Undo?

After presenting my concepts for the android project, I moved on to problems facing the current setup. One of the issues presented is confusion regarding the undo tool. Many students did not understand how this tool functioned, primarily the extent to which it will undo actions. While it was suggested that modifying the icon could assist with this, it is my opinion that adding the word 'Undo' to the button would not fix the problem. I feel that the issue regarding the tool lies not in the icon's design, but in the user not being informed of its utility. I suggested that, rather than making changes to the icons, it would more directly address the problem to provide a means of explaining the tool. I suggested creating a help log, one that would include all the information on a tool, similar to those found in most software, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop.

I also suggested the initiation of a tips log, such as the one found in Word, often associated with the character Clippy. A small window could pop up when something is clicked or there is a long pause to say something like: 'Don't panic! Remember, you can undo any action, including the clear all' or 'Remember that hovering over a drawn object brings up a sub-menu of options.' These tips could be hidden, but kept in a log, so if it were hidden, a tiny notice icon would appear when one was suggested, and clicking on this icon would allow reading of the log. The same icon would be there if tips were enabled, allowing viewing of past tips. The tip system idea was rejected, as it would likely be more annoying than beneficial (as is currently the case with most software utilizing it).

I also feel that the creation of a short introductory video would assist the students in figuring out the finer details of the program (such as the ability of the undo tool to undo a clear all).