Write the Docs Podcast episode 33: Simplified user interfaces, with Anton Bollen
Video and audio
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For the original post, see WTD Episode 33: Simplified user interfaces, with Anton Bollen.
Episode description
Here’s the description of this episode:
WTD Episode 33: Simplified user interfaces, with Anton Bollen
One of the most challenging and frustrating things about being a tech writer is managing screenshots in your product documentation. How many times have you needed to take complex screenshots of your product and meticulously marked them up with callouts only to be told that a field has changed and you need to do everything again? It’s so frustrating and demoralizing as a writer because it feels like wasted effort. What if there was a way to create screenshots that could withstand the rapid iterations of a product under development while still conveying valuable meaning to your readers. Today we’re joined by Anton Bollen from TechSmith who explains how we can do this using low-detail screenshots, aka simplified user interfaces, that let you focus your users’ attention on just the bits of the interface that matter.
Samples
Here’s a sample simplified user interface:
In this case, the shortcut commands are removed because they aren’t important for the scenario.
Anton says that predictive eyetracking shows that users will focus on these unimportant areas. Removing them strengthens the focus on what matters.
For more details, see Snagit Tutorial: How to Simplify Your Screenshots.
If you want to join a Slack group focused on this topic, see Simplified Graphics Slack group at simplifiedgraphics.slack.com. This group is open to anyone who is interested in this discussing this topic, or who wants to share examples or who is looking for inspiration: (Link expires on February 18th 2021. Contact [email protected] afterwards for an invite.)
Resources
Here are more resources to check out:
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Cognitive loads in line drawings vs. photos – Graphics for Learning: Proven Guidelines for Planning, Designing, and Evaluating Visuals in Training Materials, by Ruth Clark and Chopeta Lyons
About Tom Johnson
I'm an API technical writer based in the Seattle area. On this blog, I write about topics related to technical writing and communication — such as software documentation, API documentation, AI, information architecture, content strategy, writing processes, plain language, tech comm careers, and more. Check out my API documentation course if you're looking for more info about documenting APIs. Or see my posts on AI and AI course section for more on the latest in AI and tech comm.
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