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Re: spelling question: user-interface or user interface ??
Subject:Re: spelling question: user-interface or user interface ?? From:Matt Ion <mion -at- NEXTLEVEL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 27 Sep 1995 20:27:33 PDT
On Tue, 26 Sep 1995 15:26:42 -0400 you wrote:
>>Radha asks:
>>I'd like to know what you folks out there prefer.
>>"user-interface" or "user interface"?
>-------------------------------------------
>How about avoiding this jargon? Presuming that you are writing about
>software, why not use the words _screen_ or _menu_ instead? It may sound
>old-fashioned, but at least all your readers will know what you are
>referring to and the techno-phobes will feel a bit more comfortable.
In keeping with our cardinal rule (Remember your audience!), perhaps "user
interface" IS the appropriate term for what Radha's writing. I missed the
original question, but in your quote at least, there's no mention of who the
target audience is.
Besides, "user interface" can be used in a wide variety of places, not just
software/hardware manuals. The "user interface" of a car, for example,
consists of the steering wheel; gas, brake, and sometimes clutch pedals; the
gear shift; and the instrument panel. :-)
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---------------------------
"Maybe all I need, besides my pills and surgery
is a new metaphor for reality..." - Queensr che
