Create User

Documentation
Definition:

 User Documentation is the collection of

documents that are designed to help people who
need to manage, operate or maintain computer
hardware or software.
Describe the steps to shut down your
computer….

2 main purposes:
Convincing users they need to shut
down properly.
 Telling them how to do it.
Divided into 2 Categories:

User documentation:
 Designed for the end user of the computer
hardware or software.
 May not be a computer specialist
 Examples of user documentation are manuals,
on-line help, wizards and on-line tutorials.
Technical documentation:
 This is designed for the people responsible for producing or
maintaining the hardware or software.
 When you buy a new computer, you generally get a certain
amount of technical documentation of the hardware, so that you
(or a technician you employ) know what upgrades and so on are
applicable to your computer.
Brainstorming Activity:
 List as many types of techdocs as you
can…….

 Now list types of user docs…..

Examples of technical documentation include:

 Data documentation, flow charts, pseudocode,

data flow diagrams, Program documentation,
and Hardware documentation.
Types of user documentation include:
 Instructional material – usually accompanies the computer
system, be it hardware or software, and provides
information on how to use the system or particular aspects
of it.
 Training material – aims to teach people how to use a
computer system, usually a software application. It can be
used as a self-study guide or as a resource by a trainer.
 Also:
 Policies or procedures documents – describe organisational rules and
guidelines and explain how to do a particular job or jobs. They also help with
quality assurance as a check that standard procedures are being followed.
 Reference documentation - provides neither an instructional nor a training
role; it is simply a repository of information. It is used by users who are
already trained, to remind them of intricate details that they cannot be
expected to remember. Reference documentation will be at the user’s
fingertips while the product is being used
Media:
 Computer documentation is presented in a wide range of
forms, from the traditional paper books to various
computerised media.
 These media can generally be divided into three groups:
 Paper documentation (print media)
 Static on-line documentation
 Dynamic on-line documentation

 Examples of the above types?

Questions….
 List at least 4 factors that need to be considered when
determining the medium?

 What kind of needs may users have, which need to be

considered?

 What does ‘appropriateness of the medium to the task’ mean?

For Next Time…
 Bring in the WORST piece of user documentation you
can find

 A PRIZE for the Best Bad Document!!