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I feel like the graph is a poor choice in illustrating this idea. As it's central to the argument, the rest of the article falls apart, in my eyes. First - why
by pflats 15y ago
I feel like the graph is a poor choice in illustrating this idea. As it's central to the argument, the rest of the article falls apart, in my eyes.
First - why do both graphs start the user with 0% performance? Humans come into a new program/context/etc with prior experience. Put a child who's used Word before in front of ed, and he'll probably do well. Put him in front of vim, and he'll probably struggle to write a sentence.
Second, not all performances are created equal. The dependent axis should probably be some measurable output. Typically, something with a "steep learning curve" takes longer to master, but has much greater payout in the end. (If it doesn't, people generally don't learn it.) Compare making TV Dinner with cooking a family meal. The TV dinner is easier to learn, easier to master, but having "100% performance" in making TV Dinners is still not on the level of being even a good cook.
- ckuehne 15y ago"I feel like the graph is a poor choice in illustrating this idea. As it's central to the argument, the rest of the article falls apart, in my eyes." What, in your eyes, does the word "curve" refer to then?
- notsosteep 15y agoI've always pictured a steep learning curve as this - http://imgur.com/8Wfih http://imgur.com/8Wfih. One doesn't learn much at first until the "aha" moment. So I think the metaphor is still correct.