Chapter 9: Response to Pair 6 Editing and Fine Tuning (Barker) Pair 3 Bob Furu Genevieve Jungers Michelle Baldwin

Using graphics Is it ever appropriate to use decorative graphics? Do you like me? Or do you want to shoot me?

Using graphics Cartoons & animations: novice to experienced Charts & diagrams: experienced to expert When will furniture assembly instructions get animated and go online?

Using graphics Show concrete versions of abstract things How do you avoid gender, age, and cultural bias in displaying the image of a user?

Using graphics Metaphors Radio buttons, sliders, pull-down menus, magnifying glass (search), telephone (call), pointed-finger (click), arrow (select), recycle/trash bin (delete), shield (virus protection), question mark (help or ask), house (home screen), arrows (back, forward), crayon (text color), floppy disk (save), chain links (hyperlink), paperclip (attach), star (favorite).

Using graphics Help! Who will design these things? Do you have graphic designers at your workplace? Should tech writers be able to do this themselves?

Using graphics What’s the Big Picture? What programs can produce high-quality overview graphics for your manual/help file?

Setting graphics styles Barker provides some concrete, easy-to- use advice regarding: What kind of graphics to use How to incorporate graphics styles in a project Where to use graphics Should we use graphics as much as possible? Should we associate certain a task with an image?

Setting graphics styles Barker believes use of graphics should be limited. But… What kind of usability testing has been done? What actually happens in the workplace?

Setting graphics styles Barker advises us to strive for a balance in text in graphics. What kind of usability testing has been done? What actually happens in the workplace?

Setting graphics styles Barker advises us to strive for a balance in text in graphics. If a work area does not have artists or graphic experts, how can we create graphics?

Setting graphics styles Barker advocates the use of color to direct attention to different content areas. If a work area does not have artists or graphic experts, who sets the color palette? What rules?

Setting graphics styles Barker advises that we make important things larger, bolder, darker, and sharper. What about the actual choice of typography? Which font is best?

Discussion Barker believes that graphics enhance documentation. Is it the role of the writer to select the graphics? Determine the metaphors/images?