h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Instruction Booklets - A854859
Author: Terran - U201249

An insight in to the world of instruction booklets.

Hmmm...

Writing from the point of view of a former copywriter who wrote the majority of SCEE's manuals for PlayStation over a five-year period, I have to say this is a little bit... flimsy. I suspect you're trying a little too hard to be funny, but it's not really working (manuals made in stone, for example).

I'm having trouble working out what you're saying in this para:

>>When in association with computer programs, they become part of the software, as software is not only made up of the program code but is the sum of all the packaging as well, of which an instruction booklet in this instance would be.<<

It's true that some manuals are now included digitally as part of the software, but 'software... is the sum of all the packaging' really doesn't make sense. Could you explain this further?

Jims

in my degree I have always been taught that software is not actually just the programming code or the executable file, but "software" is made up of the relevant excecutable files, data files and write up - this includes its instruction booklet. I hope this makes a bit more sense (if it does I'll try and fit it in to the article)


I think with manuals made in stone I was trying to basically say that it is really the only medium that can be used. Not really an attempt at humour.

'Part of the Software' - why not 'part of the product'? That's the situation in Germany: you *can't* sell anything without a 'proper' instruction manual because the product won't be considered complete. However, the term 'proper' isn't defined in detail, as was revealed in my trials at getting a list of keyboard shortcuts for M*cros*ft(TM) (C) (R) (A) (P) .

Perhaps you could try to widen your focus? Think of instruction manuals for a combine harvester or UMTS network node, rather than for products for 'off-the-street-customers' like hairdryers or computer games.

You won't get far without a manual if your job is to operate a nuclear power plant

Homer Simpson doesn't have a manual but he doesn't do a bad job operating a Nuclear Power Plant!

I'm thinking about taking this out of peer review until I can dedicate more time to it.

That's probably not a bad idea - I think it's much better to remove something than let it fester. You also get more attention for the entry when it's put back in.

This *is* a good start and a good topic. What about putting it into the collaborative writing workshop to see if anyone's got any good instruction manual stories - good and bad.

Otto

, I'll put it in there now