trouskova_olga_instructions assignment final draft

8/14/2019 Trouskova_Olga_Instructions Assignment Final Draft

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Olga TrouskovaInstructions Assignment

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Building a Walking Bridge~ * ~


Professional and technical Writing

~ * ~


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................3

Description of Equipment and Materials

How to download software and the basics of its navigation and use ............. 3-4

Visual representation of materials (Logo pieces) ................................................... 5

Caution and Warning

Caution and Warning .................................................................................................. 5

Directions/Instructions for Building the Walking Bridge Model

Building the first layer ............................................................................................. 6-7

Building the second layer............................................................................................ 7

Building the third layer ........................................................................................... 8-9

Building the fourth layer ..................................................................................... 10-11

Appendix

Memo ........................................................................................................................... 12


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Building a Lego Walking Bridge

Introduction

The instructions will guide you though the construction of a walking bridge model

though the Legal Digital Designer website. The following instructions were designed forcollege students who are already familiar with the use of computers and the Internet. The

users of these instructions should be able to utilize the online Lego Digital Designer

website after a brief introduction to its usage. Furthermore, the instructions are meant toguide the users through the construction of a specific modelthe Walking Bridge. Notfollowing the instructions could result in the creation of a distinct model with different

characteristics.

Description of Equipment and Materials

To build the Walking Bridge structure, it is first necessary to download the Lego

Digital Designer. The Lego Digital Designer software can be downloaded for free fromhttp://ldd.lego.com/by clicking on Download LDD and following the subsequent

instructions to complete the download.
http://ldd.lego.com/http://ldd.lego.com/http://ldd.lego.com/


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It is crucial to know how to use through the tools and features in the downloaded

software. The following features are used often in the construction of the model (seebelow image for their locations):

To copy pieces: Click on the clone icon/tool, then click on the piece that you

want to copy To move pieces: Click on the select icon, then click and hold on the desired

piece.

To select a piece: Use the select icon to choose a piece from the Brick Paletteshown on the left (below)

To place a piece in a specific location: Once the piece has been selected,

move it towards the desired location, and click on that location

To delete a piece: Click on the delete icon, then click on the piece you want todelete

To rotate the model: Use arrows on the circular icon on the screen

To rotate a piece: Click on the chosen piece, then use the arrows on your

keyboard to rotate the piece in the desired direction To choose a color for a piece from the Palette

To change a color of a piece in the model: Click on the paint tool/icon, thenclick on the piece you want to modify and choose the color from the pop out

window

To zoom in our out: Use the + oron the circular icon

To select

To copy

To delete

To rotate; to

zoom in/out


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You will need the following pieces to construct your model. Each piece is found in a

specific category, which will be mentioned in the instructions.

Fabuland Standard

Round brick

Brick 2x8Fence 1x4x2

Brick 2x10

Brick with Bow

Brick 2x6

Categories: count

from left to right


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Caution/Warning

It is important to use the select arrow to choose pieces. If the delete icon was

previously used, it is important to choose the select arrow. Otherwise, you will

delete every piece that you will select with the arrow.

The pieces that you will be using can all be found in the Brick Palette tool,which contains 24 expandable categories (counted from left to right).

To ensure that all the pieces have been placed in the correct location and

angle, rotate the model. This will allow you to view the model from differentangles.

It is crucial that you work within the squares of the platformthis will help

you build the structure straight rather than crooked and to accurately measure

distances between different components of the model

Do not forget to periodically save your work

Directions/Instructions for Constructing the Model:

It is easier to construct the model by following the instructions for each of the four layers

of the model. Please consult the graphs for a visual representation of the construction ofeach layer in the model

Building the first layer:

1. To begin using the program, first open the program and then chose the ChooseFree Build option. This option will allow you to build a model of your own

rather than to build from a pre-built model.

NOTE: Remember that categories are counted from left to right.2. In the palette, expand and select the category 7 select Brick and Bow 1x6x2

(LIGHT GRAY color) within the category

NOTE: Place your Lego pieces within the squares of the platform so it would be

easier to construct a straight model3. Move this piece to approximately the middle of the platform and place it there

with the correct orientation (see figure 2)

Figure 2


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4. Align and place another Brick and Bow piece next to the first one5. Using the clone and select tools to copy the two pieces6. Paste the new set approximately 3 squares away from the initial set7. Copy again and paste the second new set approximately 3 squares away from the

initial set (see figure 3)

Building the second layer:

8. Choose and expand category 1 select the Brick 2 X 6 (DARK GRAY) fromthe palette

9. Attach the brick over the Brick and Bow set. Do this three times (you should haveone brick on top of each Brick and Bow set) (see figure 4).

