes, not too bad.
The technical advisors are not all men, I believe we're split at four men
and three women actually. And, of course, technical advisor does mean you
need some knowledge in the field, smile.
As for your concerns about navigation of the site not being communicated,
they have been. Nothing visible to us seems to be happening. Remember the
thing about the new books links we want them to add? It still hasn't been
done to my bafflement, we've written and spent time explaining about them
and why they are so important, but it hasn't happened for whatever reason!
We've communicated other needs to them as well, like fixing bugs on the
website, haven't seen any progress there either.
Am I coming off as a little frustrated too? If so, it's because I am. Please
know that you aren't alone in at least part of your thoughts and feelings.
I sincerely hope that Jim's message about seeing more things in the future
comes true.
BookShare has been upgrading their servers and we have seen a marked
improvement. Personally I'm wondering how old the others were if the upgrade
has given this large of an improvement, smile.
Please understand that my frustration doesn't mena I still don't support
BookShare.org fully, we just need to see some more visible progress where
easy and appropriate.
Jake
----- Original Message -----
From: "Monica Willyard" <plumlipstick@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 10:58 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Step 1 Issues (was Re: very confused)
Hi, Elizabeth. You're right about control end, and thanks for pointing it
out to us. The thing is that new books and kicked back books are
appearing in the middle of the list, not just at the top or bottom. I'd
be happy with either the top or bottom, but not this randomization and
reshuffling every couple of days. If one of my books is kicked back, I'd
like to have a reasonable idea of where to look to find it so I don't have
to browse through the list each time I visit step 1. I want to know, for
example, that I should be watching the bottom third of the list for kicked
back books. I also want to know where the oldest books are because I make
a point to take at least one each week to validate. This new system is
making my work more difficult and wasting time I could be using in more
productive work for Bookshare.
The thing that bothers me most is that whoever made this change to the
system seems remote and anonymous so that I feel like I'm talking to a
brick wall. Explaining it to John doesn't seem helpful because it won't
change the thinking of the person making these kinds of changes.
Complaining without reaching the stage of understanding is just unpleasant
for everybody involved.
I'm curious about something related to this. The Bookshare advisory group
is supposed to represent our needs to Bookshare. From what I understand,
the group is made up of several fine men with a lot of computer skills. I
wonder if there are any advisors who are women and/or who are not
programmers. I'm wondering about this because I believe that women and
men process information and use computers differently because of how our
minds operate. This isn't an issue where I think one is better than the
other. I do wonder how things might be designed if women and our usage
patterns were represented in the development of Bookshare. Maybe they
would be different, or maybe they'd be the same. I don't know. What I do
know is that the interface between volunteers and Bookshare staff does not
appear to be working very well because several of us have expressed
feelings about not being heard or understood by the developers at
Bookshare. Since most of the people expressing these feelings are women,
I am wondering if that is where part of the disconnect is taking place. I
can easily handle a disagreement, a difference of opinion. It's the
belief that I cannot be heard or understood that drives my frustration. I
want to give Bookshare my best efforts and believe in our mission. This
disconnect between developers and users in an area that, if dealt with
effectively, could allow Bookshare to grow well without adding more strain
to the system.
Ok, I'm done now. I'll climb down from my soap box. Please give what
I've said some thought. If you know of a way to improve this situation,
please share it. I want to make things better, not tear anyone down.
Monica Willyard
At Saturday 10/21/2006 08:14 AM, you wrote:
Control-end takes you to the bottom of the list quickly. Hope this is
useful.
E.
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