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Re: Chattiness in manuals

Subject: Re: Chattiness in manuals
From: David Farbey <dfarbey -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- uk>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:16:57 +0100

Sarah Bouchier asked:

How would you react to a manual that said, "The installation of this
component may take several minutes. This would be a good time to go and
get a cup of tea"?

(Other than concluding that the author had run mad and needed to be
fitted with a snazzy waistcoat with long sleeves, of course)
It depends. In some cases, that would be really inappropriate. But I can imagine a scenario in which the manual was for a "laid-back", "cool" product, and was deliberately designed to be friendly and whimsical in order to fit into the atmosphere - the "branding" - that the product's owners wanted to create, and then it would be fine. There's no rule that says user assistance information must always be formal.

I think I'll go and have a cup of tea now. ;-)

David (in London, where tea is always appropriate!)

--
David Farbey
Information Design Consultant
david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk
Office +44-(0)20-8492-7807
Fax +44-(0)20-8492-0159
Mobile +44-(0)7876-184-588
also at Clifford Sells Ltd.,
Documentation and Recruitment Specialists
david -at- cliffordsells -dot- com
www.cliffordsells.com

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References:
Chattiness in manuals: From: Sarah Bouchier

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