RE: levels of detail -- are we beyond this?

["Peter Gold" <peter -at- knowhowpro -dot- com>]

 "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com> wrote:

>> Tom Johnson wrote:

>> I just ran into some detailed instructions on going to a website that
look
>> like this:
>>
>>    1. Open Internet Explorer by clicking *Start* > *Programs* >
*Internet
>>    Explorer*.
>>    2. In the *Address* field, enter *http://sampleurl.com* and press
>> *Enter*.
>>
>>
>> Is it me, or is this kind of detail totally unnecessary in this day
and
>> age?
>> I'd say 99% of the time, people will understand the much simpler
version:
>> "1. Go to http://sampleurl.com.";

> Let me be the first to say both "It Depends" and "Know Your Audience."
> :-)

> That said, unless the doc is _clearly_ aimed at the novice computer
> user, this level of detail is not just unnecessary, it's positively
> _harmful_. The reader who's owned a computer for more than three days
> will be put off and will either stop reading completely or will start
> skimming disinterestedly, half-heartedly looking for the useful parts,
> and will be more likely to miss something important.

> IMHO.

These are good arguments for interactive electronic documentation and
help that enables users to adjust the level of provided detail to suit
their needs at any point. This requires that the documentation, help,
and UI are developed with this adjustability. And, yes, the UI should
have a permanent on-screen mechanism to adjust the level that
beginners can't miss seeing. Instructions for hiding this prompt
should be advanced enough that only experts could execute it.
Seriously.

In the old WordStar-era days, it was not uncommon for software
application interfaces and help to offer Novice and Expert prompting
levels.

Regards,

Peter
__________________
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
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