Visual Instructions

A colleage just reminded me of a Ruth Clark study that showed no impact from creating 3D animations over good illustrative instructions (although there were some qualification to this study).  In reality, however, published instructions are not efficient and it’s likely because they are measured by output and not quality, among many other skills related variables.

When I consider all the variables involved in creating conventional instructions, mainly graphic skills and subsequent interpretation by the user, I disagree that 3D would not be more effective and here’s why.  When you create 3D animation, you are visually replicating a procedure. Variables in this 3D process might be viewing angle, speed of animation, and level of detail.    In contrast, variables in conventional instructions are much higher because illustrations are the developer’s representation of the procedure and are simplified to address development time (or messed up because of a poor developer).  Take for example a typical exploded view assembly diagram where massive amounts of irrelevant information are introduced and must be referenced by a number callout that can take considerable time to locate.  So if we compare an exploded view type procedure with 3D animation, there is simply no comparison.  There are many other types of procedural instructions, many of which attempt to represent the method as opposed to show the actual method that leaves less to interpretation.

So to Dr. Clark’s studies, in an ideal sense there is minimal improvement when considering 3D instructions.   However, in our world I have yet to find anything close to efficient infomation that can compare.  And when we add language barrior, I don’t think anyone can argue the benifits of 3D.  Have you tried to follow multi-column text that offers 2 or 3 languages?  I get lost simply because I miss the high level document structure.

Wait… did someone say “cost?”  I believe can create 3D instructions FASTER than any technical writer where the outcome is of equal comprehension and user performance!  Anyone hanging on to the old assumption that 3D is more costly, I think you should take a look at what’s happening in this field.  If you don’t re-tool, you might find yourself in the same position as today’s newspaper industry.