A technical writer is designing a manual to be used by technicians repairing stereo systems. Repair technicians will be seated at workbenches with bright lighting overhead. They will need both hands to work on the equipment while reading manual instructions. Which of the following design decisions is inappropriate?
A) using perfect binding
B) choosing a size of 6 x 9 inches for the manual
C) printing on nonglare, tinted paper
D) making the manual as concise as possible

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Perfect binding, which glues the pages together to create a spine, may cause the pages to snap shut and make it difficult for technicians to keep the manual open while working. A spiral or comb binding may be a better choice to allow the manual to lay flat and be easily referenced while technicians work on the equipment. Therefore, using perfect binding is inappropriate for this situation.

B) choosing a size of 6 x 9 inches for the manual is appropriate for a technician manual as it is small enough to be easily handled and transported, while still providing enough space for diagrams and instructions.

C) printing on nonglare, tinted paper is appropriate as it will reduce glare and eye strain caused by the bright overhead lighting.

D) making the manual as concise as possible is also appropriate as technicians likely want to quickly locate the information they need while repairing the equipment.

A Technical Writer Is Designing a Manual to Be Used