[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: Literate/Illiterate (WAS: Documenting installers?)

Subject: Re: Literate/Illiterate (WAS: Documenting installers?)
From: Chuck Martin <cm -at- writeforyou -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 17:09:46 -0700


eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com wrote:
<snip>

But it seems to be a common curse in the software sector. The techwriters seem to be too far immersed in computers to realise that to many the computer is no more interesting than a hammer or the inner workings of ball-point pens.

The shock and indignation that some don't have any more interest in computers than how to turn them on and get work done, is as misplaced as the shock and disgust shown by automotive engineers when told most drivers just want to turn the key and drive somewhere.

<snip>

To many (most?) employees, the computer is just a tool they are forced to use as part of their day job. They want to know how to eliminate items from their to-do list(s) and send off e-mails with the least amount of fuss so that they can get the day over with and get home to watch the hockey game/play with the kids/go to the club. They certainly don't want to know the intricacies of database management, TCP/IP, or POP.

And that isn't to say they aren't highly intelligent, focused, incredibly technical, and in love with what they do for a living. Indeed they may want to finish with all the mundane computer stuff so that they can go and catch up on the latest in their field, be that brain surgery or entomology.


Well, yeah. (And yay!)

But the majority of the time it's not the tech writers who are too immersed (although we often are in many ways), but the product managers and programmers, who have no clue that the goals of the users of their products aren't to learn how to use the products, but to

- improve themselves in their own field of expertise
- impress their boss
- spend more time with their families
- get to the golf course before dark

or any number of things that are related to their job and their life--and not the product. At tech writers, we too often get stuck with the offal of programmers' delusions.

Yeah, I've climbed on this soapbox before.

--
--
Chuck Martin
User Assistance & Experience Engineer
twriter "at" sonic "dot" net www.writeforyou.com

"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. The day may come when the courage of Men fail, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day! This day, we fight!"
- Aragorn

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you."
- Gandalf

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

SEE THE ALL NEW ROBOHELP X5 IN ACTION: RoboHelp X5 is a giant leap forward
in Help authoring technology, featuring Word 2003 support, Content Management, Multi-Author support, PDF and XML support and much more! http://www.macromedia.com/go/techwrldemo
From a single set of Word documents, create online Help and printed
documentation with ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 7 Professional, a new yearly
subscription service offering free updates and upgrades, support, and more.
http://www.doctohelp.com

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -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.


Previous by Author: Re: Cover letter feedback
Next by Author: Re: Indexing whitepaper from Bright Path
Previous by Thread: Lines in a text file
Next by Thread: RE: Literate/Illiterate (WAS: Documenting installers?)

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

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

Sponsored Ads