Re: Boring documentation? or bored users?

[Peter Sturgeon <prsturgeon -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

--- Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> wrote:

> Most people turn to the docs for one reason only, and only when they 
> absolutely have to do so: to help them solve a problem or accomplish 
> something. 

I'm never bored when I look up a phone number, but I'm not engaged
either. I'm just using the phone book as part of an intermediate step
towards a goal.

Boredom is related to certainty. If I know something already, I can be
bored by hearing about it again. (too easy)

If I think it's impossible to know, like physics, in my case, I can
claim boredom when hearing about it. (too hard)

So it has to be familiar enough that I feel safe, but novel enough to
awaken my interest. (just right)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content 
delivery. Try it today!. http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l 

Doc-To-Help includes a one-click RoboHelp project converter. It's that easy.  Watch the demo at http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com

To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.