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As an occasional _user_ of wordless instructions (although I've never taken on the challenge of creating them), I'd like to point you to a fairly decent set of examples.
I've got a big HP color printer, with a stacker/stapler delivery device, and, except for two multi-lingual warning labels that cover some fairly abstract concepts, all of the onboard instructions are wordless diagrams. Normally I read printed instructions, so I had no reason to look at most of these diagrams. But when I ran out of staples, the new ones came with no instructions whatsoever. So I opened up the delivery unit, popped open the stapler door, and had no trouble at all following the steps to install the cartridge.
Admittedly this wasn't a major challenge, but I just looked at the other labels--for things like clearing jams--and they are all equally clear. I'd definitely recommend that you look at HP printers to see how they've approached this problem.
Dick
"Madden, Jim" wrote:
>I'm trying to find information on creating wordless instructions to replace
>text in our manuals. I have seen numerous examples for relatively simple
>tasks like changing a printer cartridge, but the level of complexity is much
>greater when it comes to putting our metal cutting systems together.
>What I'm looking for is a starting point. Examples of how other companies
>have done it, or why they haven't. What type of instructions should we try
>and make wordless. Are there standards?
>Our main goal is to reduce translation costs.
>Any and all input is welcome, on or off line.
>
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