Monday, December 17, 2007
User Manual Dexterity
In my first job out of college I wrote user manuals for home-use software. Although the company (called Softsmith, AKA the Software Guild) is long gone, and I never again wrote manuals professionally, I think of manual writers as my brethren -- brethren who likely feel marginalized in an era of online help, message boards, and the like.
But maybe user manuals have their place. An online service called OwnerIQ conducted a survey of 2700 individuals in September of 2007 in which 86 percent of respondents said the user manual is the first place they turn to learn about products they own. It's not just that these folks don't know how to Google; indeed, OwnerIQ noted a correlation between Internet savvy and manual use. (No wonder that RTFM is such a popular online response.) The company says that consumers conduct more than 2 million online searches for product support every day.
OwnerIQ's business is to get a share of those searchers to its site. It compiles and organizes links to "tens of thousands of user manuals from more than 2,200 manufacturers," according to a press release. I looked up a few of the products around my house and found links their manuals on the site. Registration is free. The service could be fun and useful, as long as I can remember how to use it. If only they published a manual ...
Here's a link to OwnerIQ's press release which includes some of the survey data; to get it all, you have to register.
But maybe user manuals have their place. An online service called OwnerIQ conducted a survey of 2700 individuals in September of 2007 in which 86 percent of respondents said the user manual is the first place they turn to learn about products they own. It's not just that these folks don't know how to Google; indeed, OwnerIQ noted a correlation between Internet savvy and manual use. (No wonder that RTFM is such a popular online response.) The company says that consumers conduct more than 2 million online searches for product support every day.
OwnerIQ's business is to get a share of those searchers to its site. It compiles and organizes links to "tens of thousands of user manuals from more than 2,200 manufacturers," according to a press release. I looked up a few of the products around my house and found links their manuals on the site. Registration is free. The service could be fun and useful, as long as I can remember how to use it. If only they published a manual ...
Here's a link to OwnerIQ's press release which includes some of the survey data; to get it all, you have to register.
# posted by F.S. @ 4:56 PM 
