[IAEP] Feedback re static frontend site

[Christian Marc Schmidt]

Sean, thanks so much. Let me digest this and get back to you soon.


Christian


On 2/27/09 1:16 PM, "Sean DALY" <sdaly.be at gmail.com> wrote:

> Christian I apologize I've been compiling this feedback this week
> perhaps I should have sent sooner
> 
> In general I like it. Although I have never liked the black background
> (on the existing wiki and now on the homepage) which I found
> lugubrious, I was pleasantly surprised to "step into the light" behind
> it. I like the explanations, and the right-margin sidebars. I like
> that (apparently) it will print out very, very easily (never
> underestimate the importance of that function...). Dongyun Lee's
> illustrations are fabulous.
> 
> I do feel however that the Activities need to be very prominently
> displayed and talked about - they are the heart of the Sugar
> experience and, in my view, the reason learners/parents/teachers would
> consider trying Sugar. Perhaps even a separate menu section. Under the
> Parents section, they are merely referred to as "the usual
> collection", which clashes with the presentation of Sugar as specially
> made for kids. Wouldn't it be better to say e.g.: "The heart of Sugar
> is its Activities" (capitalized), then develop the collaboration
> advantage, mention View Source which satisifies children's curiosity,
> etc. Then: "In addition, more traditional Activities such as a web
> browser, an ebook reader, ..."  On the Activities page, I would stress
> the richness of the Activities, e.g. add a leader "Sugar Activities
> are fun, friendly, thought-provoking, and collaborative - kids can't
> get enough of them!" (P.S. I was a little confused that the links
> leave the site to a page they can only return from with the back
> button - perhaps links outside the site could load in a single
> separate window, so people don't get lost?)
> 
> 
> Also: every parent and teacher knows that if kids enjoy the material,
> it's far easier for them to learn. So we need to communicate on that
> first page that kids love using Sugar because it's fun. A photo would
> be ideal, but even some quotable quotes could do it e.g.: "I like the
> games and making music with TamTam", "I can chat with my friends", "I
> like to draw with it", "I never lose my work because the computer
> remembers it".
> 
> 
> Other comments:
> 
> * Can we grow the logo x2 or x3?
> 
> 
> * I found the floating menu disconcerting at first, since it hides
> text - I thought it was a bug. It took me a while to figure out it is
> a live menu. Could its function as a menu be indicated? Perhaps the
> categories could be arranged in a bar at the top of each screen -
> visitors will thus quickly gain an overview of the sections.
> 
> 
> * May we add "Press" after Contributors? Which is where the contact
> info will go ;-) but which could link to the Marketing Team page for
> now.
> 
> 
> * Can we get screenshots on the Features page, like the Parents page?
> Show & tell better than just tell ;-)
> 
> 
> * As the site is very textual, is there a search function?
> 
> 
> * There is a bug with the floating menu, if I click on Teachers, then
> rollover the menu, then click Back on the browser, the hompage appears
> with the menu opened but nothing selected. (Firefox v3.0.5 on OSX
> v10.4)
> 
> 
> * instead of "no files, folders, or applications", which I would
> understand means there is nothing at all (!), may I suggest
> "Activities, not applications". Kids won't care if there are no files
> or folders, but parents and teachers (who have to worry about data)
> will. The "no files" concept should be linked to "automatic backup"...
> a magic reassuring phrase could be "automatic backup of Activity work,
> no worrying about files & folders".
> 
> 
> * instead of slashes, could we consider the "s" favicons? Keeping the
> sugarlabs logo branding active even when the logo is out of sight as
> we scroll down the page
> 
> 
> * Although there is a license footer, there should first be a
> copyright notice, e.g. "Copyright (c) 2009 Sugar Labs". Reminder, CC
> licenses are based on copyright law and it's best-practice to assert
> that right.
> 
> 
> * Under features, I'd be tempted to add a downside section; e.g. "Is
> Sugar right for my child's classroom?" which could be an opportunity
> to knock down arguments that it's not Windows, it's too different,
> etc.
> 
> 
> * This has been under discussion & I've been meditating on it, but
> there really should be a very short slogan under the logo which should
> sum up Sugar Labs. Which could be changed later... but anything decent
> will be better than nothing I feel. I'm afraid I don't like "the
> learning engine for every child"... sounds technical, like they have
> to spend too much time learning how to use it. Keeping in mind our
> desire for teacher buy-in, how about "School software for children" or
> "Learning software for children" ?
> 
> 
> * The download link... to the directories... will appear to be a site
> error to a nontechnical user. May I suggest
> http://sugarlabs.org/go/Supported_systems instead, until we can
> provide 1-click installers?
> 
> 
> * In the floating menu I think "homepage" or even "table of contents"
> would be better than "index"... an index is traditionally at the end
> of a book ;-)
> 
> 
> * Activities page: instead of alpha sort, I would mix them up and
> start with the Journal
> 
> 
> ..more to come....
> 
> thanks
> 
> Sean
> Marketing Coordinator

-- 

Christian Marc Schmidt

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