TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:RE: Is there a study on reading warnings, notes? From:"Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com> To:"Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>, "Shannon Wade" <SWade -at- daktronics -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:58:49 -0800
Having said that, I think I would still have concerns that a user may be
so absorbed in solving a problem that, unless the warning is right in
his face, he'll not think of it--even if he read it in the front matter
20 minutes ago.
But now I argue with myself.
Leonard
-----Original Message-----
From: Leonard C. Porrello
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 11:48 AM
To: 'Shannon Wade'; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Is there a study on reading warnings, notes?
I got that. Perhaps I was unwittingly narrow minded in my comments. I
was thinking from the perspective of on-line help (which primarily is
what I've been doing for the past several years), where a user may never
read front matter, but only jump into needed sections. Being a creature
of the Age of the Internet, this too is how I tend to read printed
manuals. It takes me all of my willpower to slog through warning pages,
and I generally do so only when one of kids' health is at stake.
If your readers are more diligent (or obsessive), your strategy might be
fine.
Leonard
-----Original Message-----
From: Shannon Wade [mailto:SWade -at- daktronics -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 11:27 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Is there a study on reading warnings, notes?
Extremely valid points. And I do appreciate your input. It's something I
will take into consideration when crafting my documentation. However,
perhaps I didn't make it clear enough that we are including, at the
beginning of each manual, in big bold print, and the idea of hot pink
paper has been jokingly thrown around, a list of the major safety
warnings. Anything else that requires their attention will be addressed
by the individual business units in their own list of cautions and
warnings. We are not attempting to side-step the warnings, nor are we
attempting to bury them. We are actually trying to draw more attention
to them than they have had in the past.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
