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.
Subject:Tools and methods for audience analysis? From:Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> To:TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:49:53 -0500
I'm doing a bit of research on the various ways the techwhirlers have
performed audience analysis (i.e., have tried to get inside the head
of the user of our documentation). My sense is that there's been a
gradual evolution from purely demographic approaches (e.g., tallying
ages and educations), through use cases (figuring out how a tool is
used and designing to support that use) and contextual inquiry
(watching the user at work), to personas (understanding the actual
user).
Am I missing anything significant in this capsule summary? (Other
than the details, of course! <g>)
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
