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>
> My response: "Firmware" is jargon--don't use this word except in very
> limited internal-to-your-firm communication. Personally, I
> have no idea
> what this word means and see no reason to learn it and would resent
> instructions containing it. The customer is always right.
>
This is a "know your audience" problem. I would expect (computer) hardware,
systems and software designers, as well as a lot of "power users," to have
no problem with the term (like, you can find reprogrammable firmware in a
garden-variety BIOS or 56.6 k modem). These areas cover a *lot* of ground.
I don't use the term often in our manuals, but when I do, I specify it as
the software in the unit (video converter, camera, OEM module ... whatever
is appropriate).
If there is any room for misinterpretation, I supposed it can be defined in
the glossary, but it's easy enough to think of it as onboard software. From
the user's perspective it's accurate enough, and the term makes it distinct
from the related software residing on the host computer.
Cheers ... Kim mailto:kim -dot- roper -at- vitana -dot- com
"Do not meddle in the affairs of technical writers, for the wires are
crossed and the bomb disposal robot is colour blind."
- me
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