TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
>
>Didn't a recent issue of the STC journal have a study that found most
>computer users don't (know how to) use the standard navigation aids in
>online help?
>
That brings up a related issue: I know a lot of techwrlers are the default go-to persons for their friends and family when a computer issue arises; and a recent experience of that type led to be speculate that the vast majority of users--both at home and in corporate environments--think of the computer as being more like a toaster than a car in terms of the need for user maintenance.
On the one hand, I'm sure the computer manufacturers and marketers have gone to great lengths to create and maintain that attitude, because it helps overcome the fear of dealing with a complex new technology. On the other hand, I think this phenomenon represents a challenge and opportunity for tech writers.
If the reason the product doesn't work properly is that the user is oblivious to the need for reading at least some documentation and following at least some instructions, how do we overcome that obliviousness? How do we turn that into an opportunity to sell our services?
Dick
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Order RoboHelp X3 in December and receive $100 mail in rebate, FREE WebHelp
Merge Module and the new RoboPDF - add powerful PDF output functionality
to RoboHelp X3. Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
Check out SnagIt - The Screen Capture Standard!
Download a free 30-day trial from http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/txt/twr
Find out what all the other tech writers, including Dan, already know!
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
