ABSTRACT
When we think of an operator’s manual, we usually envision a paper document filled with words and some pictures-maybe a three-ring binder, maybe a few pages stapled together, maybe even a single sheet of instructions. Increasingly, “manuals” are taking on other forms entirely. One effect of the digital revolution has been to make it possible for people to access information on demand. With access to the Internet and a few clicks of a mouse, a user can download a manual, watch a video of a product in use, view an animation that explains how it works, and perhaps even chat with a technical support specialist in real-time. Some products even have the technical documentation built right into the product-there is no manual apart from the product itself. At the same time, as audiences have become more diverse, the need for specialized manuals has also grown. With all these choices, what’s a writer to do?
