The user manual in advertising

A photo of a mid-1980s ledger application for the IBM PC. The ad copy stated: “For the introduction of the IBM PC, we designed the packages and software manual, creating, instead of the industry’s usual cheap plastic binders, hard-bound linen covers and slipcovers in pastel colors to stress cultural elegance and personal values.” Spotted in… Read more »

Should technical authors embrace user generated content?

It may seem counter-intuitive, but we believe technical authors shouldn’t fear the trend towards user generated content. Let me explain why: 1. It could get you the attention of your CEO. October’s Harvard Business Review highlights an article called “The Contribution Revolution: Letting Volunteers Build Your Business” by Intuit CEO Scott Cook. User contribution is… Read more »

Technical Documentation: How it really gets written

This reputedly originates from Damien Katz of The CouchDB Project: “Welcome to the world of technical documentation! The situation you are in is no different from any other technical author. The technical writing process: 1. Ask engineer how the damn thing works. 2. Deafing silence. 3. Crickets. 4. Tumbleweed. 5. Just start writing something. Anything…. Read more »

The paradox of the guided user: assistance can be counter-effective

Christof van Nimwegen’s PhD dissertation, “The paradox of the guided user: assistance can be counter-effective“, concerns how software affects brain processes. According to news reports (I’ve not read it yet), he claims a great deal of software turns us into passive beings, subjected to the whims of computers, randomly clicking on icons and menu options…. Read more »