Project 1

I have revised my original instructions by doing the following:
I spiced up my cover to the instructions by adding eBay's logo, some lines to add a design, and also changing the font colors to match the logo.
I briefly explained what Turbo Lister is and how it can help you.
I capitalized titles to help them stand out (Start Menu, Programs...)
I have referenced my figures within my text.
I have reworded some steps to clarify the procedure.
I have modified the "tips" I included to be the same size font, and also not italicized.

Please post your instructions project revisions below as an attachment to a comment. In the comment, describe specifically the changes you made between drafts and the rationale for those changes. Projects may be posted as .pdf or .doc documents. Late revisions are not accepted.

Please post your project 1 revisions as attachments in a comment below. Include in the comment a description of the specific changes you made to the project.

For the usability test I had my friend read the instructions that I have created so far for my DVD player. She has never used it before, though she does have experience setting up her family's DVD players. From the instructions she was able to connect the player to the TV using the included cables, though she ran into a bit of trouble figuring out which jacks to use on our surround sound system. This was something that I had not accounted for in the instructions, since there is a difference between simply connecting the player to a TV or trying to route it through a separate machine.

For my Usability Test on my instructions for the Lincoln mig welder it was hard for me to find someone with no welding experience as I don’t know many people where I am living this summer. So I asked my friend Robbie to look over them. Robbie is a good welder but he does not use a mig much so he was my best option. After reading my directions he tried them out welding two scrap pieces of metal together that we had laying around the shop. He told me that the operating instructions covered everything well enough that he felt that a beginner could lay a bead of weld.

For the instructions test I was to do, I ended up askin gmy cousing if he could test them out. He can use the computer for basic procedures, and never has used eBay to sell anything. I ended up deciding to modify my proposal a little bit in order to make the whole process easier (because I don't use eBay online to create auctions, I use a program eBay offers that is called Turbo Lister). So using this software makes the whole eBay process easier to complete. I forgot to mention where to download the software on the website, which was my first problem.

The usability test for the boat driving instructions went fairly well, but it is clear there is room for improvement in my instructions. It was difficult to find someone I work or live with that had taken a boaters course, but didn’t know or forgot how to drive a boat, so my usability test volunteer was a 23 year-old lifeguard who had experience being on boats and general waterfront safety principles, but was not familiar with driving a boat. This was as close as I could come to my target audience, and seemed to work fairly well.

My usability test for my instructions of how to use an iPod was done by my father. He was in the target age range that I was going after (baby boomers) and he was also new to the iPod, which was another one of target requirements. I would say that overall the test went well. In my instructions I wrote the basic controls of the iPod, how to use them, and included a troubleshooting guide. My dad is very computer literate, but using an iPod is brand new to him. He could follow my instructions with relative easy. Some comments he had were to make sure that I wasn't skipping steps.

I conducted the usability test with the help of my mom as a volunteer. She was very excited to learn how to change a flat tire because the task to her seemed impossible. She was impressed that I took the time to learn how to successfully complete this chore and was eager to learn too. She doesn’t know much about cars but knows how helpful this skill will be. After observing her with my instructions and changing her own tire, I think my testing went pretty well. My mom was able to successfully change her tire with my instructions… I was impressed!

Last night I took my instructions on how to operate a nail gun with me to work and asked a co-worker to try them out. Unfortunately this was not my ideal unexperienced audience because he already knew how to shoot the gun quite well since it is a very important part of our job. However I work is the only place where I have access to such a nail gun. Any ways, I asked him to just simply follow my instructions and he was able to operate the gun without a problem. His only suggestion was that I comment on how to comfortably hold the gun.