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it seems like we're short-circuiting to the "training wheels" question (is there a real name for this?). Agree we shouldn't dump folks in the deep end, but as you say in the thread, that doesn't necessitate an entirely separate context of tools!

Max Krieger

@maxkriegers

my 2c from Andy's thread: explorables form a false ceiling on what's possible for dynamic media to express. Notations are hard to invent, yes, but we've hardly scratched the surface of how to re-situate existing ones on the screen (cf

@wcrichton

's nota)

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Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

· Sep 13, 2020

In summary, there’s a reason these articles usually feel like one-offs, and that the field doesn’t seem to be accreting: the representations are rarely deep enough to stand on their own and build upon each other. They’re too often for showing, not for thinking. Bret put it well:

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I think there's "explorables" (noun) and there's "explorable explanations" (explorable is an adjective, explanations are the noun). From worrydream.com/ExplorableExpl - explorable is *optional* - interactivity is not the main point - "figure it out for yourself" isn't an explanation

I don't consider explorable explanations, where interactivity is not the main point, to be a "ceiling" on what dynamic media can express. My gut feeling is that explorable explanations should not be what practioners use. Some examples—

1. NYT interactive on climate change shouldn't be using the same tools that climate researchers use, for the sake both of the readers ("hey learn matlab") or the researchers ("hey you should use interactive javascript")

GPS – Bartosz Ciechanowski

2. ciechanow.ski/gps/ shouldn't be using the same tools that gps designers use. 3. A page about how bicycles work → someone won't learn how to ride a bicycle by playing with explorables. They need to be out riding a bike. An explanation is useful but doesn't replace doing

ciechanow.ski

Interactive article explaining how GPS works.

I think it'd be great for people to advance notation and tools for thought and interactive media for practioners. I just don't think explorable explanations are the place to do it. Explanations especially for beginners should reflect what practioners do, not the other way around.

Max Krieger

@maxkriegers

This brings up an important distinction between explorables as *popularizations* vs as, say, 200-level textbook chapters. BTW can you elaborate on that last sentence? I can't quite invert it in my head.