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Terminology Study: Location vs. Environment

Terminology Study: Location vs. Environment

Overview

An informal study gathering the opinions on the term "Environment" vs "Location" as the name of the concept of associating a set of services and proxies with where the machine is. Of the 10 participants asked (so far), 8 preferred Location, 1 could see an argument for either, and 1 preferred Environment.

Methodology

  • Show participants a paper screenshot of either the Environment dialog or the Location dialog. Alternate which is shown first with each participant to remove order bias.
  • Ask users to describe what the dialog does. Present other option afterward s and ask them which they preferred.

Results

Why participants chose Location over Environment

  • Go with terminology users already know for this type of concept
  • A Solaris tech writer mentioned that "Environment" is a term non-english speakers don't understand, and therefore was no longer being used in docs.
  • Location meant something physical and can change, and Environment is not changed often and is also associated with unix environment variables, desktop environment -- things that are only changed once, not as dynamic. Environment is also too broad and vague a term.
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Created by admin on 2009/10/26 12:16
Last modified by admin on 2009/10/26 13:01

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