We’re presenting on documentation as a emotional experience for users at the TCUK conference later this month, and we’re considering whether we should develop this 40 minute presentation into a workshop. Technical documentation written today really doesn’t take into account the different states of emotion users can have, and this can lead to users bypassing… Read more »
Category: user manuals
The tiny, tiny user guide
Here is a scan, in actual size, of two pages from a user guide that came with a speaker we purchased this week: Less isn’t always more, particularly when it comes to the size of the typeface.
An innovative approach for a user manual from Samsung
Here is a very innovative approach to providing a user guide, from Samsung : According to Vitamin Design: These books actually contain the phone. Each page reveals the elements of the phone in the right order, helping the user to set up the sim card, the battery and even slide the case onto the phone…. Read more »
UK Govt says “RTFM” to new fathers
Yet another sign that quick reference cards are back in fashion: Plans to be set out in the Families Green Paper will propose better advice and information for couples and address the balance between work and childcare by considering ways to make public services more “family friendly”. Under the Green Paper, new fathers will be… Read more »
So you want to publish your user manuals on the Web, but don’t want everyone to see them
We often hear from Technical Authors who say they (or their bosses) have concerns about publishing their user guides on the Web. They are worried their competitors might read them, the manuals might stop a prospect from buying the product, or that a client might not buy a support contract. On the other hand, there are… Read more »