Re: what's the current trend?

Subject: Re: what's the current trend?
From: Tom Johnson <tomjohnson1492 -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L Writing <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:13:23 -0700

Some years ago I observed about half a dozen users in usability lab
interacting with my documentation (for a GUI-based software product).

For beginners who were less tech savvy, they loved the videos. Some watched
the videos multiple times. There are many details that you simply get from
watching a video that you don't get by reading text (things you don't even
realize you're doing when you write the instructions, but which people pick
up on while watching the video, like having certain windows open or having
specific options available to you).

For more experienced users already familiar with the product (or just more
tech savvy), text works better. These users skim and scan, looking for
specific answers.

Based on this experience, when I create videos, I keep the videos oriented
towards beginners and make the content fairly simple. This focus also helps
prolong the life of the video, because the introductory, basic features of
an application don't often change. I also keep the videos short, such as
2-4 minutes, because this duration fits the patience threshold of the
viewer.

Tom


---------------------
blog: idratherbewriting.com
twitter: tomjohnson
email: tomjohnson1492 -at- gmail -dot- com
cell: 408-540-8562

On Wed, Oct 21, 2015 at 6:44 AM, Tony Chung <tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca> wrote:

> Isn't "it depends" the answer to everything related to TechCom? Moving
> right along!
>
> So back to Frank's original post: there are no "trends" except that which
> we have already know: "Know your audience, and find out if you're providing
> the right information in the right way."
>
> -Tony
>
> On Wednesday, 21 October 2015, Bernd Hutschenreuther <hutschi -at- yahoo -dot- com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','hutschi -at- yahoo -dot- com');>> wrote:
>
> >
> > So I can say: it depends on the problem.
> > And maybe on audience.
> >
> >
> >
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and
> content development | http://techwhirl.com
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as tomjohnson1492 -at- gmail -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com

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

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


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

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: what's the current trend?: From: Robert Lauriston
Re: what's the current trend?: From: Bernd Hutschenreuther
what's the current trend?: From: Tony Chung

Previous by Author: RE: Into the Frying Pan
Next by Author: most effective method for SME review?
Previous by Thread: what's the current trend?
Next by Thread: Re: what's the current trend?


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


Sponsored Ads