Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:05 am
After picking up my first kite ( a used two-line) a few months ago, I just picked up my first 4-line, a Slingshot Fuel, two days ago.
I'm staring at this manual, trying to understand the nuances of setting up the 4 lines, and this book is NOT user-friendly. There are photos that are only 3/4 of an inch high and the drawings are labeled with a font size that's microscopic! And information seems to be missing, that beginners need (like HOW to adjust the line lengths, if they're not identical). I think that the basic problem with the Slingshot booklet (and probably a lot of the others) is that the company designed for a nifty small size (the booklet could almost fit in a back pocket) then crowded everything in. My suggestion to the manufacturers: lay out your manuals utilizing "information design" principles: one idea per page, use of empty space, redundancy, self-quizzes, etc. This sounds like an ad for a design service, but jeeeez, this booklet is stumping me!
I'm staring at this manual, trying to understand the nuances of setting up the 4 lines, and this book is NOT user-friendly. There are photos that are only 3/4 of an inch high and the drawings are labeled with a font size that's microscopic! And information seems to be missing, that beginners need (like HOW to adjust the line lengths, if they're not identical). I think that the basic problem with the Slingshot booklet (and probably a lot of the others) is that the company designed for a nifty small size (the booklet could almost fit in a back pocket) then crowded everything in. My suggestion to the manufacturers: lay out your manuals utilizing "information design" principles: one idea per page, use of empty space, redundancy, self-quizzes, etc. This sounds like an ad for a design service, but jeeeez, this booklet is stumping me!