Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a vital contribution to helping to design systems that contain information that is properly designed and displayed. The information design ranges from developing maps and signage to web pages. Although in no way attempting to limit the scope of information design, the book works with information as it applies in technical communication, particularly as practiced within the software industry. The need for information design arises because of the increasing complexity and volume of information that people are expected to process. The book reviews recent work in survey research, and summarizes the principles that documentation writers should know to gather usable data about software users and to create effective measures of their documentation. It also describes single sourcing, its benefits and costs, and provides a clear process for developing effective single source materials.