User Manual Critique

User Manual Critique

Sally Lowe

ENG 221

November 11, 2013

Rossi, David

User Manual Critique

In the following pages I will be critiquing an online user manual for a Ridgid 18.0v Hammer Drill. The criteria that I will be using are Audience Recognition, Development, Conciseness, Consistency, and Document Design. The online manual can be found at http://powertool.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/ridgid/r841151.html?idRes=597167

Audience Recognition

Positive: While reading the manual I noticed that the technical terms were defined so low-tech people would know what the section was stating. As with manuals the first section contains the Table of Content. The next section has three pages of General Safety Rules easy to follow rule in bold font and the rest of the rule in regular font following. Page six has a table for the most commonly used abbreviations and symbols on the Ridgid Hammer Drill. These included the symbols for volts (V), amperes (A), Hertz (Hz), and alternating current (~). The chosen graphics clearly help the readers understand how to apply and remove the battery pack, install, and remove the battery from the drill, change the direction of the drill, adjust the torque of the drill, and insert, and remove a drill bit into the chuck. The graphics are easy to understand and easy to follow. This cordless drill is on the lower end of cordless drills and would be purchase by a person whom just needs to drill a couple of holes in the wall to hang a picture. This type of user would more than likely not have a simple understanding of the capabilities of this drill but would know the basics of using one.

Negative: The only thing that may need to change is put some color to the warning sign so this way it will catch the person eyes.

Development

Positive: Required information seems to be in the correct location, and the information is provided. As mentioned above the first section is the General Safety Rules. This section is properly indicated as a...