In previous posts, we looked at the iPad as a medium for delivering User Assistance and the hardware from author’s perspective . In this post, we’ll look at the iPad’s software, with a view for it being used by Technical Authors to create User Assistance.
iPad as an authoring tool for Technical Authors
Let’s start with the bad news. There’s currently no iPad versions of FrameMaker, RoboHelp, MadCap Flare, Captivate or Camtasia. There is also no iPad version of Microsoft Word. Yet, that doesn’t mean Technical Authors are unable to create User Assistance with an iPad.
The iPad does come with a Web browser, which means Technical Authors are able to use Web-based authoring tools such as Confluence, Mindtouch, Author-it and a number of DITA/XML authoring tools. The content is saved on a server or in the Cloud, rather than on the iPad itself.
You can also purchase, for the princely sum of £6.99, Pages, which is Apple’s own word processor. For basic authoring, it does the trick. However, it’s not perfect and round-tripping with Microsoft Word isn’t quite there. I would expect a iPad version of Microsoft Word at some stage.
Apple would steer you towards iBooks Author, their free tool for creating interactive textbooks:
It’s a very simple authoring tool that can create great outputs, but tellingly it needs to run on a OS/X Lion machine and not on the iPad itself. It’s a proprietary format, and there are also limitations on where you can distribute your ibooks.
Apple is targeting the e-learning sector, which means there are a number of e-learning platforms for the iPad, such as Lectora.
Where the iPad is very strong is in recording and creating visual content:
- Penultimate is a popular handwriting app, for using the iPad like a pad of paper.
- AutoCad WS allows you to view, edit, and share your DWG files with anyone, anywhere.
- OmniGraffle enables you to create diagrams, charts, flowcharts and wireframes on the iPad.
Unfortunately, recording screencasts from an iPad requires some bodging – there are no apps for doing this.
The iPad 3 has text dictation built-in, and you can also purchase Dragon Dictation. If you tire of entering content via a keyboard, then this may be a more comfortable alternative.
As we stand today, for Technical Authors this probably leaves the iPad as a device for accessing Web-based browsers and a device to capturing content that will be imported into an authoring tool on another platform. It’s probably fair to say still in the “early adopter” stage.
I do not see a good case for a business person or student to get an iPad instead of a similarly priced laptop, or am I missing something?
Lack of USB, SD, or other support to non-cloud storage, and a lack of even basic business software such as Microsoft Word limits the usefulness of this device.
Am I wrong to conclude it’s a toy that, at best, is suited to social media? — Obviously, Mindtouch aside for tech comm.
Cheers,
Sean
Also, there is the issue with Flash which is essentially everywhere but that is not compatible with the iPad device. The Apple vs Google war is hugely childish and lessens the overall value\usefulness of the iPad in some respects but not all. The iPad is limited whereas a Windows or Linux based laptop is certainly more robust. I guess its up to each person to analyze their own needs when it comes to high priced devices and consumers should try to not be blinded by buy-in hype on something. Go to Best Buy and take it for a spin first if you can.