Subject:
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Re: LEGO design patterns... you know, there's a book in that, I'm sure of it!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.technic
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Date:
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Thu, 26 Jun 2003 23:05:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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951 times
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In lugnet.technic, Horst Lehner wrote:
> Allan Bedford wrote:
>
> > In that regard, I would see the
> > need for a software developer with strong GUI skills to assist in planning the
> > layout of the site.
>
> Not being exactly the GUI expert you may have envisioned, I think the GUI
> would need to offer sensible categories and potentially more powerful
> mechanisms to really find the patterns a user is interested in, from the
> limited information he might at the beginning be able to give. Let me give
> an example:
> - If I already know I need a differential, then I might very easily
> be able to navigate to the page about differentials, just to see
> alternative ways to build one
> - But what if all I know is I need some mechanism that allows the
> drive wheels of my vehicle to run at different speeds? Then it
> might be a lot harder to dig out the right page ...
Excellent example. Yes, it was really the organizational aspect that I was
thinking of. This is partly a facet of the GUI... in how the user navigates to
the data, how it is presented etc. But on second thought, it's also a data
storage/organization issue. Back-end stuff that might need someone with strong
database skills and the implementation of a good search engine.
> The more data the site collects, the more important the second case gets.
Exactly.
> > Additionally, I've never seen why it had to be strictly related to Technic
> > type
> > building. Why not sculpture techniques, architectural elements, or basic
> > structural engineering? Fred's article touches on mechanical engineering, but
> > doesn't really take it beyond that. There are so many facets of design
> > principles (or cliches) that could be shared... it seems a pity this hasn't
> > happened yet.
>
> If we really create an infrastructure as powerful as outlined above, I would
> certainly love to see it used for more than just Technic patterns.
> Generally, I would not want to exclude anything at the beginning, but rather
> design the site in a way that allows users to find and select what they are
> interested in, skipping everything else.
Again, this is exactly what I was thinking. :)
> And of course, the site needs submissions from its users to get filled with
> useful content ...
I think that both Brickshelf and the BI Portal are examples of this idea in
action. I don't see why this type of site couldn't work.
> Gordon Bentley wrote:
>
> > One thing that I find really annoying about this kind of book/CD/website, is
> > that it rehashes general mechanical knowledge. While there is no argument that
> > this is important information, it isn't lego specific and is available in a
> > million other places and forms.
> >
> > I found this to be a problem with several books on Mindstorms. I don't
> > want/need
> > another text on robotics/AI/mechanics/electronics/etc. I want informatio
> > specific to the RCX and other parts.
> >
> > Lets focus on lego patterns, not yet another explanation of gear ratios or
> > levers or straight-line mechanisms.
>
> Maybe the solution to this is to have the web site very lego specific,
This is probably a key idea. If the technique or principle you want to submit
can't be replicated in LEGO, there's really no point in submitting it.
However........ (continued below)
> yet
> to allow submissions of links to related non-LEGO sites that explain the
> mechanical principle behind the LEGO pattern for those who are interested.
However, by including links to non-LEGO information, you may actually prompt
someone clever to find a solution to a problem using LEGO, and thereby fueling
the submission of another LEGO-related idea.
> Again, this follows the rule to not exclude anything, but make sure it
> doesn't get into the way of more advanced users.
It needs simple and advanced techniques... and a way to find and utilize both.
I think this is what you're already saying. :)
Regards,
Allan B.
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