----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: Physics paper documents y/n: No paper markings: When I do, which is rare, I make notes of my thoughts or something that I think is particularly important. xp: 3 netscape: 3-4 Easy to understand: Not all by itself. But it is simple enough that I'm sure a brief explanation page would work. I could figure it out if I had time, but a concise explanation would help. Easy to use: It's good. There are a few things, though. The fact that I have to cut and paste the text that I want to annotate, is not very user-friendly. Can I annotate pictures? I don't know if it's possible or not, but it would be nice to have a way to use the mouse to show what I want to annotate. Also, it would be nice if there were some way to keep the annotation bar always on the screen. I want to make an annotation at the bottom of a page and I have to go all the way back to the top to do it. Like: It's small. Keep it small, or else it will dominate the web pages and it should be subtle before anything else. Dislike: There should be someway to get to an explanation page. The interface should always be on the screen regardless of how far down the page I am. There should be a better way of noting where an annotation goes. Popup: I don't know about appealing (maybe put an orange in the corner -- get it? "peal"ing. Ha.) But it got the job done. It wasn't an eyesore, but I wouldn't go to the annotation page just to revel in its beauty. I wouldn't change it. Examples: I picture this. First, it's very much the way you've done it. I would do this: I'm on a web page. Maybe the top line or two is taken up with a command line for the annotation system. I find a text that I want to annotate, so I highlight it with the mouse and right-click. One of the menu options is Annotate Text. (I warn you. I have no idea what's possible, so my vision may not be achievable. I don't know how to program.) I click this option and another window pops up just like yours. When I go to a page that has been annotated, I see the annotations and clicking on them brings up the page. On the interface, there would be a link that takes me to a webpage that has directions for using the system. I wonder: Certainly this system would be available to some group. Like Grinnell Students or something like that. What happens if it gets too big and some business decides to get an account and marks all of their pages with fake annotations that say stuff like: "Wow these guys have the best prices on the web." I don't know for whom you intend this annotation system, but that's a potential problem to keep in mind. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: comp sci paper documents y/n: No paper markings: xp: 3 netscape: 40 Questions Easy to understand: yes, i like the colour scheme and stuff like that. its cool. Easy to use: yes. the colour scheme. Like: the pretty colours. Dislike: you might.. I dunno how much of a problem this is.. but when a new reply has been added.. and you click on the green arrow to go there..and the annotation that had a reply or the reply that had a reply was marked in someway.. so that you don't have to look through all the things to see if a new reply has been added (also in case more than one new reply has been added then once you see the first new reply you don't stop looking assuming that there are no more new replies). phew!.. that took a while.:) Popup: yeah.. but it could do with some pretty colours. Examples: it would look exactly like this. thank you. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 00 major: Computer Science paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: I often highlite important stuff or pen in notes. xp: 4 netscape: 6 Questions Easy to understand: It is easy to understand, i think, but the "click arrow to see reply tree" isn't that easy to see--i know its hard to increase the size (& the unix system has a very high resolution) but you might want to mention somewhere that "to see reply-s, click the arrow". Easy to use: Like: Dislike: Popup: Examples: ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: psychology paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: underlining, comments, questions and question marks xp: 3 netscape: almost none Questions Easy to understand: I wasn't sure how to look at all the annotations, and the triangle is kind of small. But otherwise, it's pretty self-explanatory. Easy to use: It's pretty easy to use since all you have to do is type and click the mouse and the instructions are pretty clear. Like: You can see everyone else's annotations and make your own. There are some interesting possibilities that it has, like having a debate or discussion. Dislike: There's really nothing that I dislike about it. Popup: It's pretty appealing and it's easy to read. Examples: Have it on the primary webpage, on the bottom or something. The comments could be in a box and one could scroll down through the comments to read it. It could also be separated by individual comments and there could be a box that has the names of people that made annotations and one could just click on an individual name and the respective comment would show up. Here's another one. Maybe you could have an option, like where the back, forward, reload, etc. options are that says annotations on and people could just write stuff underneath parts of the webpage. If you wanted to look at the webpage with the annotations, you click that option. Otherwise, you would just see the regular webpage. