Wordless Docs (was : how do you indicate blinking lights?)

J Wermont jwermont at sonic.net
Tue Feb 5 18:55:13 MST 2008


Martinek, Carla wrote:

 > I hate "wordless" documentation! It reduces the possibility of clear
 > communication in at least one language into a guessing game in no
 > language at all.
 > 
 > Elevators have buttons marked <|> and >|<. They are presumably for "open
 > door" and "close door" respectively, but by the time you remember which
 > is which, the doors have already opened or closed. The only one you
 > actually want is "open door" so that you can hold the door open for
 > someone, but you're afraid to press either of them, for fear you might
 > have guessed wrong. Instead you stick you hand into the closing
 > guillotine. There's no point in arguing the issue with elevator gurus,
 > because the meaning of the buttons is totally clear to them.

You need to view this site for comic relief:

http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/hall/main.php

It's full of wordless documentation, with the words added by
submitters in a helpful attempt to make them more understandable. :)

I'm hoping this will be new to at least some of you!

Joyce



More information about the TECHWR-L mailing list