atw: Re: Steps and consequences

Andrea, I find every time I assume competence, someone proves me wrong =
*lol*

My preference, where a wide variety of user experience exists, is to =
have
two versions of instructions - one explaining EVERYTHING (including pics =
of
every single screen) and one just skimming the important stuff. =20

Here's the link -=20
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/user_guides.html

Personally, I hate manuals.  Never read the things if I have a choice :)
That's why I'm a tech writer!

- Naomi

-----Original Message-----

I've always thought that there is no point wasting user brain time =
telling
them the really obvious (that when they click OK, something will =
happen).
They need to be able to skim through the steps, and they probably won't =
even
read the notes unless something goes horribly wrong (ie the XYZ screen =
does
not appear). The notes are just a little bit of reassurance that =
everything
is going as it should. I don't think any studies have ever been done, =
but I
bet that if they were, users would not read the notes in the first =
layout,
but would read the notes in the second layout (where the notes are =
placed
next to the number, thereby elevating their status). End result, second
layout takes longer to read, and is perceived as wordy/frustrating/slow =
etc
etc.

Like I said before, just my thoughts. Does the online textbook support =
that?

Thanks and regards
Andrea


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