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: English major paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: highlighting, margin scribbles, underlining xp: 1 netscape: 3 Questions Easy to understand: It's easy to understand -- once it's thoroughly explained. Easy to use: very easy to use; I didn't try this, but is it possible to copy and paste into the section that says "copy the text you wish to annotate here"? That would be good. Like: Very simple. Dislike: No clear "help" function or comprehensive introduction -- I'm lost without them, and am a big fan of examples and "baby-steps" beginners' tours. Popup: Yes, it's readable. Examples: Would start out with brief, comprehensive introduction to the system -- what it does, who it connects to whom, its limitations and special strengths. This would be followed by the annotation brackets -- in this case, the colored arrows -- and a brief introduction to which perform which function, followed by explanations of any other icons, such as the "add" and "search" buttons found on this system (yes, users can be this dumb. They love it when you write like they're dumb, witness the insane success of the "_______ for Dummies" series). Maybe even add links to more in-depth explanations of individual topics, for example, to elaborate on the "what" part of the introduction for those more educated in computer stuff. Basically I would explain every little detail. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: math paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: highlighting, writing in comments xp: 3 netscape: 3 Questions Easy to understand: I didn't understand the difference between the two boxes Easy to use: Once I understood it, it was pretty easy to use Like: It's pretty simple Dislike: I just didn't understand what an annotation is. Popup: It was fine Examples: I would try to make it clearer where the annotation would be inserted. THat would be the only change that I would make ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 00 major: Computer Science paper documents y/n: paper markings: (this is the 2nd half of my survey) xp: netscape: Questions Easy to understand: Easy to use: Yes, pretty easy. The new windows is probably the best option Like: I like the color-coded tag-arrows Dislike: I like the replys appearing instantly; the "reload the page" to see the new annotations is (i would quite imagine) a necessary evil Popup: yep, excluding that tiny little uncommented but very important triangle. Examples: I would do that 2-column approach, accepting the necessary evil that sometimes you would have much wasted space on one side or the other. Talmud-style. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: Psychology paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: highlighting, double-highlighting (underlining, for example what's already underlined) to note the most important highlighted text, question marks, !!! when something is surprising or outrageous, my own conclusions or questions... xp: 3 netscape: 5 Questions Easy to understand: yes: it's a very simple idea... maybe you should explain it as writing comments on a web page... that would be easier to introduce the interface to people Easy to use: yes... i would like to be able to select text first, then open window and then double click middle button to get text without having to go back and select text again. Like: saves paper... you don't have to print... Dislike: it took a long time when I was trying to use it in Hotmail... it actually n ever worked... Popup: it's a good way to see the whole annotation. Maybe a little bit of color might be appealing... gray is too boring... maybe the user should have the option of editing the color and font as well as size (font size too). Examples: I guess you could make a floating frame somewhere in the main navigation page where the annotations would appear ...LIke a little box on one of the corners ... drawing: _________________ heading of annotation ------------------ webpage box with actual comments ------------------------ (with the possibility of changing the size of it... ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: chemistry, political science paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: frantic, spastic, yet quite helpful. xp: 3 netscape: too damn many Questions Easy to understand: Yeah, it is. Of course that requires following and remebering simple instructions. Easy to use: Yes, it is. Aren't I being helpful? Like: One can make snide, yet witty remarks about the genius of web design known as www.grinnell.edu. Dislike: If it was implicated system wide would it make things messy? Popup: I like the window, but it's hard to click on that little arrow next to the text. It was displayed in a readable fashion, but I'm not sure if it was incredibly appealing. Well, if you made it plaid or striped, it would be more 'chic.' Hey, is teal in style? Examples: I don't know about the whole yellow arrow thing. Not that I have any better ideas. Well, maybe I do. The text that is annotated could be made a different color or it could do an animated square dance type thing. One thing I would probably do, being the usual pain in the ass I am, is make serious annotations be links to wacky web pages. For example, annote the Grinnell community service text link, and when a good-hearted person clicks on the annotation, the victim ends up on www.inpraiseofmidgets.com. Or something like that. Well, I think I'm done discoursing. