Wordless pancakes v1.2

February 2007 Update
Pre-launch of the official website!
Check it out here:
www.coo.kz/
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See the most current version here:
farm1.static.flickr.com/129/368869026_739b08dd98_o.jpg

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Update: 22/01/07
I'd love to know where you're all coming from - has someone blogged this picture?

(in the last week maybe? I've had a much higher than usual number of views, favorites and comments!)

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After wading through all the comments and feedback recieved, I have updated the wordless pancake recipe.

It's still a work in progress, but the visual language sytem is getting better every day!

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static.flickr.com/51/254474103_128aafc327_o.jpg

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Comments

ursonate says:

Good job! I had this same idea this past summer, but never got around to executing it. The recipe I was going to use was Corn and Barley Salad.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Blackheathens says:

That's great! Really clear & succinct.
Lovely graphics and use of colour too.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

muchograssyarse says:

very interesting....i work with adults that have learning difficulties...your graphics could really help them understand the cooking process clearly....do you have any plans to publish your recipes or produce more/

Sean
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

futnuh says:

You might consider changing the horizontal positioning of each step. Steps 2 and 3 are naturally positioned under the left-hand bowl in Step1. Step 4, completely unrelated to these steps, follows from the right-hand bowl in Step 1. Step 5 brings Steps 3 and 4 back together.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

macro girl says:

muchograssyarse: The plan is to produce a website with a plethora of recipes - and the capacity for users to input their own text based recipes and have a program produce the image based version!

Futnuh: The layout is only for design purposes - these are working drawings, when they are placed into a website interface each step will be separated and accessed through a menu of toggle buttons.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

macro girl says:

futnuh: I have just re-read your comment and understood what you mean.

The order of the steps is in this case quite important - if the egg whites are whipped and then left to sit while the yolks, sugar and flour are combined the whites will loose most of the air that has been whipped into them!

I agree though - it does seem a little illogical
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

bootload says:

Been blogged on Make Magazine blog by PT.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

idunno65536 says:

Speaking as someone who can't cook pancakes, how long is the cooking clock meant to be showing? It looks like 3 seconds or so, that can't be right can it?
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

macro girl says:

It's meant to be 3 minutes... i'm working on the clock - it confuses too many people!
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

acerra86 says:

In the first edition of the picture, baking powder was used. In this edition baking soda is used. I am a noob when it comes to cooking, which one do I use? Awesome idea thanks!
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

macro girl says:

Woops! that should be baking powder! sorry :)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

ursonate says:

When you get this all settled, I want to try it on some recipes!

eta: Just a couple of other thoughts. i just realized that in most pancake recipes I've used the eggs don't get separated and you're not supposed to move mix the batter, i.e. there would be some small lumps. So I wonder if there is a way to indicate consistency, if it's relevant in the case. You've got it perfectly with the mixing of the egg whites. My other thought is does the skillet get warmed up before the batter gets added?
Oh! One more! Growing up, I learned that a pancake is ready to be flipped when the edges started to get dry. So I wonder if time is the best indicator or if there's another way to show when to make the next action. I think it coupld be problematic here because everyone's interpretation of medium heat may be a little different.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

digivex says:

Great Job MG!

Based on the current working image set I see only a few items that could create some confusion; the cooking pan size, overall pancake size when poured and necessity for preheat of the pan (the cooking time/clock item has already been covered by others).

pan size: If a very small pan is used, the batter will be thicker and your clock time will vary (if you move to a "dry edge" flip as opposed to time, it might not matter).
This could probably be clarified with an initial "set-up" step which indicates all the items needed before the user starts and includes the pan or skillet w/ its overall dimensions.

pour size: Once the pan size is a given, since pancakes are usually around 4" in diameter, perhaps an overhead view of the poured out pancake(s) with an indicator of the size could be added to the pour step. This will also help if you stick to the timed cooking.
Yes, the user has the cup indicator to show they should not pour all the batter (fill the pan with one huge pancake) but the pour sizing still may not be wholly clear to a noob.

pan preheat: Most pancake recipes indicate that the pan should be hot prior to inital pour. Perhaps an additional step between 4 and 5 or between 5 and 6 that indicates the pan over medium heat and a mostly full temp gauge indicating red for "hot" would do it!

As a human factors engineer, I love this stuff!
Keep up the great and insightful work in this area!
-Vex
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

ericdfields says:

Is that tbsp or tsp or general spoonful? I have to make the egg whites look like waves?
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

ursonate says:

When you whip eggwhites they get peaks like waves.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

cauneUK says:

you just made my day... Having pancakes for breakfast. :)
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

cauneUK says:

just found your recipe somewhere else.

www.37signals.com/svn/archives2/wordless_panc ake_recipe.php
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

ken cousins says:

Not to diminish the fantastic work you've done here, but I also put together a wordless recipe book several years ago, when I was serving with the Peace Corps in Bolivia. The idea was to take local recipes and present them in a form that would have appeal in a population where illiteracy was quite high (especially among women). Let me know if you're interested; I'll post some scans.
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

macro girl says:

Defenitely interested! post your work and send a link!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

(kerry ball) says:

you've also been blogged in neatorama!! www.neatorama.com/2007/01/21/wordless-pancake -recipe/
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

tlewelt says:

gggggggrrrrrreeeeeaaaaatttttttt!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Passaporto says:

Brilliant! I got the link from www.coudal.com/ today.
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

david_k_daniels says:

Very cool! I found you looking through Flicker and liked it so much I posted about it on our product launch blog. Great idea!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Lean (inkel) says:

Wonderful!!! I've to try it :)
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

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Wordless pancakes v1.2

Comments

ursonate says:

Blackheathens says:

muchograssyarse says:

futnuh says:

macro girl says:

macro girl says:

bootload says:

idunno65536 says:

macro girl says:

acerra86 says:

macro girl says:

ursonate says:

digivex says:

ericdfields says:

ursonate says:

cauneUK says:

cauneUK says:

ken cousins says:

macro girl says:

(kerry ball) says:

tlewelt says:

Passaporto says:

david_k_daniels says:

Lean (inkel) says:

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