Re: "usability"?

Subject: Re: "usability"?
From: "Henry J. Wicko II" <henry -dot- wicko -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Geoff Hart" <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:29:39 -0400

There is a ton of information here on usability.

http://www.stcsig.org/usability/

I hope you can log in because I was logged in as a member. If not I will
work with you to make sure you can get access. I believe it is free to
everyone.

Henry


On 8/10/06, Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> wrote:


Ronald Schwarz wondered: <<For a long time I thought "usability" was
the tech writers' shorthand for human factors engineering, as in
design for usability.>>

It is. But note that you said "tech writers". It pays to remember
that words change meaning when used for different audiences, and
unless the audience for your question is "us" <g>, the jargon needs
to change to accomodate the expectations of the audience.

<<Now I have before me a document where the reader is told he will
become familiar with the "usability" of the product - meaning how to
use it. What is the definition of "usability?">>

In this case, the definition is clearly (according to the context you
provided) "how to use it". That isn't the correct definition of
usability in any dialect I'm familiar with, other than perhaps in an
archaic sense, so the solution would be to revise: "will become
familiar with how to use the product". But that's kind of verbose, so
I'd prefer "learn to use the product".

----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
----------------------------------------------------


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular
Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as henry -dot- wicko -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/henry.wicko%40gmail.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


References:
"usability": From: Ronald Schwarz
"usability"?: From: Geoff Hart

Previous by Author: Re: Breaking into the tech writing job market
Next by Author: Re: Adding custom colors to Word template?
Previous by Thread: "usability"?
Next by Thread: Re: "usability"?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads