Friday, June 12, 2009
Simple Scene, Deep Impact
Just a great little article I came across on a scene done in 3ds MAX. I loved the simplicity the artist took at developing it, yet used his tools to convey a sense that the image was far more complex than it really was.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Command Trends
Have you ever been a trainer? Have you ever developed additional tools for software?
If so, you may have come across a few things I've observed in these environments. Sometimes in a classroom training environment, you come across someone who says they are having a problem with completing an exercise. They have gotten the screen all rearranged and buried 5 levels deep in some remote command, yet they swear up and down that they didn't do anything wrong and followed the exercise steps "word for word". Perhaps you've developed a set of tools or custom add on tools for CAD software and wonder if the users that requested it are really using it to its full potential. They might not even be using the tools, but you have no way to validate whether or not they are.
What if you could track these things? What if you could understand what led the person to take a wrong turn in the exercise and use that to avoid potential problems in future training environments? What if you could use feedback on how your custom tools were being used (or not)? Having all this info could lead you to provide better training in the future. Better tools, more refined, based on user actions would help fine your tools & make happy users of the software.
A good friend of mine is currently looking into the possibility of creating a program that would allow you to do just that. He is currently doing some market research for the value of user data and would like your feedback. The survey only takes about ten minutes and it would help a ton if you provided some feedback.
Here is the link to the survey - http://tr.im/jJ8f
If you know of anyone that manages, develops, or trains AutoCAD software, please feel free to send this on to them. For questions, feel free to drop a note to:
contact AT commandtrends DOT com
If so, you may have come across a few things I've observed in these environments. Sometimes in a classroom training environment, you come across someone who says they are having a problem with completing an exercise. They have gotten the screen all rearranged and buried 5 levels deep in some remote command, yet they swear up and down that they didn't do anything wrong and followed the exercise steps "word for word". Perhaps you've developed a set of tools or custom add on tools for CAD software and wonder if the users that requested it are really using it to its full potential. They might not even be using the tools, but you have no way to validate whether or not they are.
What if you could track these things? What if you could understand what led the person to take a wrong turn in the exercise and use that to avoid potential problems in future training environments? What if you could use feedback on how your custom tools were being used (or not)? Having all this info could lead you to provide better training in the future. Better tools, more refined, based on user actions would help fine your tools & make happy users of the software.
A good friend of mine is currently looking into the possibility of creating a program that would allow you to do just that. He is currently doing some market research for the value of user data and would like your feedback. The survey only takes about ten minutes and it would help a ton if you provided some feedback.
Here is the link to the survey - http://tr.im/jJ8f
If you know of anyone that manages, develops, or trains AutoCAD software, please feel free to send this on to them. For questions, feel free to drop a note to:
contact AT commandtrends DOT com
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