Working example / A pocket field recorder
Every decision has a dependency.
Catch a thought without looking down.
Audience: walkers recording short observations outside.
Outcome: start a voice note with one gloved hand.
Constraint: no screen interaction during recording.
The brief describes the behaviour we need, not a list of features we hope to ship.
Outcome: start a voice note with one gloved hand.
Constraint: no screen interaction during recording.
The brief describes the behaviour we need, not a list of features we hope to ship.
One button. Two unmistakable states.
A recessed button prevents pocket activation. A short vibration confirms the start; two pulses confirm the stop. Test the distinction while walking, not only at a desk.
Open question: can the same feedback be understood through a thick glove?
Open question: can the same feedback be understood through a thick glove?
Make the uncertainty testable.
Build a foam grip with a mechanical switch. Ask a reader to start and stop five short notes without looking. Record missed presses and ambiguous feedback.
Next decision: retain the recessed button only if it is both reachable and resistant to accidental presses.
Next decision: retain the recessed button only if it is both reachable and resistant to accidental presses.
A useful record is small enough to read.
| Field | Recorder study |
|---|---|
| Decision | Recess the record button |
| Evidence needed | Gloved-hand walking test |
| Not yet known | Feedback through winter clothing |
| Revisit when | A missed press changes the result |
Move the work, not the uncertainty.
-
1
Locate the decision
Name the choice that is actually blocking progress. A broad ambition is not yet a decision.
-
2
Attach the evidence
Keep the observation beside the choice. Mark assumptions so they do not harden into facts.
-
3
Set the return condition
Write down what would change your mind. A decision should be revisitable without restarting the whole conversation.
At the edge of the board
What is the difference between a task and a decision?
A task describes work to do. A decision selects a direction. The same task can produce evidence for more than one decision, so keep the relationship visible.
When should a record be closed?
When the choice and its reasoning are understandable to someone who was not in the room. Leave the revisit condition attached rather than deleting the uncertainty.