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: Chemistry paper documents y/n: No paper markings: But when I do, I generally only make a few comments when I strongly agree or disagree with the paper. I also make comments occasionally when xp: 3 netscape: 6-10 Questions Easy to understand: It seems to be fairly easy to understand. It's not Microsoft, but that's a good thing, eh? I like it. It has all kinds of cool potential. I think this will be something that would be great for taking notes. Easy to use: What happens when a user wants to go to the edit menu and use that paste in your window...(I only ask because I know several people who do that all the time. Like: It is pretty nice, yepyoubetcha. I think the Add/Search and the key are nice and unobtrusive. Dislike: You guys must be missing a space after "and" when you tell who an annotation is for (for permissions). When you put a link in an annotation, and then you click on it, then that page opens in the annotation window!!!!!!!!! I would like the annotation page to come to the front of the pages when you click on the link to add or search for an annotation (this is only a problem when the annotation window is already open. Popup: Is there any way to show the url that someone puts in an annotation so the other users can see it? In the Original annotation for the "Annotation System" annotation, it says that the system was written by Sarah, Rachel and Sam, but when you point to the link, you don't know if it's a link to a page or an e-mail. Either larger arrows, or a [+], [-] symbol would be nice for the trees. Examples: What about if when a "new" reply is clicked, open the tree to the new annotation, and any below that. I don't know, I do like the other window, even though it's "not possible" ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 00 major: psychology paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: underlines and astericks in the margin next to more important underlined things xp: 3 netscape: 1-2 Questions Easy to understand: yes Easy to use: yes Like: Dislike: Popup: yes, but it could use a little more color Examples: maybe it could look like a page, with notes coming off in the margins, that connect to the place where the annotation is being made. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: Physics paper documents y/n: paper markings: Yes. Flourescent marker. xp: 3 netscape: 10 (approx.) Questions Easy to understand: Yes. The interface is self explanatory and user friendly. Easy to use: Yes. The user may go through a small trial and error period while learning how to use this interface but overall, it seems very user-friendly. Like: It's a web-based interface. Since this interface is web-based, it will not restrict annotations to students on campus. Since the interface requires a web-browser( which most people who have computers have access to), the system can be used by off-campus users who are granted an account on this system.(i.e. no software like EVAX is required) Dislike: Well, at the moment, nothing. Perhaps when the system is put into use, there could be an extensive "Help" section for users that encounter problems while using the system. Also, as a suggestion, the page introducing the system should have clear and concise instructions on using the interface. Popup: Readable - yes. Appealing - could be made more appealing. Examples: Putting the annotations in a margin might not be a good idea if the web-page has several frames. Vertical frames on the page along with the margins that contain the annotations might squeeze things up too much. For optimum readability, the annotations should be in a color distinctively different from the color of the text. The annotation should inserted as a new paragraph immediately after the text to which the reply is being posted. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 00 major: Mathematics paper documents y/n: Yes paper markings: highlighing and writing in the margins xp: 3 netscape: 1 or 2 Questions Easy to understand: yep. It is explained well. Easy to use: Yep. very straight forward. I liked all the color coding. Like: It was simple and self-explanatory Dislike: I was only allowed to annotate a few portions of the text. Popup: The arrows need to be bigger. The tree idea was good. Examples: I think you should be able to just put the pointer on an annotated portion and it would invoke a small window for the annotation, much like the balloon help on Macs. Perhaps then clicking twice would keep the pop-up window open indefinitely, so you could open several at a time. Then there would be a click point on the annotation to open up the window you already have designed so that you could view the replies. ----------------------------- Survey submitted successfully class: 01 major: CS paper documents y/n: No paper markings: I prefer to take notes instead of marking up books. xp: 5 netscape: Too many Questions Easy to understand: Easy to use: Yes, I like it. Like: 1) Overall, your interface seems clean. I like the white background. Dislike: 1) The entry box for typing in an annotation really needed to be wrapped. But I already said as much, and Rachel already fixed this. 2) Search doesn't seem to look at user names. I tried searching for Andrew after creating a reply and it didn't find anything. It might be nice to be able to find postings from a particular person. 3) Your system doesn't like it when I tried to annotate a piece of HTML. I tried annotating '