For my topic I have chosen to write instructions on how to use the free disk emulator Daemon Tools. Daemon Tools allows the user to create a virtual disk drive on their computer, create, and play disk images. One of the biggest benefits of disk emulators is that a computer without a physical disk drive such as some notebooks and laptops can now run disk images from their hard drive. I have also noticed many installation files have become disk images because it preserves all of the original menus and links of the disk. I am qualified to prepare instructions for this because I have been using disk emulators for years and have really grown fond of them due to their faster access speeds and ability to back up disks. Not only do I simply know how to use them, but I am able to explain the process of how they work in comparison to physical disk drives.
My first target audience will be those users that either need to back up a disk or play a disk image from their computer with no prior experience. They will need to know what a disk emulator is and how it relates to physical disk drives that they are more familiar with. As with any computer novice doing something new to their computer, they will want reassurance that the program is working correctly and will not in any way adversely affect their system. Once a solid background on the process is, they will need to be explained each step and what it’s specific purpose is.
The second audience is someone familiar with computers, disk emulation, and disk images. They will be primarily focused on usability of the program. When I first downloaded the program it took me a while to simply find out how to run it, and the various controls. They will be more concerned with the power and different options such as disk image types than the first audience.
The main graphics used will be screenshots. This will provide step by step visual instructions allow with positive feedback to ensure both users they are operating the program correctly. My thoughts on the main layout of the instructions would be that similar to Microsoft help, where it is placed in a sidebar, out of the way of the rest of the screen. This would allow the user to refer to the instructions will still operating the program.
Instructor Feedback: Isaac
This is a strong proposal, Isaac, particularly with regard to the descritions of your two audiences. You seem to have a clear sense of the values and expectations of novice users vs. experienced users. What you will need to figure out now is how (through design, word choice, phrasing, tone, content, and the arrangement of information) you can meet these two distinct sets of needs. It is vitally important to your project's success that you produce two clearly distinct instruction sets. The general worry with this project is that the difference between the two sets will be one of degree (that is, the expert set will simply be a truncated version of the novice set); we are expecting a difference in kind (the expert set should be qualitatively different from the novice set). Be sure you are able to differentiate the two sets in this way. That is, it should be clear from the instructions that they have been purpose built to meet the competing needs, values, and expectations of the two audiences you have described here.