Figure 3

Figure 4


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Building the third layer:

10.Choose and expand category 1 select Brick 2 X 8 Brick (DARK BLUE)NOTE: Please see figure 5 to visualize the exact placement/orientation of the brick

piece. Also try rotating the structure to ensure that pieces have been completelyattached

11.Attach the brick over the previously constructed second layer (see figure 5)12.Attach two of the same bricks next to the first brick (see figure 6)

Figure 5

Figure 6


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13.Select category 1 select 2 X 10 Brick(DARK BLUE)14.Attach this new brick over the second layer (see figure 7)

15.Attach two more of the same bricks next to the first brick (your third layer shouldbe complete by this point) (see figure 8)

Figure 7

Figure 8


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Building the fourth layer:

16.Select category 11 select Fence 1X4X2 (BLUE color)17.Arrange 8 fences on top of the third layer, as shown in figure 9

18.Select category 15 select the Fabuland Standard (looks like a tower)19.Place one Fabuland Standard in one of the openings between the fences20.Place the second Fabuland Standard in the other opening between the fences

(see figure 10)

Opening

Figure 9

Figure 10


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21.Select category 2 select round brick (TRANSPARENT LIGHT BLUEcolor)

22.Place one round brick on top of the Fabuland Standard. Place another round brickon top of the second Fabuland Standard (see figure 11)

23.Congratulations! You are done with your model!

Figure 11


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Appendix

To: Mr. Anthony F Arrigo

From: Olga Trouskova

Date: February 13, 2009

Subject: User testing feedback and the changes that have been made in response to this feedback

I have completed two user tests of my instructions for the construction of my model (WalkingBridge). The purpose of these two users tests was to determine the effectiveness and clarity of my

instructions manual. Based on the feedback given to my by these two users (college students), Ihave modified my instructions to accommodate their recommendations. Flaws in wording and

organization were revealed and appropriate changes have been made, as it is described below.

User Testing ProcessTwo college students (both 21 years old) were provided with a computer and access to the Internet

on February 13, 2009. They were provided with a hard copy of the instructions manual andinstructed to speak out loud about any difficulties they might encounter in its use. Theircomplaints, difficulties, and suggestions were recorded. The room in which the testing took place

was quiet with minimal amount of distractions that could potentially affect understanding of the

instructions.

Feedback from UsersThe instructions should be simple, concise, and well-organized. Unnecessary words should be

eliminated or replaced with symbols such as arrows in order to reduce wordiness. For example,

instead of writing In the palette, find the brick 2X6 in the first category and choose the red color

for this piece, write Select category 1Brick 2X6 (RED).

From the example mentioned above, it is also evident that users like to see bolded words/phrases.

This technique helps readers find and remember the most important information, and it is

especially helpful in a paragraph that has a lot of text.

Instead of placing images/figures on separate pages, the images/figure should be placed right after

the step that they are referring. Users do not want to go from one page to another, looking for

information that they need to complete the step. They want it all in one place. So, each step in the

instructions should contain all the information needed to complete the model. In other words, the

information should not be scattered all over the place.

Occasional reminders should be included in order to reminder the user of important hints orwarnings. Users tend to forget details that were mentioned earlier in the model. Occasional

reminders prevent users from making mistakes.

Changes Made to the InstructionsBased on the feedback provided from my users, I rearranged my figures/images and placed them

after the step they referred to rather than on a separate page. The descriptions of the locations of

each Lego piece was also incorporated into the steps rather than placed on a separate page at the


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Olga I Trouskova 2 February 13, 2009

beginning of the manual. Users prefer to have all of the information in one place rather thanscattered throughout the manual.

I replaced some words with arrows or numbers in order to eliminate wordiness. I also bolded

words in my warning/caution section in order to help the user recognize the main point of eachparagraph in this section. Important key words in my steps were also bolded, helping users

remember these key wordssuch as the color of the piece or the category in the palette.

Please read over my instructions manual. I am open to any additional changes you might suggest.

trouskova_olga_instructions assignment final draft

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