RE: Improving LEXICON interfaces

[David Kirkdorffer <DKirkdorffer@exapps.com>]

WARNING -- Exclusely GEAR (- not music -) oriented message (with "rant"
content)!

Bob -- You mention:

        >One of the things we have   
        >been looking very closely at is the reuse of buttons for
different   
        >functions depending on the state of the machine (JamMan in this
case).   

While the idea may indeed be valid and useful, it's well thought-out
execution is most critical.  Bob you go on to add:

        > I must admit that I have been very frustrated with the limited
user interface of the   
      > JamMan, particularly the display. 


Bob -- GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Let me offer these thoughts.

In June 1995 I bought a JamMan.  I was looking forward to lots of fun.  

Instead, I found:
- the interface confusing, 
- the manual somewhat high on what one could do but very low on how one
does it
- the little peddles somewhat cheap for a (then) $400 unit. (and why
supply only one when TWO are needed for full functionality?)

Specifically I was disappointed in the interface.   The little "window"
with LEDS and numbers was -- in my personal -- were poorly conceived.  I
felt cost cutting concerns (from Alex & Vortex sharing the same knob &
"window" placement) had possibly gone too far and impared JamMan's
usability.  Unfortunately, knowing the mode I'm in by checking which of
three tiny LEDS stacked one atop the other is not a good enough
indicator for me.  What if the unit is 10 feet away?  What if the unit
is low in a rack so from an angle it's hard to see which light is lit?

I returned the unit after three frustrating weeks to get my money back.
I was greatly disappointed. 

In June 1996 I discovered and bought an Oberheim Echoplex.  I was
looking forward to lots of fun.

Indeed, I found:
        the interface easy understand -- the well conceived
footcontroller making the biggest impact!
        the manual clear enough I could understand and feet comfortable


Clearly, I'm just one guy.  Many hundreds of people are Very Happy with
their JamDudes.  Obviously, JamMan can be used succesfully by a great
number of people.  I may have just not "gotten into the head" of the
thing.   The interface was the stumbling block.

Let me offer this.  I have done market research for software companies
for a while now.  They will often do a series of FOCUS GROUPS -- where a
groups of 6-12 individuals fitting a "likely buyer" profile are brought
in and asked in a loose yet structured dialog to use a product.  Their
experiences are recorded.  They are sometimes filmed.  Problems they
encounter are looked at.  Improvements are made.  And there are
companies that SPECIALIZE in user interface testing and design.

When I bought my JamMan I contacted Lexicon marketing and offered to
conduct soem FOCUS groups.  Clearly it was too late.  But I wanted to do
something.  

I suggest looking at TCElectronics products and Baybank terminals for
ideas.  It seems to LCD screens on LEXICON devices would  be a great
"palette" to display info.  

I'll be quiet now and wait for the flames to roar.

David Kirkdorffer


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sellon, Bob [SMTP:bsellon@lexicon.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 1997 9:22 AM
> To:   Loopers-Delight
> Subject:      RE: Improving looper interfaces
> 
> One point to keep in mind is that refining a user interface does not
> 
> always mean modifying the physical controls. One of the things we have
> 
> been looking very closely at is the reuse of buttons for different   
> functions depending on the state of the machine (JamMan in this case).
> 
> For us, this started with Tap which, on the first prototype (a
> modified   
> PCM 42) was two separate buttons: Start and End. The thinking is that
> it   
> is easier to have one control that you must manipulate a certain way
> than   
> to have a separate control for each function. With a growing feature
> set,   
> the separate control approach will leave little room on stage for the
> 
> performers. The trick is finding the right combination of functions
> for a   
> particular control (aftertouch, etc..) so that functions are still
> easy   
> to get to. This is a lot harder than it seems and I've/we've certainly
> 
> made some mistakes but I do believe this is fertile ground. One of the
> 
> reasons the guitar is such a popular instrument is that it provides a
> 
> relatively simple interface with an incredibly wide degree of control.
> 
> Travis mentioned that he would rather see money spent on the feature
> set   
> than on the interface. While I agree with the sentiment, I must admit
> 
> that I have been very frustrated with the limited user interface of
> the   
> JamMan, particularly the display. We've had tons of feature
> suggestions   
> but getting advanced features into the box usually means you have   
> parameters to tweek. How do you display BPM on a box like the JamMan.
> 
> Good luck. The bottom line is, you don't want to blow the budget on
> the   
> user interface but you have to be not careful to put in too little.
> 
> Bob Sellon
> Lexicon/Stec
> 
>  ----------