Two elements would have aided my quest: a better description and a physical label. My TA gave me a major hint in finding his room - it's his office. However, he failed to mention where it was in Altgeld. And though a room number gets the job done in most cases, it would be reassuring if his name was somewhere on the door. Not only then would I know it's an office, but HIS office. Both additions would probably condense my epic journey into a minute or two.
In my ENG 198 discussion, my TA stated that engineers sometimes throw labels at people without properly explaining them OR just giving them poor labels to begin with. Labels should be simple - broken down to the point where everybody can understand them. A good label should give the audience an idea of what something does. Also, labels must distinguish from other parts in a system. Telling someone to go to their office does just as well as telling someone to find 'book' in a library. Great help
I know how you feel. Altgeld is like a labyrinth. While I agree simple labels often work the best, I think sometimes more technical labels are needed when working with others that have the technical background to understand them. The important point is that the people who need the information get it.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Darwin, well said indeed! I agree completely with your definition of a proper label- understandable to all yet with enough detail to communicate effective information.
ReplyDeleteHey Darwin, I like how you stated that a good label tells you what the object does. That is a very important aspect of labeling. Take tools, for example. There are literally thousands of different tools, and when you have to work with tools a lot its helps to know what they are called and what they do. Luckily, most are self-explanitory. A drill drills holes. A saw can cut. A nailgun, shoots nails. Simple labels such as these are ideal.
ReplyDeleteI really like the point you made that a label has to be a good one. In the case you described, you were actually given a label. However, the label you were given was not specific enough to serve its purpose. Labels must not only be present but adequately detailed.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Sounds like you had a little adventure in Altgeld (I'll have one today, as apparently there is a post office in there?) I think that your TA, however, was just so familiar with "his" office, that he didn't think that you might not know which where, and goodness know Altgeld is silly. You highlighted two great points through that story: actual physical labeling, and the 'technical jargon'. Really imaginative way to do that!
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