Re: [gNewSense-users] Website skin updated

[auto generate]

@Sam:  you're right, it's not just the Wiki, it's the whole website.
Not that it shouldn't contain the technical jargo - that's essential -
but maybe there could be a way to highlight a term on every page, click
a shortcut on the keyboard or on the site, and go to an explanation of
it, and then be returned to the original spot.  That could be done for
words, processes, etc.  Maybe someone (me and other newbies?) could
suggest places where a general discussion/explanation of the process(es)
or words could be accessed by a newbie, or even a more experienced, but
not very technical person. Someone somewhere (in the forum or mailing
list) once said that it's all about education.  It could be that gNS.org
will have to accept another role, that of education for the
non-technical, at least insofar as gNS is concerned.  Maybe each page
could have a dedicated corner for anyone to use to clarify what the heck
is being talked about, on that particular page.  It could be like a help
link for that page.  That would surely help me.  It would give me hope.
haha

 On Mon, 2009-03-02 at 23:25 +0100, Sam Geeraerts wrote:
> Auto Generate schreef:
> > Here's an example of how the language on the site is a problem for me:
> > 
> > I just now found the installation instructions for the live CD.  I 
> > clicked on Wiki and there it was.  Matt Flaschen told me in an email how 
> > to load gns.  Basically just stick it in the drive and reboot, making 
> > sure the computer will read the CD drive first.  Or something like 
> > that.  Anyway, I didn't know what a Wiki was, so i didn't look there.  
> > Maybe there could be something written on the Wiki button to explain 
> > what it is.  Like "instructions"?  Just guessing here. 
> > 
> > Or maybe it's better to leave things as they are, and if people want to 
> > use the tool (computer w/software), let them struggle to learn about 
> > it.  After all, the software is free, not easy.  Nothing valuable is 
> > easy to come by.
> > 
> > Patrick
> > 
> 
> Thanks for your comments, Patrick. We know that the wiki is generally in 
> a state of, uhm, being not so good, especially for less technical 
> people. One problem is that not a lot of people like editing the wiki or 
> that they don't know how to do it well (I'm one of them). The other 
> problem is that most of the people who do edit the wiki are geeks, who 
> take some stuff for granted.
> 
> That's why experiences from newbies (like you) are valuable. They make 
> us see that some things are not obvious to everybody. By adjusting to 
> your needs we can make gNewSense available to a much wider audience.
> 
> So I guess "wiki" indeed doesn't say much to a lay person. 
> "Documentation" maybe doesn't completely cover it all, but is a much 
> more accessible term. Opinions, anyone?
> 
> This probably not the only thing that could use some clarification.