SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

There’s always Neanderthal that’s trying to get posts relegated to the attic.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you want to post thoughts like this, subscribe to the UHH section known as The Attic. It's where all controversy goes to die.

BearFotog Loc: Florida USA

My new Nikon Z8 arrived the first week in January and I have yet to shoot with it. I have been reading the manual that came with it, plus reading any other user guide from Nikon Ambassadors and watching anything I can on YouTube regarding the camera. You are so correct when you say RTFM! (My new favorite term!) This camera is so different from other Nikons I have owned. There’s much to be learned in those 900 page manuals! I am sure that I may forget most of what I have read, but when I have a question, I will know where to get the answer. I enjoyed reading your insightful message! Bravo!!

scoundrel Loc: Wytheville VA

I'm not sure that AI would be able to interpret your example reliably, especially if the AI has no way of disambiguating the instructions. In this particular case, the "with everything but the subject out of focus" would be interpreted as using as wide an f-stop as possible, provided that the AI is smart enough not to overdo it for close, deep subjects. The "I want it to look like it is dark" part is more problematic. Should the camera deliberately underexpose the image, perhaps shifting the color balance toward blue a bit to simulate dusk or an ill-lit room and make a truly dark image that truly hides detail? Or should the image only seem dark but in fact have more or less full detail?

plesko628

A problem well stated, is a problem half solved.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I expect that will indeed be the case.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

I always try to fix something before calling for help. I don't always get it, but I learn something from the experience.
And after all, isn't that the reason behind it, to learn something?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yep. And if you really want to learn how to do something, learn it deeply enough to teach someone else how to do it.

scoundrel Loc: Wytheville VA

Among those things to research is how far you can go before voiding the warranty, if it hasn't already expired.

DPW Loc: Monroe, NH

And then there are those of us who are hands on learners. The manual is greek to me until I have taken something apart or used it to some degree then have the manual to help me fix what I messed up on or do not understand. Too many sales pitches sell ease of use instead of ease of use after you learn how to use it.

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken Loc: CO

Hi Bill, That was educational and made me smile. Thank you

radiojohn

I've written several "how-to" books/audiobooks/multimedia products for techno beginners over the years. These started with "The DOS Tape" and moved on to "What Is Windows? ," "What's A Modem?" "How To Buy Your First Digital Camera" and more. All did well.

One thing I learned is that we are living in a "plop, plop, fizz, fizz...oh what a relief it is" society.

For example, starting with "The DOS Tape" an continuing through Window 3.1 and beyond, I stressed FILE MANAGEMENT as in knowing where your files go.

Meanwhile Microsoft kept trying to hide real file management concepts under layers of "simplification." How many different way do you need to copy a file? Anyone remember "BOB?"

Glossing over technical complexity with a veneer of simplicity does not let the user off the hook when something more challenging come up.

I cannot tell you how many folks in my basic digital camera class could not understand WHY shots taken with their digital point and shoot or DSLR with "kit" lens of indoor sports came out "blurry." NO understanding of basic physics.

This lack of thinking or lwillingness to learn seems to be spreading.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

You can learn TO do something, but when it doesn't work right, you must know WHY and HOW it is supposed to work, at least well enough to know WHAT to do next.

I've always hated Microsoft's "technically correct, but functionally useless to real users" error messages. They assume you are as knowledgeable as the developers. My favorite was something like, "Unimplemented Trap". Hell, it seems like a trap to me! Why am I here, and how do I avoid getting here again? Who can I reach out and grill for answers?

I've always thought that error messages should say something honest, like, "We didn't anticipate that this could happen! You have to restart the program. Sorry you may have lost some data." Don't just leave the poor user without a map out of the jungle. Throw 'em a lifeline.

Do this step: [action]
After: [previous action]
With: [tools, supplies, information...]
Because: [why, purpose...]
Before: [next step]
Expected Result: [desired outcome]
Other Possible Outcomes: [failures]
Failure Remedies: [try this, that, or something else...]

I remember Bob and "Clippy," the dancing paperclip with useless advice that stole all my system resources.

HowManyPicturesHaveWeTaken Loc: CO

Lots of philosophical thinking and common sense advice. I'm enjoying this. Thanks to all of you

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well, it sort of went all over the map from where I thought it would, but if it's entertaining, and informative, I like it!