Instructions and Page Layout Principles - Essay Example

Instructions and Page Layout Principles By Table of Contents 2 Target Audience 4 2.2. Confusions 4 2.3. Inaccuracies 4 3 Consideration to Target Audience 9 1. Purpose of Document The aim of the document is to demonstrate through a practical example how instruction sets are supposed to be formulated. A sample set of instructions is taken from the Internet and studied while considering the intended target audience, highlighting its inaccuracies and confusions. A revision of the same instruction set is then presented wherein the inaccuracies and confusions are removed considering the intended audience. 2. Sample Instructions Set Consider the following set of instructions for installing Skype software onto a computer. The instruction set is obtained from http://www.ehow.com/how_2015261_install-skype.html. Figure 1 Sample Instruction Set 2.1. Target Audience The intended audience for the instruction set are users with very limited knowledge of computer who wish to install Skype into their computers. These users may either have Microsoft Windows, Macintosh or Linux operating systems installed in their computers. 2.2. Confusions The title of the instruction set “How to Install Skype Software” does not clearly indicate the type of device that the installation guide is meant to be for e.g. a computer, smart phone, etc. In step 1, it is vaguely mentioned to download the software from its official site. As there is no direct download link on the home page of the site, the instruction could prove to be ambiguous for the target audience. The instructions are slightly misleading for the target audience. The actual process is slightly different from the options specified in the instruction set. The option to ‘save’ or ‘run’ is not encountered when the instructions are followed. There are no supporting screenshots of the software installation process. 2.3. Inaccuracies In Step 1, a reference to the “Resources” section is made to download the software from. The “Resources” section does not contain any download link. Step 1 is not brief and concise. Step 1 mainly revolves around the task of downloading the Skype software from its official website. The numerous sub-steps involved in the downloading process are written in the form of a single step. 3. Revised Instructions Download Skype Software. Open your computer’s Internet browser. Enter the address www.skype.com Hover over the “Get Skype” tab from the page’s navigation pane. Select your operating system (Windows, Windows (business), Mac or Linux) from the ‘Computer’ category from the menu that appears. Click “Download Skype” to commence download. In case of Linux, Hover over the “download Skype” Link Select the Linux distribution to commence download. Wait for the download to start. Click “Save” or “Start Download” when prompted. Figure 2 Prompt for Windows (.exe file) Figure 3 Prompt for Linux (.deb file) Figure 4 Prompt for Mac (.dmg file) In case the download does not start automatically Click the “Try again” link Wait for download to complete. Install Skype Locate the downloaded file. Run the downloaded file (e.g. .exe file in case of Windows, .dmg file in case of Mac, .deb in case of Linux) In case, a prompt appears to run the downloaded file Accept the option Follow along the instructions prompted. Select Language Click “I Agree – Next” Wait for installation to complete. Run the Installed Skype application. Enter username and password to log in once the installation completes. In case of no account Click “Create a new account” button. In case of no prompt or if the prompt was closed, Search for “Skype” in installed applications. Run “Skype” application. 3.1. Consideration to Target Audience In order to cater to the target audience needs, three considerations were made; The topic of the instructions was revised so that it clearly specifies that the instruction manual only targets users wishing to install Skype on computers, The revised instructions show the users using different operating systems have the option to select the software that can run on their system. The instructions are revised according to the skills set that an average novice computer user would have. 4. Conclusion The document presented a set of technically sound instructions. The process of formulating instructions correctly and without confusions for the intended audience was explained in detail. An actual set of instructions with confusing and inaccurate instructions was considered and revised in accordance to the intended audience. Relevant images were also used to assist removing any chances of confusions. Read More