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Subject:Re: Writing help at home From:"Deb M." <dm -at- ptrail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 20 Mar 2003 12:38:48 -0500
Ditto here. It used to be so simple when I lived alone and my stereo system
only had Sony audio components. Now I need to consider the needs of a
non-techie, deal with a collection of components from different
manufacturers as well as a VCR, cable box, and DVD trying to coexist with a
"legacy" AV receiver.
So, to make life around here smooth and eliminate that frequent dead-air
noise, I have a short manual on the coffee table (in a basket with the six
remotes). The procedures are: To play a movie from the VCR, To play a movie
from the DVD, To tape a program on VHS, and To watch TV with/without
surround sound. They're very short and basically describe the order of
remote buttons to push.
An extra advantage to having these procedures is that I own them and don't
need to ask permission to use them as samples.
And I have to wonder...why don't the remote designers have access to UI
experts? Important buttons should be bigger than once-in-a blue-moon
buttons. (This means you, Panasonic!)
Cheers,
Debbie
---------------------------
The Paper Trail
Technical Documentation
www.ptrail.com
---------------------------
From: "Alex Silbajoris" <alsilba -at- hotmail -dot- com>
> I found myself doing this yesterday and had to laugh at myself.
>
> I've been messing around with a cable modem, trying to get it to work
> through an ethernet connection into a computer at home. It turns out that
> the secret is to unplug the modem (not just turn it off) for at least 20
> seconds.
>
> I spent some time with the help people at the broadband provider, and they
> walked me through the fix.
>
> After I finished the call, I thought, why not write up that procedure in
> case I need to do it again? So I put together a little 2-page help
document
> with numbered steps and screen captures. That's when it hit me - I'm
> writing help documents for home use without even thinking about it.
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