Improving the usability of programming publications

Although the ease-of-use study group did not focus on the ease of use of computer programs, programming was not ignored. A number of recommendations were made to the programming development organization, and the following activities resulted: • A programming development ease-of-use study group has been established to determine what is needed to produce more usable programming products. • A technical report has been published showing how task orientation can be applied to writing programming objectives and specifications. A pilot project to produce task-oriented programming documents is under consideration. • Usability evaluations have become part of the formal review of programming spefications. A checkclist has been prepared to aid reviewers. • More emphasis is being placed on developing on-line information as an alternative to or as a supplement to hard-copy books. In addition, users of future products will see on-line messages with complete explanations. Thus there will be no book of messages.