I have decided for this instructions project that I will describe in detail how to properly download, install, and ultimately play online poker using a program called FullTilt Poker. These instructions will include a review of the various functions within the software, including creating an account, depositing (not necessary), withdrawing, and locating players, among many other features. I feel that I am very qualified to speak on this topic as I am a frequent player, and have used the software extensively over the period of several years. I think these instructions are very justified as I've known countless individuals, including close friends, who have had trouble locating and using this online poker software in the recent past. I feel that my instructions, coming from an experienced user, will greatly simplify the process for a wide range of people, including those who may just be deciding to pick up the game. With the more-recent spike of interest in poker over the last several years, I think my instructions will also provide an unintimidating and inviting welcome for first-time players.
I plan to prepare my instructions with two seperate audiences in mind, namely the complete novice and the experienced user. The complete novice I will define as an individual who is completely new to the game, and has never previously downloaded any online poker software. For this audience, I will need to be very thorough, yet unsophisticated, in my approach with the understanding that everything (besides perhaps the installation of software) will be a new experience to the user. This audience will likely also be very concerned about the legitamacy and security of the software, so I will also need to take this concern into consideration.
The second audience, the experienced user, I will define as an individual who is familiar to the rules of poker and has likely played online poker before, via some avenue or another. I expect that my instructions in this instance will be less thorough than with the novice user, and I will likely use some terms or referances that an experienced player would recognize and correctly interpret. As I anticipate that this user has already played online previously, I may skip, or only briefly mention, certain functions or features within the software that they're likely to already be familiar with. This user is probably also less concerned about software security than the novice, and may even be familiar with FullTilt's track record, so I will not likely spend any time addressing this issue.
In both instances, the best graphics that I can employ will most definately be screenshots from the actual process. I may also edit these screenshots to highlight certain areas of concern to simplify the entire process. I think that this will almost certainly make the process less intimidating and more enjoyable, from the user's perspective.
Instructor Feedback: nmhess
I think you are on the right track here, Nigel. This project is feasible and your classmates will be able to conduct a thorough usability test as well. As I was reading your discussion of audiences, however, a few things came to mind with respect to your approach to experts and novices, which I think you might want to refocus in the following ways:
I think this change will insure that your sets are different enough and that both are necessary. It is important that you produce two (obviously) distinct instruction sets. As you have proposed here, the difference is one of degree (that is, the expert set is simply a smaller version of the novice set); we would prefer a difference in kind (the expert set is qualitatively different from the novice set). This approach might necessarily change the look of the instructions as well as their tone.
Kind of a pet peeve...
If they're experts in both respects, then your instructions seem less necessary. What you then do is translate the game to an online setting where, I imagine, there are subtle yet important distinctions.
Some people need to watch their use of homophones.
Andy
Noted
Thanks for the edit, wise guy! Normally, Jeremy cleans-up the mess that it is my unpolished prose. You do, however, realize what this means for your documents, don't you?