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My husband uses LabVIEW for UI and product design and likes it. I've looked
over his shoulder and did a bit of UI design consulting for him. A few
comments:
o He's a physicist/electronic engineer, so the wiring diagram style of
creating behavior seems to really appeal to him. I'm more of a software
coding geek, and I felt a bit lost trying to think of programming concepts
without having written code. (Maybe that's more a writer thing than a
programmer thing.) Anyway, while relating wiring diagram concepts to
programming logic seemed an interesting intellectual exercise, my guess is
that it might seem more natural to someone who isn't already a programmer.
o The interfaces it creates have cool looking little sliders and knobs, but
they aren't Windows-standard interface controls. If a Windows-standard-look
is important for what you design, LabVIEW isn't what you want. LabVIEW apps
look more like a cross between Windows, KAI Power Tools, and an oscilloscope.
o My husband definitely liked the LabVIEW training classes. My recollection
is that he also liked their manuals.
o He's had some difficulty with some timing issues related to WinNT and the
device he's making, but other than that, I think he's happy with LabVIEW.
o As far as being useful on one's resume, I would think that would only be
useful in some companies in certain industries -- like scientific
instrumentation design. And, I don't know that it's that well known even in
those circles. Designing apps with Visual C++ or something similar would
attract the attention of a greater number of companies.
Jonathan Stoppi <stops -at- qualum -dot- com> asked:
>Anyone had any experience with LabVIEW? It seems an impressive tool for
>designing interactive interfaces, with considerable scope for implementing
>ideas in usability, etc.
>
>How valuable would a moderate expertise in its use (at design/simulation
>level) be in one's resume, do you think?
>
>Thanks for any input you may have (off-list or on-). Apart from someone's
>query two years ago on using FrameMaker to document LabView work, I can see
>nothing about it in the Whirl archives.
>
>Thanks
>
>- Jonathan Stoppi
> Dances with Elves
> (but Stops -at- Qualum -dot- com)
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Tel: 805/683-5784 * Instructional design http://members.home.net/ydegraw * Database publishing
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