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:What *is* user-friendly... From:"Larry Kunz ((919) 254-6395)" <ldkunz -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 22 Jan 1996 18:08:18 EST
Thanks to Laura, Kristina, and Tracy -- three Techwhirlers who were
not yet born when JFK was shot -- who wrote to assure me that my
generational theory about user-friendliness is full of goose guano.
Two told me they detest "chummy" writing, and one simply said it's
no better and no worse than the "clear/concise/accessible" approach.
One also mentioned her 50-something boss who thinks that anything
with cartoon pictures is really neat.
Reflecting the wisdom that comes with my advanced age, I'm prepared
to modify my theory. Where it used to say that maybe the preference
for user-friendliness is a generational thing, I now add the words
"or maybe not." :-)
But as Laura Brand-Bauer said, it's an interesting subject and
something we ought to know more about. Is anyone aware of any
good research along these lines?
Larry Kunz
STC Assistant to the President for Professional Development
ldkunz -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
