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:Re: Can software have human attributes? From:"Suchitra Kumar" <suchi_7 -at- hotmail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 27 Jul 2001 17:31:13 +0530
A random search on google brought up a reference to anthropomorphism in
scientific writing:
[from Animal Physiology (Biology 330) - Instructions for Laboratory
Reports]
--------------------------------
When describing the behavior of organisms, it is especially important to
avoid ascribing human emotions and feelings to the organisms
(anthropomorphism). We do not know what the organisms are perceiving,
sensing, or "feeling." Do not say that a spider looks dejected, responded
angrily, or was annoyed. Instead you must objectively describe how the
organism behaves and moves, by using specific anatomical terms, angles, and
rates of movements.
--------------------------------
I personally think this view of anthropomorphism is useful, with the
distinction that emotions, and not actions, are the human traits we're
talking about. (Jason <jlemair -at- cisco -dot- com> made this point as well.)
However, we need to practise our beliefs *judiciously*, and decide which
actions are likely to be misunderstood and which are not.
For example, my mother, a novice user of technology, usually (and perhaps
unknowingly) ascribes human traits to machines. So when she first left a
message on her brother's answering machine, she said "please tell my brother
that his sister had called". So sometimes, you may be giving the user a
wrong impression of the way something works. Writing "the answering machine
conveys your recorded message to the owner" will probably lead a user to
think like my mother.
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Learn about tools and technologies for user assistance developers at
The Help Technology Conference, August 21-24 in Boston, MA
Details and online registration at http://www.SolutionsEvents.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
