Read on Twitter
I was thinking of somethin while building the @LEGO_Group Disneyland Train Station set @MatthiasBe got us for Christmas.
It's an odd little thought but it won't go away.
1/
It's an odd little thought but it won't go away.
1/
It sounds like just a silly notion, but I'm actually quite serious and I'm interested what people, especially those who deal with training or technology, have to say.
Okay. Here's the deal. I always wanted this set, it was a joy to put together.
2/
Okay. Here's the deal. I always wanted this set, it was a joy to put together.
2/
Now, here's the thing. It took two of us a few nights to put it together. It's three thousand pieces.
3000 pieces, hundreds of different shapes. Details run from a 'chandelier' to the caboose tea set in the lounge area.
3/
3000 pieces, hundreds of different shapes. Details run from a 'chandelier' to the caboose tea set in the lounge area.
3/
So.
3000 pieces. Different colors and shapes.
A battery powered engine.
Various decals
Five minifigs
An oval of track pieces
A station, with an exterior and open interior
and connections to two ipad apps to use with it.
I think twenty separate BAGS of pieces.
4/
3000 pieces. Different colors and shapes.
A battery powered engine.
Various decals
Five minifigs
An oval of track pieces
A station, with an exterior and open interior
and connections to two ipad apps to use with it.
I think twenty separate BAGS of pieces.
4/
But here's where it gets very interesting to me.
There are four instruction booklets, probably enough pages for a novel.
The fourth one, to build the station, is enormous.
5/
There are four instruction booklets, probably enough pages for a novel.
The fourth one, to build the station, is enormous.
5/
Okay. Now, I'll be honest. I am not good with directions.
To the point where I ask @RocketSpouse to assemble most anything really tricky. And I often get a bit frustrated.
And the actual things you are building in this set can get quite complex, really.
6/
To the point where I ask @RocketSpouse to assemble most anything really tricky. And I often get a bit frustrated.
And the actual things you are building in this set can get quite complex, really.
6/
And here is the weird bit. All those similar, tiny pieces. All the complexities and interior/exterior building, 3000 pieces, right?
But the instruction booklets are meant to work for any language.
In short...the have no words in them.
7/
But the instruction booklets are meant to work for any language.
In short...the have no words in them.
7/
I built the most complicated bit, the engine and coal car, where the power supply goes, and it had the most small parts. Once in a while, it would be clear I'd messed up, and I would just go back a couple pages and find where I'd gone wrong and fix it.
No words.
8/
No words.
8/
My question is...is this not kind of miraculous?
That they can have a product with 3000 fussy, often similar pieces that have to be put together precisely ONE WAY to function, and they have mastered making instructions that not only nearly anyone can 'read...'
9/
That they can have a product with 3000 fussy, often similar pieces that have to be put together precisely ONE WAY to function, and they have mastered making instructions that not only nearly anyone can 'read...'
9/
But also, work even for young children?
I mean, is that not close to magic?
Hundreds of pages of instruction, that can be understood by a comic writer in Oregon and a child in Shanghai and an engineer in Spain...that's remarkable, isn't it?
10/
I mean, is that not close to magic?
Hundreds of pages of instruction, that can be understood by a comic writer in Oregon and a child in Shanghai and an engineer in Spain...that's remarkable, isn't it?
10/
This isn't an ad for @LEGO_Group. I mean, I love them.
But I think of the instructions I've seen for vastly, VASTLY easier to operate devices, and they are completely baffling in their verbosity.
11/
But I think of the instructions I've seen for vastly, VASTLY easier to operate devices, and they are completely baffling in their verbosity.
11/
My big question is...is this something to consider?
Do we overcomplicate matters with language, or is Lego THAT intuitive?
I've had TOASTERS that had ridiculous and unhelpful instructions that made understanding LESS likely.
12/
Do we overcomplicate matters with language, or is Lego THAT intuitive?
I've had TOASTERS that had ridiculous and unhelpful instructions that made understanding LESS likely.
12/
I'm just wondering what can be learned here.
Especially interested to hear from hobbyists, and people who train, or write for tech.
That's it, just my odd question of the day!
Thanks for indulging me, interested to hear your thoughts.
13/
Especially interested to hear from hobbyists, and people who train, or write for tech.
That's it, just my odd question of the day!
Thanks for indulging me, interested to hear your thoughts.
13/
PS. I am very thankful for the responses. I had no idea so many non-verbal kids used Lego, or autistic people of all ages, because of the method of instruction is helpful to their processing.
That is damn cool.
That is damn cool.
