From: Hugh Sasse <hgs@...>
Date: 2005-09-16T20:19:33+09:00
Subject: Re: Get to the Point: Ruby and Rails Presentation Slides

On Fri, 16 Sep 2005, Bil Kleb wrote:

> John W. Long wrote:
>> Bil Kleb wrote:
>>
>>>  From Tufte's "The Smallest Effective Difference"
>>> chapter in /Visual Explanations/, I would tone
         [...]
> http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/courses
>
> (You'll get a copy of his books as part of the course
> fee.)
>
>> Can you explain the reasoning behind what you
>> suggest in a little more detail?
>
> Many some quotations from that chapter, will help?
>
> Make all visual distinctions as subtle as possible,
> but still clear and effective.
>
> /small/ differences allow /more/ differences
>
> In designing information, then, the idea is to use
> /just notable differences/, visual elements that
> make a clear difference but no more -- contrasts
> that are definite, effective, /and/ minimal.

Yes, but remember that not everyone has perfect eyesight!!!
Your values for /just not[ic]able differences/ should probably
be a few dB's up if you have.  And some people are colour blind.
>
> when /everything/ is emphasized, /nothing/ is
> emphasized; the design will often be noisy,
> cluttered, and informationally flat.

This is certainly true.  [Caveat lector: I've not looked at the
slides for this presentation yet, so am not criticising those at
all.  These are general remarks.]
>
> Regards,
> --
> Bil
> http://fun3d.larc.nasa.gov
>
         Hugh
>