Workflowy is a one-list-to-rule-them-all organization tool that takes an unusual approach to providing User Assistance. Like with many other Web applications, the site contains a “how-to” video and a list of keyboard shortcuts. However, it also sends users an email that’s essentially the information you’d expect to find in a user guide or online Help file:… Read more »
Category: user assistance
New – Affective Assistance and marketing writing services
Cherryleaf’s announced a new service today – Affective Assistance and marketing writing services . With technology becoming part of everyday life, sometimes the traditional approach to writing user documentation just doesn’t meet users’ needs. It can be the case that the formal and succinct approach to writing User Assistance isn’t right for users of your product… Read more »
Is a nudge enough to change user behaviour?
In 2010, the UK government set up a “nudge unit” to look at ways the public could be persuaded – “nudged” – into making better choices for themselves without force or regulation. This should be of interest to software designers and Technical Authors, because perhaps the same techniques could be used in the field of… Read more »
Help is broken?
Are we at the point when we need to acknowledge that classic online Help files are not working as well as they should – that is, as the primary source of information to assist users when they get stuck? This is not a Don Draper “why I’m quitting tobacco” moment, and this is not a… Read more »
Should we change the structure of user guides to make them more inspiring?
Nancy Duarte presented a talk on the hidden structure that the greatest communicators and persuaders have used over thousands of years: She argues effective presenters move from “What is” to “What Could be” during their speech: The effect is that changes happens – ideas get adopted. It’s easier to see it working in training documentation,… Read more »