Re: Do techies really know what other techies need?

[Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM>]

>My problem is that the programmer I work most closely with despises all
>my tries at making text more accessible.  (I really don't think it's all
>my problem because he's the only one that complains--but he's the
>important one).  His stock response is "they're programmers, they'll
>understand what I'm saying."

When he does this, flag down the very next people who pass by his
cubicle, and ask them to read and explain the passage.  Keep score
of instant comprehension, slow comprehension, and incomprehension.

If people in his own company don't know what he's talking about, he's
dead wrong.  If they instantly understand everything, you'll want to
do actual user testing.  But testing is the key.

        -- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon, High-Tech Technical Writing, Inc.
36475 Norton Creek Road * Blodgett * Oregon * 97326
robert -at- plamondon -dot- com * (541) 453-5841 * Fax: (541) 453-4139
http://www.pioneer.net/~robertp

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