English 421K, Technical Writing

Attached is my usability report.

1.)In the text you mention the power button before the floor setting adjuster, but the power button figure comes after the floor setting adjuster figure. I think it would be nicer to have the pictures ether show action...maybe draw arrows to show how the adjuster knob can be moved. The second page with the text being split by the images doesn't sit well with me. My eyes are instantly drawn to the images and the text next to them and then I realize that the text is not stand alone. I think a graphic of the lever you need to push to release the hose would be more relevant to the instruction manual than a graphic of the hose release...unless that is the lever?

2.)The size of the pictures are fine in my opinion.

3.)I'd like to see an image of the full machine with all the part labeled and pointed to.

4.)I think breaking the attachment section into sub sections for each attachment would make it more clear to the reader Listing some of the steps in bullet points or numbers might make it easier to read and get through...maybe when you're listing parts.

5.)I too would have started with a parts and features section. Then I would have talked about how to use the vacuum using the parts and features, and then finished like you did with the cleaning/maintaining of the vacuum.

6.)Conclusions are meant for wrap up and a quick review and I think that's pretty much covered on the last page. Not sure if more full pictures of the vacuumed are needed but I don't know what else to put there. I like your plan for an overall image with major points.

7.)I think I kinda mentioned this in the first question, the format/style of the image layout and text layout on page two is pretty distracting and I think it looks unorganized. I don't know where my eyes are supposed to go or where I'm supposed to read. It's not intuitive and I have to figure out what I'm looking at. I think the crooked pictures make for too much white space too.

8.)I'd have to give it a 3.5. Very useful, but could be 1-2 levels better.

1. Good picture use for the most part. I would add some pictures of the on/off switch and the tilt peddle.

2. Size of pictures look fine.

3. mentioned above.

4. I liked the way you led through the instructions. However I would add titles in to split up what you are doing. Example of this is at the beginning where you start using the vacuum after the introduction. This needs to be split up.

5. There should be more specific break downs. Getting started would be one. Sorry ran out of time!

6. Glad you will add more pictures and explanation. This was helpful because of the descriptive detail.

7. The only thing that I thought was a little distracting was the table in the picture backgrounds. This is not very important!

8. 4 just needs some revisions and pictures. It would be very helpful in all.

-- Andrew

1. How do the pictures help in your understanding of the instructions? Should they be altered in some way, if so, how?

The pictures are all good in establishing what the reader is looking for on the vacuum. The exception being the picture of the power button, which is kind of hard to see.

2. Are the sizes of the pictures appropriate? Should any be smaller/bigger?

I think the varied image sizes work quite well in the document.

3. Are there pictures you feel that were missing/ could be included to make understanding easier? If so, what were they?

The pictures you have seem to cover everything well. Maybe some of the pictures could have labels on them.

4. Are the instructions easy to follow and understand? What words or steps were unclear or confusing? Is it too simple or not simple enough? How do you feel this could be helped?

The instructions seem to explain all the features so that one would easily be able to use them. The picture of the power button was a little confusing because I could not see exactly where it was, so maybe a label on the image could fix that. I think these instructions are suited to those new to using this vacuum and possess the information that they would need to know, so it's simple enough.
5. Do you think the three categories it was broken into were appropriate? Should there be more/less? What would they be if it were you designing this?

I like the three sections and don't really see a reason to break them up any further.

6. (If it were finished) Do you feel the last page is helpful? How is it helpful, how is it not helpful? (I plan to point out major points on the vacuum in the larger pictures such as the power button, cord wind, button releases, etc so that they have another reference to the location of the buttons mentioned earlier)

I think those diagrams would be a good addition to these instructions. Pointing out exactly where all those things are would definitely be helpful.

7. Overall, what would you add/delete to make it better? Is anything too distracting, is there too much white space, are you directed with the text?

I can't think of anything to add. The amount of white space works well for the instructions and the text seems to guide the reader through it.

8. How useful do you feel this manual would be to a first time user? (on a 1-5 scale with 1 being worthless and 5 being a vacuum bible).

Right now I'd say a 4. Finish the last page that points out everything and then it'll be a vacuum bible.