Re: Soliciting ideas on how to avoid reinventing the wheel
I have to put together an online help system for a
simple Web application. Problem is, the audience for
this will be REALLY unfamiliar with the technology.
The application will be used by a lot of people who
may know nothing or next to nothing about using a
computer or a Web browser. The users cannot be assumed
to even understand what a hyperlink is or what the
phrase "right-click the mouse" means. Some of them may
be a bit uncertain what a mouse is.
It seems to me that an online help system is not the right place to start. Users at that level need something external to the computer to get them to comfortably approach the computer. A friendly, slow-paced videotape or DVD that they can watch might be one way to do this, if stand-up classroom training isn't in the budget.
But as soon as you put the content into a medium that requires knowing how to turn on the computer and start a browser before they can view the content, you're in trouble.
There's nothing wrong with linking to basic Windows help or browser help once they're over the initial trepidation--they'll need someplace to look for answers to questions that arise. But I think you need another medium to get them there.
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Soliciting ideas on how to avoid reinventing the wheel: From: k k
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