User-centered Design for Help Systems

User-centered Design for Help Systems Workshop In this hands-on workshop, we will discuss what design research says about common help design issues. You will learn the answers to common design questions such as "Which font do users prefer?", "How do users utilize help systems?", "Do users prefer online help or printed documentation?", and "Do users actually use help systems?" We will also apply what we learn to real-world help topics. If you are ready to move from arguing about design issues to making informed decisions based on proven research, this workshop is for you!

You Will Learn:

• How users use help systems and the types of information they are looking for
• How to format and write help topics
• How to use navigational tools, such as TOCs and indexes
• Why printed documentation is still important

** There is a limited, fixed number of seats for this event. **

Scott DeLoach is a founding partner of User First Services (www.userfirst.net), an Atlanta-based consulting company that specializes in designing and creating user assistance. He has been developing online help systems since 1992 and is a certified Flare, RoboHelp, and Captivate instructor. Scott is the author of the certified MadCap Flare training guide (with Rob Houser) and MadCap Flare for RoboHelp Users. He holds a master's degree in Technical and Scientific Communication from Miami University. You can reach him at scott@userfirst.net.