New RV-10 Low Profile Handle Design

[Zac@AerosportProducts]

Yes, the price is for the pair.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Aerosport1

Small nit-pick: The position of the "<- Close - Open ->" sticker suggests that the lever is shown in the "Open" position, and to close it you would unlatch and then move the lever up (rotate it counter-clockwise) from it's current position.

Given that it's supposed to be aerodynamic, I expect it should be in the horizontal position during flight, and hence that would be the "Closed" position. Note that i'm not a -10 owner or builder, so I don't know how the handle should move... Just pointing out a UI issue that some might find confusing.

[Aerosport1]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Small nit-pick: The position of the "<- Close - Open ->" sticker suggests that the lever is shown in the "Open" position, and to close it you would unlatch and then move the lever up (rotate it counter-clockwise) from it's current position.

Given that it's supposed to be aerodynamic, I expect it should be in the horizontal position during flight, and hence that would be the "Closed" position. Note that i'm not a -10 owner or builder, so I don't know how the handle should move... Just pointing out a UI issue that some might find confusing.

This is really not confusing to most.
Step 1. Determine if the door is open or closed. (Very important)
Step 2. If closed rotate the handle in the direction of the arrow.
OR
If the door is opened or unlatched shut door if open and rotate handle in the direction of the arrow.
Another note. It is opposite when inside the airplane

Pretty simple.

[Snowflake]

I've spent a fair bit of time studying human interface design... A double ended arrow with a lever positioned at one end of it communicates to people visually that the lever goes to the other end of the arrow when actuated. People naturally want to choose the shortest path between two points. People also naturally do NOT read text when they have a strong visual cue like an arrow. It's human nature that can be trained out, but human interface designers make use of this knowledge to design systems that work *with* human nature, not against it.

[NovaBandit]

Originally Posted by Aerosport1

Step 1. Determine if the door is open or closed. (Very important)

Ahhh... That's what I was doing wrong!!

[1001001]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I've spent a fair bit of time studying human interface design... A double ended arrow with a lever positioned at one end of it communicates to people visually that the lever goes to the other end of the arrow when actuated. People naturally want to choose the shortest path between two points. People also naturally do NOT read text when they have a strong visual cue like an arrow. It's human nature that can be trained out, but human interface designers make use of this knowledge to design systems that work *with* human nature, not against it.

I must be abnormal then, because I generally tend to block out graphical cues and read text exclusively. I find it very annoying to read most new (post late 1990s) web sites because my eyes gloss right over the graphical buttons and icons and look for text.

I have also been involved in design for industrial control panels and process information display screens, where having a clean design and being able to quickly acquire and interpret critical information about an operating chemical process or piece of equipment is extremely important. Sometimes designers go overboard with the visual/graphical cues when what is needed is a clearly readable piece of text.

Looking at the arrow above, my immediate reaction is to ask who installed it backward. Now, depending on the point of view (literally) of the person viewing the arrow, the arrow head may end up being hidden by the handle itself, showing a single headed arrow, but the "open" text right near the handle to me indicates it is in the "open" position, not that I should move the handle to obtain an open position.

Ultimately, what matters is that the people who rely on information such as this can get the right message out of a sign. With appropriate training, and an understanding of the principles by which the labels were created, and an assurance that all such labels were created with an identical set of assumptions, the operator can interpret correctly the intent of the designer.

Where folks run into problems is often when competing or incompatible conventions are used in similar or related systems. For instance, I have worked at employers where all control screens used the color green to indicate that a pump or valve was off or closed, at others where green meant open or running, and have even seen panels designed (shudder) where green meant "safe" whether that was open or closed (that gets really scary)!

Anyway, not meant to critique, but rather to point out that some people's perceptions don't necessarily perfectly align with the research on what the average person sees when viewing a label or status display.

[Mike S]

Gotta agree with most of the above comments-------the sticker shown is not very instinctive.

As a 10 builder, I had to put stickers on for the A/W inspection, and it was similar in design-------and in being misleading.

After having the plane painted, I did not put the sticker back on-----I just give new passengers a brief tour of how the handle works.

If I were designing the sticker, it would go under the handle, the handle would cover up the arrowhead, and word "closed" when in the closed position, and it would cover up the open arrow/word "open" when in the open position.

This would give all the correct clues.

[N15JB]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Small nit-pick: The position of the "<- Close - Open ->" sticker suggests that the lever is shown in the "Open" position, and to close it you would unlatch and then move the lever up (rotate it counter-clockwise) from it's current position.

This label reminds me of a popular bar in Boulder CO where the restrooms are side-by-side; each door has a sign pointing to the opposite door. Almost everyone walks into the wrong room initially.

I agree that your label should be revised.

[rleffler]

Wow, a lot of converstation over a old decal. If I was a betting person, I would guess that was from Geoff's previous set of factory handles. Which may explain their location being off a bit.

While most of the points probably are still valid between the two types of handles, I still don't see the value in the debate.

Personally, to me, I interpret the arrows as it moves both directions, with the text indicating the function that will occur when moved that way.


The good news is that we can each label our aircraft how we see fit.