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Subject:RE: Chattiness in manuals From:Kevin Amery <kamery -at- opentext -dot- com> To:"'david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk'" <david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk>, "'TECHWR-L'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:04:33 -0400
I agree, it might be appropriate for a "friendly" type of product, either
consumer related or aimed at a "hip" profession (animation, for example...
Although even there, it would have to be a particular subset of the
animation field that doesn't take itself too seriously).
If it were aimed at a professional market, though, this type of writing
probably wouldn't fit. Also, if it's dealing with the type of procedure
someone might have to do while agravated ("this @%$*^ thing is down
AGAIN!!") any writing that doesn't get straight to the point could
antagonise the user.
As is frequently the case, I think it comes down to knowing your audience.
Kevin Amery
Technical Writer, Research and Development
Open Text Corporation
1 Sparks Ave.
North York, ON. M2H 2W1
CANADA
Phone: +1 (416)496-2200-2402
e-mail: kamery -at- opentext -dot- com
Web site: http://www.opentext.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: David Farbey [mailto:dfarbey -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- uk]
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 7:17 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Cc: Sarah Bouchier
Subject: Re: Chattiness in manuals
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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