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RE: Post-holiday reality: They don't need our stinkin' manuals??
Subject:RE: Post-holiday reality: They don't need our stinkin' manuals?? From:"Brierley, Sean" <Sean -at- Quodata -dot- Com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 28 Dec 2000 14:30:48 -0500
Hallo:
Statistics, Lies, and Damned Lies.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Fleming [SMTP:johnf -at- ecn -dot- ab -dot- ca]
>
> To which I will add the question, "How many users know where the
> manual is?"
>
I suspect I am in the minority, but I have the manual for my Sony in a file
drawer (with my other HiFi documentation). I bought the VCR in about '90.
> A number of years ago I cam across a statistic on the number of
> Americans who can't operate their VCR (I suspect, if we Canadians are
> anything like Americans, the statistic probably holds for us too).
> The percentage was quite high.
>
I wonder what "can't operate their VCR" means? Can't turn it on? Can't
change channels with it? Can't play a tape? Can't record? Can't change the
time on it? Can't program it to recognize cable channels? Can't plug it into
their TV? Can't hook it into a 12-piece home stereo system comprising
amplifiers, receivers, separate surround-sound units? yadda yadda yadda.
I suspect the percentage is high for people who can comfortably use their
VCR for those things they want to accomplish. Sure, if you ask the people a
question about a rare procedure, something they might have to do at setup
and, at best, might have done ten years ago, once, then they might be
uncertain and require some time to figure out the answer . . ..
I wonder how these statistics have been used to improve technical
documentation for VCRs. For example, on-screen menus are frequently used,
now, to ease in the operation of these things. Could we also put the book
online and on-screen (TV screen, that is) with the push of a green help
button? Hmmmm.
Cheers,
Sean
sean -at- quodata -dot- com
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